Sponsored by the National Beverage Company and Al-Tayf Company: The Palestinian Consumer Protection Association organizes a workshop "Where to for Food Safety?"

SadaNews - The Palestinian Consumer Protection Association, under the sponsorship of the National Beverage Company and Al-Tayf Dairy and Food Products Company, organized a specialized workshop in Ramallah titled "Where to for Food Safety?" coinciding with the World Food Safety Day, which this year is held under the slogan "From Understanding the Burden to Finding Solutions - Towards Safe Food Everywhere".

The organization of the workshop came as part of national efforts aimed at strengthening the food safety system in Palestine, highlighting the increasing challenges faced by this sector, and emphasizing the importance of coordinating the roles of governmental bodies, the private sector, academic institutions, and consumers to ensure safe food reaches the Palestinian citizen.

The workshop witnessed the participation of His Excellency Dr. Majid Abu Ramadan, the Palestinian Minister of Health, along with representatives from the food industrial sector, academics and specialists from Palestinian universities, and experts in quality and food safety, in addition to representatives from relevant governmental bodies.

The workshop included an opening session with the participation of the Ministry of Health, the Palestinian Consumer Protection Association, and representatives from the food industries sector, followed by specialized sessions that addressed the government's responsibility in food safety, the role of academic institutions in developing knowledge and scientific research related to food safety, as well as the role of regulatory bodies in enhancing the system of oversight and relevant legislations.

The workshop also included the presentation of awareness materials and specialized presentations that discussed the latest practices and standards related to food safety and the main challenges facing supply chains, storage, and distribution up to the consumer.

The Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr. Majid Abu Ramadan, confirmed that food safety is a fundamental pillar of the public health system, emphasizing the importance of strengthening oversight and cooperation among various relevant authorities to ensure the provision of safe and sound food for citizens. He pointed out that the ministry continues to work with all partners to develop the food oversight system and strengthen the procedures necessary to protect consumer health.

For his part, the President of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Association, Salah Haniya, confirmed that food safety is a collective responsibility that requires cooperation between the government, the private sector, academic institutions, and consumers, emphasizing the importance of enhancing oversight, developing legislations, supporting laboratories, and providing the necessary resources to ensure safe and sound food reaches the Palestinian citizen.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Food Industries Union, Dr. Said Dweikat, pointed out that the investment volume in the food industries sector has exceeded one billion dollars, contributing to the direct employment of about 22,000 workers, and includes nearly 2,300 food establishments, while Palestinian food products reach over 70 countries around the world.

Dweikat called on official bodies to apply the same standards and requirements to imported products as are applied to Palestinian products, ensuring fair competition and consumer protection.

In her speech, Dr. Nada Naima, Deputy Secretary-General of the Arab Consumer Protection Union and President of the Lebanese Consumer Protection Association, stated that food safety represents a food and health security issue, calling for the enhancement of modern technologies in food oversight, including tracking systems throughout the supply chain, and benefiting from artificial intelligence and Internet of Things applications, in addition to developing national legislation and raising consumer awareness as a key partner in the food safety system.

The General Director of the National Beverage Company and Al-Tayf Dairy and Food Products Company, Mr. Imad Al-Hindi, stated: "We are proud to sponsor this workshop, which serves as a national platform to bring together various partners working in the field of food safety. We believe that providing safe food for the Palestinian consumer is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation between the public and private sectors, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies."

Al-Hindi added: "Our sponsorship of this event aligns with our commitment to applying the highest standards of quality and food safety and supports national efforts aimed at raising awareness of the importance of food safety and developing the food oversight and safety system in Palestine."

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants emphasized the importance of continuing coordination among various partners, enhancing community awareness of food safety issues, and developing policies and procedures that ensure consumer health protection and enhance food security in Palestine.