The workshop discussed the system components, assignment of responsibilities and roles, food alerts types, and the criteria to report a food incident which include border rejection notifications and adulterated products in the market notifications.

Participants were introduced to the food incidents classification matrix, as either high, medium or low, and the triggers for this classification, namely the likely severity of public health risk, the size and scale of an incident and number of people affected by it. The workshop also discussed the inspection challenges and best practices to share experiences amongst local authorities for better integration and implementation.

Commenting on the workshop, Majd Al Herbawi, Director of Food Safety Department at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, said that organizing this workshop was in line with the Ministry’s strategic plan to enhance food safety in the UAE. “The Ministry is committed to protecting food safety and safeguarding consumers from adulterated foods, following the guidelines of the National Agenda, UAE Vision 2021. The National Rapid Alert System for Food boosts the UAE’s position as a leading hub for food trade, as it increases both traders and consumers’ confidence in the integrity and safety of food products they see on the shelves,” she said.