Vietnam, the World Bank and the Netherlands are to cooperate on food safety.
Prime Ministers Phuc of Vietnam and Mark Rutte of the Netherlands as well as Ousmane Dione, the World Bank group’s country director for Vietnam have signed a trilateral MoU on food safety.
The World Bank and the Government of Vietnam are improving the food safety system and infrastructure and parties agree priority investments must be risk-based.
The co-operation is a spin-off of the Netherlands and the World Bank Food for All partnership.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved funding to enhance compliance of the fresh fruit and vegetable subsector.
The Government of Grenada will use the money to improve food safety management systems (FSMS) in the country.
Agriculture contributes 13% of total employment and accounts for an estimated 6.4% of gross domestic product. Since 2014, the sector has grown by an average of 30% annually.
The project will be supported through a USD$850,000 loan and a $250,000 grant from the Caribbean Forum-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement Standby Facility, by the CDB and funding of $285,000 from the Government of Grenada.
Deidre Clarendon, division chief, social sector division at the CDB, said: “This project protects the viability of the subsector by ensuring the required food safety management standards are adhered to, and aims to strengthen Grenada’s international reputation as a leading global supplier of high-quality produce.”
In other news, New Zealand and Indonesia have strengthened their relationship on food safety.
David Bennett, minister for food safety, met with Dr Penny Lukito, the chairwoman of Indonesia’s National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM).
BPOM is responsible for regulation and product safety testing of domestic and imported processed foods.
BPOM and Ministry for Primary Industries signed a food safety agreement in 2014.
“New Zealand needs to have a good working relationship on all levels, but especially at a food safety level to ensure we can meet their needs, and expand our export markets,” said Bennett.