REPORT OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE ASEAN COCOA CLUB

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON FOOD SAFETY (ACC TWGFS)

 

5 th October 2009

Hotel Equatorial, Bangi-Putrajaya, Malaysia

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

  • The First Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) was held on 5 th October 2009 in Selangor, Malaysia.

 

  • The Meeting was attended by delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Secretariat was also in attendance. The list of delegates appears as Annex 1.

 

WELCOMING REMARKS

 

  • The Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS, Dr. Sabariah Samsudin, Director of Chemistry and Technology Division, Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) welcomed delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the ACC Secretariat to the First Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) and thanked all delegates for attending the Meeting.

 

  • In her opening remarks, the Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS informed that the purpose of this Meeting is to develop the Term of Reference (TOR) and database for the food safety in relation to cocoa and cocoa products.
  • She highlighted that the food safety issues comes under the Strategic Thrust 2: Enhancement of International Competitiveness of ASEAN cocoa formulated under the ASEAN Cocoa Club.

 

AGENDA ITEM 1: ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

 

  • The Meeting agreed that there will be no Vice-Chairman required for this First Meeting of the ACC TWGFS.

 

AGENDA ITEM 2: ADOPTION OF AGENDA

 

  • The Meeting adopted the Agenda of the First Meeting of the ACC TWGFS as appears in Annex II.

 

AGENDA ITEM 3: BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

 

  • The Meeting was held in plenary.

 

AGENDA ITEM 4: DISCUSSION ON THE ASEAN COCOA CLUB TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON FOOD SAFETY (ACC TWGFS)

 

    • Development of the Terms of Reference (TOR)

 

  • The Chairperson briefly highlighted the existing committee on food safety namely Prepared Foodstuff Product Working Group (PFPWG) formed under the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standard and Quality (ACCSQ). The ACCSQ is under the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM). The PFPWG is chair and co-chair by Indonesia and Thailand respectively. The categories covered under this working group include cocoa and cocoa products.

 

  • The meeting agreed that ACC TWGFS tasks should not be redundant with the existing tasks undertaken by the other established food safety committee. The role of ACC TWGFS should compliment with the other established food safety committees.

 

  • The Meeting agreed that the objective of the ACC TWGFS is to provide and share information to address food safety issues pertaining to cocoa and cocoa products among the ASEAN member countries.

 

  • The specific tasks to be undertaken by the ACC TWGFS are as follows:-

 

  • To monitor and update information on food safety requirements imposed by importing countries.

 

  • To address issues of importance related to food safety.

 

  • To develop database on food safety.

 

  • To share knowledge and expertise on testing methodologies.

 

 

  • The structure of the ACC TWGFS and term of office agreed by the Meeting are as follows:

 

  • The appointed Chairman of the ACC TWGFS is Malaysia.

 

  • The Vice-Chairman of the Meeting will be appointed during the meeting to be rotated among the ASEAN member countries.

 

  • The members of the ACC TWGFS consist of all ASEAN member countries comprising of two (2) technical and two (2) non-technical representatives of each ASEAN member countries.

 

  • The Meeting agreed that the frequency of the ACC TWGFS meeting should be held once a year and to be continuously supported by electronic working group.

 

4.2 Development of Database on Food Safety

 

  • The Meeting agreed to include the following issues on food safety covering the MRLs/ MPLs impose by importing countries, methodologies and profiles into the database. The details work plan of the database appears as Annex IIIa, IIIb and IIIc.

 

  • Pesticide Residues
  • Fumigant
  • Heavy Metals
  • Mycotoxin
  • Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)
  • Dioxin
  • Acrylamide
  • Microbiological Risk
  • Melamine
  • Cyanuric Acid

 

  • Information on the issues on food safety should be compiled by all the ASEAN member countries.

 

AGENDA 5: OTHER MATTERS

 

  • The Meeting suggested that the ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Secretariat to put the information and activities offered on the network pertaining to TWGFS as follows:

 

  • The list of national contact points such as names and contact address of individual member countries.

 

  • Related document/report/information related to TWGFS can be acquired on this menu, including background information and TOR.

 

  • Forum for discussion among stakeholders on scientific and technical issues.

 

  • An alert system to allow immediate notification on any issues related to food safety in member countries.

 

  • The network should be hyperlinked to the member countries related website.

 

 

DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

 

  • The Meeting agreed that the date and venue of the 2 nd Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) will be held in accordance to the ASEAN Cocoa Club Meeting.

 

  • The ACC TWGFS will consult the ACC Secretariat on the date and venue of the 13 th ACC Meeting.

 

ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

 

  • The Meeting unanimously adopted the Report of the First Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) held on 5 th October 2009 at Selangor, Malaysia.

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