Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The Board of Directors of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has issued a decision on food and fodder sampling for control and inspection in Abu Dhabi emirate, to establish controls for sampling and to appoint qualified personnel to carry out this task.
According to the decision, ADAFSA will regulate sampling procedures for the control and inspection of food and fodder throughout the food chain and at all stages of food and fodder trade in the emirate.
The decision embodies part of the ADAFSA's ongoing efforts to improve work processes, modernise the regulatory system and ensure proper implementation of measures related to sampling for control and inspection of food and animal feed. The decision also strengthens compliance with the relevant laws and regulations enforced by ADAFSA.
By regulating sampling for food and fodder control and inspection, ADAFSA aims to update the relevant legislative system, ensure the safety and quality of food and fodder throughout the food chain, secure conforming to technical regulations and standard specifications in the UAE, and enhance food security in aspects related to food safety and animal health.
Saeed Al Bahri Al Ameri, Director-General of ADAFSA, emphasised that the decision would facilitate the re-analysis of samples taken from food establishments and fodder handling facilities for control and inspection purposes. He highlighted that the decision is part of a plan to modernise and develop the legislative system supporting ADAFSA's work areas. It is also compatible with federal legislation issued after Regulation No 5 of 2010 by including fodder samples in the scope of food sampling operations for control and inspection.
Al Ameri said: "The decision aligns with our firm commitment to consumer health and safety, ensuring the provision of safe and healthy products for humans and animals. We are implementing the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, to enhance the quality and safety of food and fodder products. These controls provide precise guidelines and directives for sampling operations, including the technical procedures and standards necessary to ensure accurate and reliable results.
"We encourage all stakeholders in food and fodder handling facilities to cooperate with sampling procedures and fully comply with the specified procedures to achieve our desired levels of quality and safety."
ADAFSA will continue to monitor implementing these controls and improving them in line with developments in the food and fodder industry, as well as evolving quality and safety standards for human and animal health.
He issued a guidelines detailing the controls governing the decision of His Highness the Chairman of the Board of Directors to regulate food and fodder sampling procedures. The decision classified samples into two categories based on the circumstances and results desired. The first category includes objective samples taken for regular control, data collection, or conformity assessment. The second category comprises selective samples taken to document violations observed by inspectors or to provide a representative unit for laboratory examination.
The decision specified the packaging and tools for sampling, ensuring suitability for chemical or bacteriological analysis. It also outlined criteria for determining sample size, methods of sending samples to the laboratory, transportation and storage procedures, and procedures for re-analysis upon request or with clear technical justification.
