logo
UAE launches assessment of food control systems

UAE launches assessment of food control systems

Dubai Eye07-02-2025

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has launched the 'Food Control System Assessment' in the UAE, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
The launch came during a five-day inception and training workshop held at the ministry's headquarters in Dubai, which concluded on Friday.
More than 50 focal points from the UAE's Competent Authorities (CAs) participated, marking the beginning of a comprehensive evaluation of the national food control system.
It brought together senior officials and technical staff from the various federal and governmental entities in the UAE, with FAO experts guiding them through the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool.
The globally recognised tool evaluates approximately 160 criteria, spanning food safety policy, legislative frameworks, monitoring and inspection systems, risk management, and traceability. It aims to align the UAE's food control system with international standards, strengthening its food safety measures and trade competitiveness.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

"West Africa has the potential to sustainably transform its food systems," says Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Coordinator for West Africa
"West Africa has the potential to sustainably transform its food systems," says Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Coordinator for West Africa

Zawya

time3 days ago

  • Zawya

"West Africa has the potential to sustainably transform its food systems," says Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Coordinator for West Africa

The 2025 Regional Report on Food and Nutrition Security in the Sahel and West Africa, reveals that nearly 52 million people in the region are affected by food insecurity. In an interview with the African Press Agency (APA news), Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Subregional Coordinator of the FAO Office for West Africa said that despite the alarming figures reported, "the region has all it takes to sustainably transform its food systems," said. Recently appointed to head the office overseeing 15 West African country programs, she focuses on innovation, resilience, and inclusion to address the structural and cyclical challenges facing West African agriculture. During the interview, Ms. Tchicaya presented the priorities of her mandate. She outlined her vision and ambition for the subregion to "build more inclusive, sustainable, competitive, and nutrition-sensitive food systems, based on the "Four Betters" strategy promoted by the FAO: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life." She also emphasized that despite the combined effects of conflict, climate change, and economic volatility, viable solutions can be found. These include participatory approaches such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), support for nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies, and the implementation of green hubs as part of the Great Green Wall initiative. "In Senegal, for example, we contributed to updating the agro-sylvo-pastoral orientation law, which now includes the fisheries sector, food systems and the climate change dimension," she explained. "On the operational front, FAO has developed participatory approaches such as Farmer Field Schools and Dimitra clubs, which after years of implementation, have proven effective in driving behavior change and strong community engagement. These approaches are now being scaled up by the government and civil society organizations', she said, adding 'On the environmental front, the FAO supports the Senegalese government in implementing the Reforestation Agency and the Great Green Wall program, a bold initiative aiming to establish seventy resilient green hubs across arid and semi-arid areas between 2023 and 2032.' Faced with the decline in traditional funding, Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya calls for increased and diversified resource mobilization, focusing on: "Public-Private Partnerships, a multi-donor approach, climate and green financing, strengthened engagement with non-traditional donors (emerging countries, philanthropic foundations, regional financial institutions), increased inter-agency cooperation, community and civil society involvement, as well as South-South and triangular cooperation." Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya also emphasized FAO's strategic role in strengthening early warning systems, supporting agricultural governance, and using digital technologies and artificial intelligence to increase productivity, improve livestock traceability, and combat livestock theft, a phenomenon that is on the rise in the region. "FAO actively contributes to surveillance and early warning, particularly in the area of ​​food security, through its participation in the regional system for the prevention and management of food crises (PREGEC), coordinated by the CILSS. FAO also has tools such as the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), which enables precise monitoring of the agricultural season and provides harvest forecasts. FAO will continue this support while investing more in disaster risk prevention and reduction, particularly through anticipatory actions implemented before crises worsen. FAO's true added value in the region lies in this connection between early warning and rapid response.' Furthermore, Ms. Tchicaya emphasized the importance of digital solutions for securing pastoral livelihoods: "We are convinced that the digitalization of the livestock sector constitutes an innovative and essential solution to protect pastoralists in the face of this unprecedented phenomenon in West Africa," she argued. In her closing remarks, Ms. Tchicaya issued a strong call for collective mobilization. "We must act together—governments, technical and financial partners, the private sector, and civil society—to build resilient and sustainable food systems that meet the aspirations of West African populations," she pleaded. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

UAE's marine protected areas serve as safe haven for iconic sea turtles
UAE's marine protected areas serve as safe haven for iconic sea turtles

Al Etihad

time17-06-2025

  • Al Etihad

UAE's marine protected areas serve as safe haven for iconic sea turtles

18 June 2025 00:46 AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)Reaffirming the UAE's leadership in marine biodiversity preservation, particularly sea turtle conservation, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) has established 16 marine protected areas (MPAs) in the total protected area cover in the country accounts for 18.4% of its terrestrial territory and 12.01% of its marine territory, said Hiba Obaid Al Shehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Biodiversity and Marine Life Sector at MOCCAE, in an interview with marks a 15.53% increase in the size of protected areas in 2020 from 15.07% in 2019, she protected zones are instrumental in shielding fragile ecosystems from human disturbances such as fishing, boating and pollution, all of which pose significant threats to sea turtles."Marine Protected Areas serve as vital sanctuaries for marine turtles," said Al Shehhi. "They safeguard nesting beaches, protect essential food sources like seagrass beds, and provide a safe haven from threats like poaching and trawling."The UAE is home to five of the seven existing sea turtle species, with hawksbill and green turtles known to nest on its have contributed to a measurable increase in turtle populations by effectively conserving nesting sites and minimising human impact on critical habitats, according to Al these efforts is the UAE's National Biodiversity Strategy 2031, a comprehensive framework aimed at assessing, conserving, and restoring the nation's biodiversity. The strategy's goals include rehabilitating 80% of degraded land and marine areas and improving the status of endangered native species by 10%.Underpinning this initiative is a multi-tier legislative framework that protects marine turtle species at both federal and emirate levels. The UAE has also launched a National Red List covering over 304 marine species, including dugongs and sea turtles, to provide a data-driven approach to conservation."The strategy is not only about preservation but also about sustainable utilisation and research-driven innovation," said Al Shehhi. "It aims to ensure a balance between environmental sustainability and economic development."Marine turtles face mounting threats, including habitat loss due to coastal development, entanglement in fishing gear, plastic pollution, and climate change. Warming seas and increasing marine debris-particularly ghost nets and plastics-pose serious risks to turtle address these challenges, MOCCAE has launched the National Plan for the Conservation of Sea Turtles. The plan focuses on reducing mortality, enhancing habitat protection, improving research and data sharing, and raising public awareness. It also aims to build national capacity by providing training, advanced monitoring tools, and technologies for conservation UAE's commitment to marine turtle conservation extends beyond its borders. The nation is a signatory to the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA) memorandum of understanding for the conservation and management of marine turtles. Within this framework, sites like Bu Tinah Island, Sir Bu Na'ir, and Al Qurm Protected Areas are internationally recognised for their ecological UAE is also a founding Middle Eastern member of the Global Ocean Alliance, pledging to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. It has joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and is actively contributing to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)."These international collaborations highlight the UAE's proactive role in global conservation efforts," Al Shehhi stated. "We are not only conserving marine turtles within our waters but also contributing to their protection on a global scale."With a high Ocean Health Index score of 80 - well above the global average of 69 - the UAE continues to lead by example in marine conservation. The COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature, and People further reinforces the country's commitment to aligning climate and biodiversity goals, she added. Source: AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI

UN report reveals worsening hunger in 13 hotspots; five with immediate risk of starvation
UN report reveals worsening hunger in 13 hotspots; five with immediate risk of starvation

Gulf Today

time16-06-2025

  • Gulf Today

UN report reveals worsening hunger in 13 hotspots; five with immediate risk of starvation

A new joint UN report warns that people in five hunger hotspots around the world face extreme hunger and risk of starvation and death in the coming months unless there is urgent humanitarian action and a coordinated international effort to de-escalate conflict, stem displacement, and mount an urgent full-scale aid response. The latest Hunger Hotspots report shows that Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali are hotspots of the highest concern, with communities already facing famine, at risk of famine or confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity due to intensifying or persisting conflict, economic shocks, and natural hazards. The devastating crises are being exacerbated by growing access constraints and critical funding shortfalls. The semi-annual Hunger Hotspots report is an early-warning and predictive analysis of deteriorating food crises for the next five months. Developed and published with financial support from the European Union through the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), the latest edition projects a serious deterioration of acute food insecurity in 13 countries and territories - the world's most critical hunger hotspots in the coming months. In addition to hotspots of the highest concern, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Nigeria are now hotspots of very high concern and require urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods. Other hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria. "This report makes it very clear: hunger today is not a distant threat - it is a daily emergency for millions,' FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said. "We must act now, and act together, to save lives and safeguard livelihoods. Protecting people's farms and animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest and harshest conditions, is not just urgent - it is essential.' "This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk,' added Cindy McCain, World Food Programme Executive Director. "We have the tools and experience to respond, but without funding and access, we cannot save lives. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance and recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast." In contrast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been removed from the Hunger Hotspots list. In East and Southern Africa, as well as in Niger, better climatic conditions for harvests and fewer weather extremes have eased food security pressures. Lebanon has also been delisted following reduced intensity of military operations. However, FAO and WFP warn that these gains remain fragile and could reverse quickly if shocks re-emerge.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store