Safe food from Finland to the world

Thimjos Ninios, Head of SectionBorder Control Section

Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira

Finnish Food Safety Authority

Investigates and controls the safety and quality of the food chain.

The foundation is laid by scientific evidence obtained through research and risk assessment.

Laboratory activities support the food chain in risk identification and prevention of health hazards.

The mission:

Evira promotes safety, quality and reliability within the food supply chain, all the way from nature to table.

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Strategic objectives

High levels of food safety, animal welfare and plant health are maintained.

Animal welfare is improved.

The conditions for high-quality food production are secured and the productivity of agriculture and the food industry is growing.

The farming, forestry and food industries adapt sustainably to climate change.

The food supply chain responsibility for its operations is verifiable.

Welfare is promoted by safe nutrition.3

Modernisation of food safety control principles

Earlier - control Now - in control

Control of end-productsFrom environment to field, field to table, and back

Deliberation case by case Sound scientific base always needed

Responsibility of authoritiesOperator responsible, authorities responsible for verification and supervision

Passive monitoring Active and passive monitoring

Authorities implementNew public governance, open communication, public-private cooperation

Random sampling Risk-based controls

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Why safe? Key factors: location and added values

Added value: clean water

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Remember that water is not used only as a beverage!

In food industry water is also used:• as a food ingredient (f. ex. in marinades)• for cleaning and disinfection• as a preservative (f. ex. associated with salt)• for showering and toilet flushing

In Finland, clean potable water is used in all these cases!

Added value: animal health status

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Excellent animal health situation sustained by facts.

Some examples:

Disease Last recordedAnthrax 2008Aujeszky´s disease neverBrucella melitensis neverFoot and mouth disease 1959Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) 2010African swine fever (ASF) neverPorcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) neverNewcastle disease 2004Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) neverInfectious salmon anaemia (ISA-virus) never

Animal health statements are available to whom it may concern.

Added value: animal welfare

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Crucial issue with ethical dimension!

But not only ethics… Limiting stress factors improves the quality of animal production (f. ex. quality of meat)!

An example of animal welfare indicator in Finland?Every pig possesses its tail until slaughtering!

Added value: control programs

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Zoonotic status• Salmonella

national Salmonella control program salmonella occurrence in cattle, pigs, poultry, food and

feed <1 %• Campylobacter

national Campylobacter control program low occurrence in poultry meat

Residues and contaminants national residue control program extremely low levels (including heavy metals)

Added value: the broader the smile, the better the food safety

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The Oiva system coordinated by Evira brings the results of food control and monitoring to the attention of consumers

• the local food control authorities carry out audits concerning the food safety of all food companies, like grocery stores, restaurants and the food industry in all parts of Finland

• described with four alternative smileys

• published on the internet and at company entrances

• based on food legislation

EXCELLENT

GOOD

ROOM FORIMPROVEMENT

POOR

oivahymy.fi

Added value: Hygiene proficiency testing

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Training and knowledge on:

• Basic microbiology and food contamination

• Food poisoning and hygienic working methods

• Personal hygiene

• Cleaning

• Own or in-house control, and

• Legislation

Around 1 000 000 hygiene passports have been issued from 2002. Almost 20 % of the whole population.

Added value: One Health

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Focus on One Health

The One Health concept recognizes that the health of humans is connected to the health of animals and the environment.

• Responsible veterinary use of antibiotics since 1970`s• No use of antibiotics in poultry production since 2009• Prescription demanded for any use of antibiotics• Use for growth promotion is prohibited• Very low level of antimicrobial resistance in animals and food

Target: fight against the global hazard of antimicrobial resistance!

Added value: official export control

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Several tasks of Evira support the official veterinary export control.

Evira is responsible nationally for planning, steering, developing and undertaking food control. It is also responsible for controls on feed, animal health, animal by products, animal welfare, and plant health.

What does the export control include?

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Legal requirements of the European Union and Finnish national legislation need to be fulfilled at all times.

Additionally, export requirements set by the importing country are studied by Evira at a central level and implemented at a local level by the local Finnish authorities in order to comply with the demands of the importing country.

The aim is to meet the export requirements at all times.

What does the export control include?

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Evira acts as the central competent authority in veterinary export issues and is responsible for:

• Administration of veterinary export certificates• Provision of guidance for business operators and local

official veterinarians• Training of business operators and official veterinarians in

order to provide up to date information on export requirements

• Inspection and audit tasks directed to verify the compliance of operators with export requirements and the effectiveness of the official export control at the local level

www.evira.fi

thimjos.ninios@evira.fi