Food Safety

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SUMMARY

The food control and regulatory system in Zimbabwe falls under several Acts, which are under different government ministries. The principal Acts are the Public Health Act, the Food and Food Standards Act, the National Biotechnology Authority Act, the Control of Goods Act and the Animal Health Act. There are various regulations under these Acts that are relevant to food safety. The Acts establish institutions that are relevant to food safety. The Food and Food Standards Act establishes the Food Standards Advisory Board with a principal role of advising the Minister of Health on all food safety-related matters. With regard to issues of public health, the Public Health Act establishes the Advisory Board on Public Health whose principal function is to advise the Minister on all public health matters. The National Biotechnology Authority is established by the National Biotechnology Authority Act, and the Department of Veterinary Services under the Ministry of Agriculture also plays a pivotal role in issuing veterinary certificates. The food control system seeks to enhance good hygienic practices (GHP) throughout the food chain. Meat processing hygiene is part of the quality management (QM) of meat plants and refers to the hygienic measures to be taken during the various processing steps in the manufacture of meat products. In Zimbabwe, the food safety system is controlled through measures such as import and export permits, inspections, licensing and registration. The Public Health Act requires that all animals and birds intended for human consumption must be slaughtered in registered abattoirs that are licensed by the local authority. In addition to the licensing by the local authority, the Food and Food Standards (Inspection and Certification) Regulations provide for the inspection and certification of the premises involved in the sale, manufacture, production, processing or treatment of food. The food safety system relies on the registration of importers and exporters as well as of import and export permits. The National Biotechnology Regulations require the registration of importers and exporters with the National Biotechnology Authority. Further, the Regulations require that import or export permits be obtained before meat/fish products are brought into or out of the country.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

MEAT AND PRODUCTS GENERATED FROM HUNTING

FISH AND PRODUCTS GENERATED FROM FISHING AND AQUACULTURE

INSPECTION

PROCESSING

DISTRIBUTION

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO FOOD SAFETY