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2005/SOM2/020rev1
Agenda Item: V.5
APEC Food Cooperation
Purpose: Consideration
Submitted by: Australia, China, Thailand
Senior Officials’ Meeting II
Jeju, Korea
30-31 May 2005
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
APEC FOOD COOPERATION PROPOSAL
In November 2004 Ministers considered a proposal from China to establish
cooperation in food safety in order to strengthen food safety, encourage
harmonisation with international food standards and promote trade facilitation. As
part of this process China proposed holding a seminar of food regulators and food
safety experts.
At the conclusion of the discussion, the Chair invited China, Australia and Thailand
to co-organise a seminar to discuss food safety cooperation. It was agreed that the
seminar be held in the Margins of SOM III in September 2005.
Senior Officials asked China, Australia and Thailand to report progress on this
important joint initiative at SOM in May 2005.
It is recommended that SOM:
1. Agree that China, Australia and Thailand continue to work together to progress
this initiative, and
2. Note progress in planning for the seminar on food safety cooperation to be held
in the margins of SOM III. The seminar will aim to agree in developing a
program to progress food safety cooperation.
3. Note the attached draft concept paper, which will be used to facilitate discussion
at the seminar.
APEC Food Cooperation
Introduction
In November 2004 Ministers considered a proposal from China to
establish cooperation in food safety in order to strengthen food safety,
encourage harmonisation with international food standards and
promote trade facilitation. As part of this process China proposed
holding a seminar of food regulators and food safety experts.
At the February 2005 APEC Sub Committee on Standards and
Conformance (SCSC), China recommended initiatives to facilitate the
food safety proposal, Australia proposed that a seminar be conducted
in the margins of SOM III on food standards . At this meeting, Thailand
informed member economies that the first APEC Sectoral Food MRA
Pathfinder Initiative meeting was scheduled to be held in mid 2005.
Both members of the pathfinder initiative and Member economies were
invited to discuss fields of cooperation and a mechanism to promote
and facilitate the APEC Food Sectoral MRA.
At the conclusion of the discussion, the Chair invited China, Australia
and Thailand to co-organise a seminar to discuss food safety
cooperation. It was agreed that the seminar be held in the Margins of
SOM III in September 2005.
Senior Officials asked China to report progress on this important joint
initiative at SOM in May 2005.
Outcomes sought
That SOM:
Agree that China, Australia and Thailand continue to work together to
progress this initiative, and
Note progress in planning for the seminar on food safety cooperation to
be held in the margins of SOM III. The seminar will aim to agree in
developing a program to progress food safety cooperation.
Note the attached draft concept paper, which will be used to facilitate
discussion at the seminar.
Next steps
The seminar to be held in the margins of SOM III will provide the
mechanism for:



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Reviewing the work of international food safety organisations
and identifying gaps where APEC may add value.
Endorsing the concepts to be included in the food safety
cooperation proposal
Identifying key priorities, and
Agreeing to a program for progressing the proposal.
Conclusion
The purpose of this initiative is to seek APEC agreement to a range of
strategies, which promote and enhance food safety cooperation.
Strengthening food cooperation among APEC economies can build
their capacity to meet these international standards and the
harmonisation of food regulatory systems for the economic benefit of
all APEC economies. Meeting international standards for foods is the
key to improving food safety and expanding trade in food products.
Administrative Issues
Korea, China, Australia and Thailand will agree upon the allocation of
responsibilities with respect to the seminar organisation.
APEC Food Cooperation Seminar 2005
At the February 2005 APEC Sub Committee on Standards and
Conformance (SCSC) China, Australia and Thailand were requested to
work together to develop a joint seminar on food safety cooperation in
APEC. It was agreed that the seminar would be held over two days in
the margins of SOM III in September 2005. Interested APEC
economies would be invited to send their representatives from SCSC
and food regulation experts to attend.
The food safety cooperation seminar will provide an opportunity to
discuss the following (more detailed agenda at Annex II).
 Food related activities under APEC working groups and the
potential for coordination.
 Progress APEC economies have made to harmonise their
approaches to food regulation in line with international
standards.
 The joint food safety cooperation proposal – concept paper.
 A framework to strengthen food safety cooperation including the
development of a work program for APEC.
Suggested Outcomes
It is suggested that the seminar agenda reflect the following desired
outcomes:
 Provide an opportunity for APEC food regulators and experts to
discuss food safety cooperation and progress within APEC to
date.

Agree on priorities and develop a framework for food safety
cooperation in APEC.
ANNEX I
APEC FOOD COOPERATION PROPOSAL – CONCEPT PAPER
Food is a significant sector for all APEC member economies. Over
USD 167 billion in food products are traded in the APEC region for
2003. Food safety is a key factor for improving public health and safety
and facilitating trade in food for APEC economies.
APEC economies have made considerable progress to harmonise their
approaches to food regulation in line with international standards.
However it is worth noting that, at this stage, progress within APEC has
been uneven. There are still many different food regulatory systems
across the region and a significant number of economies would benefit
from capacity building. Strengthening food cooperation among APEC
economies can build capacity to meet international standards and
harmonise food regulatory systems for the benefit of all APEC
economies.
APEC Food Safety Cooperation Proposal
It is proposed that APEC members work together to strengthen food
safety cooperation by coordinating between the relevant working
groups, facilitated through SCSC, in order to bring together various
APEC activities related to food safety.
While this initiative does not aim to duplicate existing instruments on
food safety standards, coordination would allow APEC to:
1. Initiate a Collective Action Plan to achieve harmonisation
with international standards on food safety in APEC member
economies.
2. Facilitate capacity building on food safety.
3. Establish a network of APEC food safety focal points to
share information.
Food Safety Collective Action Plan
The Collective Action Plan would identify and examine the major issues
to be addressed in order to improve food safety outcomes and
progress food safety harmonisation across APEC. This may include:
 Suggestions on how to better coordinate APEC activities.
 Development of guidelines on priority areas for information
sharing.
 Collective identification of key emerging issues and potential
emerging issues.
 Mechanisms for sharing expertise in risk analysis.
 Promoting best practice on major developments in food
regulation and practice, for example HACCP.
Capacity Building
Capacity building based on strengthening harmonisation of national
food regulation in line with international standards is essential to
facilitate regional food safety cooperation. Capacity building can
include, for example, training programs and staff exchanges.
It is important that APEC economies work together to ensure capacity
building is better coordinated, meets the needs of individual APEC
economies and is directed towards achieving harmonisation in food
regulation systems and increased market opportunities. Identifying
priorities for capacity building can help to guide both APEC priorities
and bilateral capacity building activities in the region.
This assistance would enable APEC economies to address the issues
impeding the harmonisation of their food regulatory systems and to
access broader regional and global markets.
Several APEC economies already provide capacity building for APEC
economies. This could be further enhanced by increased coordination
of activities and identification of priority issues.
Information Sharing
It is intended that APEC economies work together to develop better
regulatory regimes that would suit their needs and operating
environments. This can be achieved by establishing a network that
shares information in areas such as:
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National food regulatory frameworks for food safety harmonised
with international standards.
Best Practice in food control systems, including mechanisms to
develop and implement risk analysis based enforcement
strategies, and certification processes.
Food monitoring and surveillance systems.
ANNEX II
PROPOSED AGENDA
Day One:

The SCSC Chair would be invited to open the seminar and
address the members on the background to the seminar.

The Chairs of the other APEC food related working groups
would be invited to give a presentation on relevant activities and
initiatives

APEC economies would be invited to give presentations on their
experience of food safety regulation and certification processes.

APEC economies would be invited to discuss food regulation
issues where increased cooperation would be possible and
beneficial.

Representatives from China, Australia and Thailand would be
invited to lead discussions on the food safety cooperation
initiative.
Day Two:

APEC economies would be invited to give presentations and
discuss areas where APEC economies require capacity building
and information sharing.
o APEC economies to agree on priority areas.
o Discussion on how best to address the need for capacity
building and information sharing. The seminar would be
requested to agree upon a program to take forward food
safety cooperation and next steps to achieve agreed
outcomes.