Food control system assessment tool: Introduction and glossary

Book excerpt: The main objective of the tool is to propose a harmonized, objective and consensual basis to analyse the performance of a national food control system. It is intended to be used by countries as a supporting basis for self-assessment to identify priority areas of improvement and plan sequential and coordinated activities to reach expected outcomes, and by repeating the assessment on a regular basis, countries can monitor their progresses. The Tool is based on Codex principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems as well as other relevant Codex guidance for food control systems, which are referenced throughout the document. Its scope is given by the dual objectives quoted in Codex guidance for these systems: protect health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. This introductory volume presents the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, providing background to its development and outlining its main scope and objectives. It presents a thorough review of the assessment Tool structure, breaking it down into its constitutive elements (dimensions, sub-dimensions, competencies and assessment criteria). Finally, it gives an overview of the assessment approach, from the ratings to the descriptive analysis supporting the allocation of scores. The volume also contains a glossary of useful terms and the list of Codex documents referenced in the Tool.