Background
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) have been working together under the framework of a project labelled as Data-driven innovation in food safety in region of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This project aims to improve food safety regulatory outcomes in targeted regions and globally through the strategic integration of digital solutions, data-driven approaches, and collaborative initiatives, with special attention on remote audit and inspection as well as electronic sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates. UNIDO in collaboration with DAFF and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) organized a regional workshop on remote audit and inspection in October 2023 in Hanoi where regulators from the ASEAN region shared their experience and practices related to this domain. There was a consensus among these regulators that developing a regional standard for remote audit and inspection will have positive implications.
Remote audit and inspection practices have evolved among regulators during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure compliance with social distancing regulations. Although there might be some setbacks in these, remote audit and inspection can improve efficiency in delivering official controls and offer better oversight for countries whose territory consists of multiple islands and where food production might be dispersed. Like physical audit and inspection activities, regulators would need to follow a structured, planned and well-executed process. Recognizing the necessity of a rapid response to the emerging trends in food control practices during COVID-19 pandemic, Codex regulators have adopted Principles and guidelines on the use of remote audit and inspection in regulatory frameworks (CXG 102-2023) in November 2023.
Similarly to remote audit and inspection, the uptake of electronic sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates, particularly e-phyto solution, accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, some competent authorities have reportedly returned to paper-based practices for various reasons. Paperless exchange of official certificates can still improve traceability throughout the supply chains, decrease fraudulent activities, reduce food waste, cut trade times and costs.[1]
Objective of the event
The purpose of this workshop, co-organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), ASEAN Secretariat and Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, is:
- To validate analytical assessments on the current status of remote audit and electronic certification among ASEAN member states
- To build capacities of ASEAN food safety regulators on best practices related to remote audit and inspection as well as application of SPS electronic certificates
- To facilitate the initiation of developing ASEAN-wide standard on remote audit and inspection
Documentation for the event
- Principles and Guidelines on the Use of Remote Audit and Inspection in Regulatory Frameworks (CXG 102-2023) - https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCXG%2B102-2023%252FCXG_102e.pdf
- Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and Use of Generic Official Certificates (CXG 38-2001) Rev. 2021 https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/en/?lnk=1&url=https%253A%252F%252Fworkspace.fao.org%252Fsites%252Fcodex%252FStandards%252FCXG%2B38-2001%252FCXG_038e.pdf
- UN/CEFACT Standard on e-CERT : Electronic SPS Certificate: https://unece.org/trade/uncefact/ecert
Contact details
In case there are any questions, concerning the workshop, please contact the relevant person:
- Technical content: Mr. Gabor Molnar (g.molnar@unido.org) and Mr. Ilias Aguenaou (i.aguenaou@unido.org
- Logistics (travel, visa and hotel): Ms. Niveen Fahmy (n.fahmy@unido.org)
- ASEAN focal point: Mr. Mohammed Fikri Kodri (fikri.kodri@asean.org)
- Facilitators from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia: Mr. Glen Edmunds (glen.edmunds@aff.gov.au) and Mr. Matthew Moore (matthew.moore@aff.gov.au
