New food assessment system in UAE: See details here
Image credit: FAO/Manan Vatsyayana
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched the Food Control System Assessment in the UAE.
— وزارة التغير المناخي والبيئة (@MoCCaEUAE)
Read:
It was launched during a five-day inception and training workshop held at MOCCAE headquarters in Dubai. More than 50 professionals from the UAE's Competent Authorities (CAs) participated in the workshop, marking the beginning of a comprehensive evaluation of the national food control system.
Dr Mohammed Salman Al Hammadi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at MOCCAE, said food safety is a key pillar of the UAE's National Food Security Strategy and plays a crucial role in protecting public health.
Find out:
The Food Control Systems Evaluation Project–Food Safety Index has been launched in collaboration with the FAO, with index measurement set to begin in 2025.
Reason why the project has been launched
The project aims to:
Assess the current status of food safety systems in the UAE
Identify necessary initiatives and actions for the ministry and local authorities to enhance existing systems in line with international best practices
Determine the food safety rate at the federal level
The authorities will also review data and the capabilities of food regulatory bodies in the country as part of the project
Food establishments, imported food shipments, food laboratories, animal feed, and other related aspects of food safety will also be considered.
Advantages: How the assessment will help the UAE
This assessment will provide valuable insights and data needed to strengthen the UAE's food safety system.
Not only will it assist the country in addressing food safety risks, but it will also help align the UAE with global best practices and promote regional and international trade.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
36 minutes ago
- Zawya
Zimbabwe: Food security and markets monitoring report, April 2025
Situation Update The Second Round Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA-2, 2025) reports a strong recovery in Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, with total cereal production reaching 2,928,206 MT, driven by improved weather conditions and expanded cultivation of maize (up 6.4%) and drought-resistant traditional grains (pearl millet up 29%). Despite a national cereal surplus ranging from 811,732MT to 1,225,732 MT, some districts will require food assistance highlighting persistent regional disparities (CLAFA-2, 2025). The rebound underscores the success of climate-adaptive policies, but targeted interventions remain critical to address food distribution gaps. On the economic front, Zimbabwe's annual inflation stood at 85.7% (April 2025), with a 0.6% monthly rise in local currency prices, while USD-denominated inflation remained low (0.2% monthly). The FAO Food Price Index rose 1% in April, influenced by higher cereal, dairy, and meat prices, though it remains 19.9% below its 2022 peak. Meanwhile, the Food Poverty Line (FPL) reached ZWG 862.06 per person, with the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) at ZWG 1,263.41, reflecting ongoing cost-of-living pressures despite agricultural recovery. Highlights In USD terms, the month on month inflation was 0.2% up from 0.1% while the annual inflation was 14.4% in April 2025. In local currency, the month on month inflation rate was 0.6% up from -0.1% in March 2025 (RBZ). The seasonal rainfall performance has been characterised by mixed conditions but has concluded generally on a positive note with the country estimating surplus agricultural production (WFP Monitoring). The CLAFA-2 report observed some improvements in crop, livestock and pasture conditions across the country due to significant rains received in both surplus and deficit– producing areas. Maize meal was available in an average of 85% of the rural and urban markets. Other food commodities monitored were generally available in most markets (WFP Monitoring). Price of food on the international market increased by 1% according to the FAO price index. The index stood at 128.3 points. The USD and ZWG cost of the monitored food and non food essential needs basket remained the same in both urban and rural markets when compared to March 2025 (WFP Monitoring). © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
6 days ago
- Zawya
FAO signs $33mln agreement to enhance treated wastewater use in southern Jordan
AMMAN — As part of national efforts to transform water use and management, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) has signed an agreement with Consolidated Consultants for Engineering and Environment to provide consultancy services for the design and supervision of treated wastewater storage ponds. The agreement, signed at the FAO office in Amman, falls under the 'Building Resilience to Climate Change in Jordan through Improving Water Use Efficiency in the Agriculture Sector' (BRCCJ) project. The project aims to reduce the environmental impact of reclaimed water while enhancing climate resilience and water security in the agricultural sector, according to a statement by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. The new partnership will support the regulation and expansion of treated wastewater usage from three wastewater treatment plants in Madaba, Mutah and Tafileh, by improving irrigation infrastructure and preparing tender documents for the construction of dedicated storage ponds to help farming communities cope with the dual pressures of water scarcity and climate change. The BRCCJ project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by FAO in cooperation with the ministries of water and irrigation, agriculture, environment, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is also part of the Economic Modernisation Vision Executive Programme, which aims to build sustainable and climate-resilient development pathways across the Kingdom, according to the statement. During the signing ceremony, FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf said, 'This agreement marks a critical step under Component 1 of the BRCCJ project, which focuses on building climate-resilient water systems to enhance water security.' He added, 'Water scarcity is one of Jordan's most pressing challenges, and climate change is exacerbating the situation. This project supports Jordan's Green Growth Plan and water strategies by promoting efficient and safe reuse of treated wastewater in line with Jordanian Standard No. 893:2021.' Assaf also noted that once the project is completed, additional volumes of treated water would be made available to farmers during the high-demand summer months. 'Maximising the reuse of treated water is essential to preserving Jordan's limited water resources and raising awareness of the water crisis,' he said. Hanan Awad, representing Consolidated Consultants, expressed appreciation to FAO for the opportunity to contribute to national water sustainability efforts. 'We are committed to delivering this project to the highest standards and to making a meaningful contribution to sustainable water management in Jordan,' she said. 'We look forward to playing a role in enhancing the use of treated wastewater as a reliable water source in line with national and international efforts to combat water scarcity and strengthen community resilience to climate change.' Valued at $33.25 million, the BRCCJ project targets four governorates within the Dead Sea Basin—Madaba, Karak, Tafileh, and Maan—which are particularly vulnerable to climate-related water stress. JT
The National
27-05-2025
- The National
Gaza's farmland has been almost erased
Gaza's agricultural sector has been devastated, with a recent UN assessment revealing that only 4.6 per cent of the enclave's arable land remains usable. The destruction of farmland, coupled with restrictions on the entry of aid lorries into the enclave, has pushed Gaza's entire population to the brink of famine. The Food and Agriculture Organisation and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) report that more than 80 per cent of Gaza's farmland has been damaged, and 77.8 per cent is inaccessible, leaving 688 hectares available for cultivation. Israel's military operations have severely impaired Gaza's capacity for self-sustenance. Farms, orchards and greenhouses have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible, depriving Palestinians of food and livelihoods. Before the current conflict began in October 2023, agriculture was important to Gaza's economy and food security. Although Gaza was never fully self-sufficient, the sector contributed about 6 to 11 per cent of the GDP and employed a significant portion of the population. Local farms supplied about 12 per cent of the average daily caloric intake per person, producing crops including citrus fruits, dates, olives and vegetables, according to a joint study by the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Centre for Humanitarian Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. However, this lifeline has steadily been eroded. Remote sensing analyses by the UN Satellite Centre indicate a sharp decline in viable cropland: 8 per cent damaged by December 2023; 28 per cent by January 2024; 43 per cent by February 2024; and 57 per cent by May 2024. Much of the remaining agricultural land has been bulldozed, bombed or lies in areas that farmers can no longer safely access. Geospatial imagery reveals the widespread degradation from above. 'This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza's agrifood system and of lifelines,' said Beth Bechdol, deputy director general of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. International aid agencies have described the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network and other hunger monitors warn that more than half a million people face catastrophic food insecurity.
