Safe Food for Local & Global Consumption
UMFCCI, Yangon – 1st March, 2014
Presented by
Saint Yi Htet
B. E. (Chemical); Diploma in Food Technology (YTU)
Master in Public Administration (LKYSPP, NUS)
A Member of Myanmar Transitional Platform (Singapore)
Disclaimer: The presenter is currently working as Senior Plant Hygiene Executive at a multinational food manufacturing company in Singapore.
This sharing is made on her personal capacity as a citizen of Myanmar, not representing any business organization.

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Food Safety

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Outline
- Vision
- Current & Upcoming Food Safety Issues
- Food Laws in the neighboring countries
- Example of Food Law Enforcement
- Impact on Public Health
- Way Forward

Access to SAFE FOOD
Vision

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Current & Upcoming Issues

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Current & Upcoming Issues

Regulatory
Authority
Consumer Industry
Effective Food Safety Management System
Safe Food
Universities, Research Centers, Conferences
Legislation&
Enforcement
Awareness
Responsibility
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Fundamentals of Food Safety

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Food Laws in neighboring countries
Thailand Malaysia Indonesia Singapore
Main Law
Food Act 1979 :
To protect
consumers from
health hazards …
unsafe food such as
impure/
adulterated /
substandard
food
Food Act 1983
To protect the public
against health
hazards …
Unsafe food in respect of
composition, false
labelling and misleading
advertisement,
importation, warranties and
defences.
Act No. 7 of
1996 on Food
To ensure food
availability … on
safety,
quality and
nutrition
To create an honest
and responsible
food trade
Sale of Food Act : To secure the
wholesomeness and purity of food,
fix standards for food To prevent
the sale of articles which are
dangerous or injurious to
health This act defines food, prohibits the
sales of foods which are contaminated,
unsafe or unfit for human
consumption as well as pre-packed
foods which are not properly labelled or
labelled in a misleading manner. It also
requires food manufacturers in
Singapore to be licensed.
Supporting Laws:
Describe the
procedures for
application for
various licenses
food packaging,
incidental constituent,
food standard
Tobacco, cigars and
cigarettes in
advertisement,
Supporting
regulation on
labels and food
advertisement
Focuses on the procedural matters
for food establishments, the
cleanliness of food establishment
and food handlers

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Myanmar National Food Law

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Authority and Strengths for Enforcement
The authority of Regulatory Body is in question!

33 incidents
204 affected
15 hospitalized
Closure of 38 outlets & factory
Fines 5,000 SGD
Approximately 1 month cleaning & disinfection
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Food Safety Enforcement: An Experience

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Food Safety Enforcement: An Experience

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Strengths & Facility needed for Food Safety
Food
Safety
Management
System
Infrastructure

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Impact on Public Health

Singapore, 1960s
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Way Forward – where did they start?

1960s – PPD improved livelihood of farmers; introduced farm licensing
1970s – focused on R&D; upgraded Jurong Fishing Port; upgraded labs
1980s – agro tech parks; established integrated FS program
1990s – resulted in ample supply of primary food
to Singapore; facilitated trade
2000 and beyond
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Way Forward – how did they do?

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Way Forward – where should we start?
Street Foods/ Vendors
Cottage Industry/ SME
Agriculture/ Livestock
Grade
A
Excellent Cleanliness
& Food Hygiene

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Way Forward – What must we do now?
Commitment!
- Complex Food Safety Issues need to be regulated
- Legislation is in place
- Effective Enforcement requires Authority, System & Infrastructure
- What we need is …
Where can MTP members contribute?
Information/ Best Practice Sharing, Policy planning, monitoring, evaluation and review!