Brahim Houla
IAF CMC Chair
Accreditation Services Manager, GCC Accreditation Center (GAC)

‘Food safety, everyone’s business’ was the central theme of the Arab Accreditation and Food Safety Week (AAFSW) that took place between 06-10 June. Supported by the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) and Arab Food Safety Initiative for Trade Facilitation (SAFE), a series of events took place to coincide with World Food Safety Day (WFSD) and World Accreditation Day, to improve quality assurance and protect the consumer in the Arab region.

More than 500 participants attended the various events, which were also broadcast live through ARAC’s Facebook page.

A number of online activities were held during the week, highlighting ways to further develop the infrastructure for accreditation and food safety and the pivotal role they play in protecting consumers. In addition, a number of capacity-building activities were conducted to strengthen ARAC and SAFE members’ competencies.

WFSD was celebrated on 07 June to inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.

All ARAC members met online on 09 June together with representatives from diverse stakeholders from the 22 Arab countries.  

A new ARAC website was launched live to members with a presentation of the different modules that the new site offers to ARAC members, its committees, the secretariat and other users.

The week also provided the opportunity to carry out online training on risk assessment and the new IAF/ILAC A3:03/2020 IAF/ILAC Multi-Lateral Mutual Recognition Arrangements. A workshop was also held to review ARAC members’ response to COVID-19, and to consider future technical committee work.

Delegates reported that they found the events to be a valuable source of information and that further online training and e-learning would be well received.