Trade Minister Inks ASEAN Food Safety Agreement

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan ratified ASEAN Food Safety Regulatory Framework (AFSRF) on Sunday, August 20, 2023, in Semarang, Central Java. AFSRF is an agreement on the creation of a comprehensive and integrated approach to food safety in ASEAN.

Zulkifli said that the agreement is in line with ASEAN's vision to ensure food safety as provided in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Blueprint 2025. 

The agreement is also intended to realize consumer health protection and facilitate a safe food flow in ASEAN by boosting the harmonization of standardization implementation, sanitation, and phytosanitation.

ASEAN members also agreed to minimize technical hindrances to food trade and reduce systemic differences between ASEAN members' national food management.

AFSRF consisted of stakeholders from three sectors, namely health, economy, and agriculture. Thus, the drafting process involved ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM), ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF), and ASEAN Health Ministers
Meeting (AHMM). 

According to Zulhas, ARSRF will provide legal certainty on consumer protection concerning access to safe and healthy food in ASEAN. The agreement obliges all state parties to implement food safety measures based on an independent, objective, and transparent scientific analysis.

The agreement will enter into force after all ASEAN members submit an Instrument of Ratification to the ASEAN Secretariat. Meanwhile, an amendment is allowed with the agreement of all ASEAN state members.

Following the agreement, ASEAN Food Safety Coordinating Committees (AFSCC) will be established to draft, supervise, and study the implementation of FSRF, including the agreement's protocol.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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