In response to the Seventy-third World Health Assembly resolution on “Strengthening efforts on food safety” (WHA73.5), the WHO global strategy for food safety 2022–2030 (GSFS) was adopted in 2022. The GSFS includes three high-level targets, two of which rely on data collected from the revised International Health Regulations (IHR) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. Data obtained through the IHR Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tool is used as a source for the capacity indicator on surveillance of foodborne diseases and contamination, with a target of a global average capacity score of 3.5 (out of 5) by 2030.

The purpose of the JEE is to measure country-specific status and progress in developing capacity to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to public health threats, be they naturally occurring, deliberate or accidental. Food safety is recognized as one of the 19 technical areas under the PREVENT pillar based on the JEE tool third edition. Prior to this edition published in 2022, there were two other versions of the JEE tools used (first edition for 2016-2017, and second edition for (2018-2021).

To learn more about a Joint External Evaluation, please visit: https://www.who.int/emergencies/operations/international-health-regulations-monitoring-evaluation-framework/joint-external-evaluations.

Percentage of food safety scores that have been attained at a specific point in time based on respective JEE tool used.

Core capacity: the essential public health capacity that States Parties are required to have in place throughout their territories pursuant to Articles 5 and 12, and Annex 1A of the IHR (2005) requirements by the year 2012. Thirteen core capacities and 24 indicators are defined in this document. Indicator: a variable that can be measured repeatedly (directly or indirectly) over time to reveal change in a system. It can be qualitative or quantitative, allowing the objective measurement of the progress of a programme or event. The quantitative measurements need to be interpreted in the broader context, taking other sources of information (e.g. supervisory reports and special studies) into consideration and they should be supplemented with qualitative information. Attributes: one of a set of specific elements or characteristics that reflect the level of performance or achievement of a specific indicator. The capability levels: each attribute has been assigned a level of maturity, or a ‘capability level.’ Attainment of a given capability level requires that all attributes at lower levels are in place. In the checklist, the status of core capacity development is measured at five capability levels, each of the 5 levels used is described by specific indicators, according to related capacity.

The first stage of the on-going JEE process is a self-evaluation completed by the country with multisectoral engagement using the JEE tool and country implementation guide. The JEE team, consisting of international subject matter experts, then visit the country for facilitated in-depth review of the self-evaluation data, structured site visits and meetings organized by the host country. The final status levels for each indicator are prepared by the JEE team at the end of the evaluation, accompanied by identified gaps, opportunities, and challenges for capacity development. The draft report is shared for the host country to review, and subsequently the final report is published on WHO website (https://www.who.int/emergencies/operations/international-health-regulations-monitoring-evaluation-framework/joint-external-evaluations).

Computation Method: INDICATOR LEVEL: The score is based on the assessment of a level of performance for food safety indicators on a scale of 1 to 5. When processed, the score of each indicator level is classified as a percentage of performance along the 1-5. For example, for a country selecting level 3 for indicator 13.1, the indicator level will be expressed as: 3/5 x 100=60%.

Aggregate of each food safety indicator score, by country/number of countries submitted the JEE tool to determine whether a functional system is in place for:

2nd edition		3rd edition
P5.1. Surveillance systems in place for the detection and monitoring of foodborne diseases and foodborne contamination.	P5.2. Mechanisms are established and functioning for the response and management of food safety emergencies.	P6.1. Surveillance of foodborne diseases and contamination.	P6.2. Response and management of food safety emergencies.

Every four or five years

fbd-burden@who.int

Charlee Roberts

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1) The JEE is based on voluntary participation by the State Party. 2) Since its inception in 2016, there have been three versions of the JEE. The first edition includes 1 indicator (Score P5.1), the second edition has 2 indicators (Score P5.1, Score P5.2), and the third edition introduces new indicators (Score P6.1, Score P6.2). Therefore, comparing scores across reports is limited due to these changes.