FAO/WHO guide for application of risk analysis principles and procedures during food safety emergencies

Overview

An essential part of the Food Safety Emergency Response (FSER) is the process of assessing the risk, making risk management decisions, and communicating risk in the face of time constraints, lack of data and knowledge gaps. While the elements for conducting a risk analysis have been documented by Codex (2007), the process of applying the risk analysis concept operationally during an emergency has not been addressed thoroughly. Some countries do, however, have well-defined procedures for assessing, managing, and communicating food safety risks in the context of emergency situations, from which best practices may be derived.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed this document to support countries in applying risk analysis principles and procedures during emergencies in their own national food control systems, as risk analysis is a key component of national FSER planning.

This document was developed to assist countries in understanding essential elements in the application of risk analysis during emergencies, within the framework of their FSER plan. The principles and procedures may also apply to other food safety events that are not necessarily emergencies but that requires action to be taken under time constraints and uncertainly.