Vusumuzi Dube
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora on Wednesday inaugurated a new 16-member Food Advisory Standard Board (FSAB) urging it to finish the outstanding work that its predecessor left.
Corporate lawyer Panganayi Hare chairs the board, which is made up of biotechnology experts, health officers, food inspectors, standards board and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe among others.
The objectives of the board include providing for the sale, and importation for sale, of food in a pure state, prohibiting the sale, importation and manufacture for sale of food that is falsely described, and fixing standards relating to food.
Dr Mombeshora urged the new board to finish the outstanding work that its predecessor left, which includes revision of outdated food regulations such as the soft drink regulations.
He also urged the new board to ensure that consumers are not exposed to unsafe food, emphasising the importance of working closely with other government departments to ensure consumers are not exposed to unsafe food.
“Several pre-mix suppliers were certified under the food fortification program and more than 20 food products were also certified. There is outstanding work that you need to complete which includes revision of outdated food regulations such as the soft drink regulations and many others,” he said.
The new FSAB chair Hare said his team was ready for the task. “We have understood the mandate and what is expected from us as a board and we promise that we will carry out the mandate as expected from us. We will make sure that we will put Zimbabwe on the map regarding food safety issues,” he said.
New Ziana
Bongani Ndlovu