Is Proper Regulation the Key to Correct Antibiotic Use and Food Safety?
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Synopsis
Experts at the Global Food Regulators Summit emphasize the importance of effective regulation in antibiotic use to enhance food safety and combat antimicrobial resistance. With insights from global leaders, the summit fosters collaboration for a safer food future.
Key Takeaways
- Effective regulation is essential for the responsible use of antibiotics.
- Food safety is fundamentally about trust.
- AI and data analytics can significantly improve food safety protocols.
- Collaboration among stakeholders is vital for enhancing food safety systems.
- Proper packaging and digital technologies are crucial for maintaining food safety.
New Delhi, Sep 27 (NationPress) Effective regulation plays a vital role in ensuring the proper use of antibiotics, improving food safety, and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as highlighted by experts on Saturday.
During the Global Food Regulators Summit 2025, organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, experts discussed various strategies for enhancing food safety systems and regulatory frameworks throughout the food value chain.
"This summit is crucial for food regulators, as safety in food is paramount in many aspects. One significant concern is antimicrobial resistance, which leads to numerous fatalities in human health. We must clarify the extent to which antibiotic use in livestock contributes to this issue," stated Professor Anders Dalsgaard, a veterinary public health expert from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in an interview with IANS.
"Thus, we must establish regulatory programs that collaborate with farmers and industries to ensure that antibiotics are used responsibly and effectively," he added.
Dr. Annie Rahman, CEO of the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority, emphasized that food safety has become a worldwide concern and is fundamentally about trust.
"Food safety is a constantly evolving field with ongoing improvements and extensive collaboration," she remarked.
Dr. Katerina Mastovska, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Science Officer at AOAC International, USA, underscored the significance of leveraging advanced tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics in food safety.
"We certainly need to create guidelines on implementing AI tools in food analysis and utilizing them effectively," she informed IANS.
Vincent Arbuckle, Deputy Director-General of New Zealand Food Safety, praised India for its systematic approach to managing food safety on a large scale.
"As a small country with a population of just five and a half million, we can learn significantly from India's management of food safety within its diverse cultures and its ambition to enhance food exports," Arbuckle noted.
Kofi Essuman from the World Packaging Organization (WPO) in Austria spoke about the necessity of embracing digital technologies to improve food safety.
"In this age of digitalization and AI, it is imperative to transform our approach to food regulation by incorporating various digital technologies," Essuman stated.
He highlighted the importance of proper packaging in maintaining food safety while advocating for the responsible use of plastics to prevent contamination and ensure environmentally safe disposal.
Meanwhile, Angshu Mallick, Managing Director & CEO of AWL Agri Business, emphasized the significance of traditional Indian cooking methods and advocated for boosting domestic production of edible oil.
"Currently, we import 60 percent of our edible oil. We must enhance our domestic production. To this end, we plan to initiate a mustard model farm," he shared with IANS.
Point of View
I believe that the ongoing discussions at the Global Food Regulators Summit are not only timely but essential. The collaboration between nations to standardize food safety regulations will pave the way for a healthier future. The interconnectedness of our global food systems necessitates a unified approach to combatting AMR and ensuring food safety.
NationPress
27/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of proper antibiotic regulation?
Proper antibiotic regulation is vital for ensuring responsible use in agriculture, which helps combat antimicrobial resistance and protects public health.
How does food safety impact public trust?
Food safety directly influences consumer trust; when food safety standards are upheld, consumers are more likely to have confidence in the food they consume.
What role does AI play in food safety?
AI can enhance food safety by enabling more accurate analysis and monitoring, helping to identify potential risks and improve regulatory compliance.
Why is collaboration important in food safety?
Collaboration among regulators, farmers, and industries is crucial for developing effective food safety practices and ensuring compliance with standards.
What are the key challenges in food regulation?
Challenges include ensuring compliance across diverse food systems, combating AMR, and adapting to new technologies in food safety.
