The Norwegian government is considering radical proposals contained in a new report that advocates tough new legislation that would greatly enhance the core powers of Mattilsynet, the country’s national food safety agency.
The report, which was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, recommends that a new Food Safety Control unit be established within Mattilsynet to police compliance to food safety laws regulating the processing, production and handling of foods in Norway.
“The report makes it absolutely clear that there is a need for tighter supervision in the area of food processing, production, and the overall adherence to hygiene standards as set down in existing laws. This whole area needs to be prioratised, and this is why a special unit dedicated to investigating, policing and enforcing highest food safety standards is needed,” said Agriculture and Food Minister Terje Riis Johansen.
Riis Johansen said he intends to meet with Mattilsynet’s board “by the end of January” to discuss how the report’s principal recommendations can be implemented.
The Det Norske Veritas report came as a direct response to a serious outbreak of e-coli bacteria in ground meat products in February 2006. The outbreak caused the death of one child and non-fatal infections in 18 other children and adults. The e-coli was traced to ground meats supplied by Gilde. The foods company has paid voluntary compensation of between EUR3,000 (us$3,910.58) and EUR25,000 to those infected by the e-coli outbreak. The highest level of compensation went to the dead child’s family.
Joakim Lystad, CEO of Mattilsynet, said the agency is taking the report seriously and has already started to revamp its organisation’s ability to supervise and regulate food safety on a “nationwide basis”.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
