INFOSAN International Food Safety Authorities Network Jenny Bishop and Carmen Savelli World Health Organization Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Introduction • Daily reports of foodborne outbreaks around the globe; various populations; numerous different foods • Foodborne diseases are not just diarrhoeal diseases; many different hazards and hundreds of individual contaminants and causes • Contamination can occur at many different points in the food chain – this makes the assessment of the actual burden of disease very complex and challenging to address
Origin of INFOSAN • Resolutions of the World Health Assembly in 2000 and 2002 (improved communication re: food safety; WHO to coordinate identification/response to food safety emergencies) • Specific request from FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission in 2004 for WHO to develop a network for the exchange of information during food safety emergencies • INFOSAN launched by WHO in 2004 in collaboration with FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
What is INFOSAN and its Purpose? • A voluntary network of national food safety authorities (178 countries) jointly managed by FAO/WHO • Aims to prevent international spread of contaminated food and foodborne disease and strengthen food safety systems globally, by: • promoting the rapid exchange of information during food safety events • sharing information on important food safety issues of global interest • promoting partnership and collaboration between countries • helping countries strengthen their capacity to manage food safety risks Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INFOSAN Membership • Emergency Contact Points From the national authority responsible for coordination of national food safety emergency response • Focal Points Other national authorities with a stake in food safety (i.e. human health, veterinary health, agriculture, trade, fisheries, etc.) • Other members Advisory Group Members, WHO Regional Food Safety Advisors; FAO Regional Food Safety Officers; Regional Food Safety Authorities (i.e. ECDC, OIRSA, etc.) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INFOSAN Structure Emergency Contact Point (Food Safety Focal Point Authority) C Focal Point (e.g. Health B (e.g. Department) Agriculture) D INFOSAN Country A Secretariat Focal Point E (FAO/WHO) (e.g. Industry Focal Point (e.g. Trade) and Standards) F X n Focal Point Focal Point (e.g. (e.g. Veterinary Fisheries) Services) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INFOSAN Advisory Group • Advise the Secretariat on effective ways to interact with Member States • Review current operations and recommend ways to improve the functions of the Network • Provide input on the INFOSAN strategic plan and work plan • Engage in strengthening the Network through advocacy and fund raising Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Routine Activities • INFOSAN Information Notes are developed by the INFOSAN Secretariat to provide key information about emergent or topical food safety issues • Food safety guidelines, questionnaires, surveys, newsletters and factsheets are shared with INFOSAN members for further dissemination within their organizations • INFOSAN members aid routine in-country sharing of information to strengthen the national food control system • INFOSAN Members are engaged by the Secretariat for gathering information on emerging issues Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Emergency Activities • INFOSAN identifies, verifies and shares information on food safety-related events which involve contaminated foods in international commerce, and foodborne illness outbreaks, not limited to one country • INFOSAN Secretariat provides technical assistance to national governments in managing food safety and food production- related events or emergencies • INFOSAN Secretariat coordinates information exchange between countries and will facilitate technical assistance in the field, if requested Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
INFOSAN Secretariat Event Detection and Action Information Sources WHO Alert and WHO Regional I NFOSAN Contact Other Partners Media/Internet Response Food Safety/IHR and/or Focal i.e. RASFF, Searches Operations (ARO) Contacts Points GLEWS, etc. Internal Assessment and Verification WHO Regional WHO Programs Food Safety/IHR FAO Programs Contacts Is follow up needed? Post Alert to No Yes Network Assessment Send Monitor if Alert to No Further Consider lessons information needed network further info learned to be request to (consult action needed shared INFOSAN with Close File Emergency country) Close File Close File Contact Point
Emergency Activities • Global Early Warning System for Major Animal Diseases, including Zoonoses (GLEWS) • World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) • Global Foodborne Infections Network (GFN) • European Union - Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) • EMPRES Food Safety • WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network • PulseNet International • APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
International Health Regulations (IHR) • Old IHR (1969) only covered Yellow Fever, Cholera and Plague • New IHR (2005) include all public health emergencies of international concern - including those caused by food • Member States are obliged to declare all public health emergencies of international concern to WHO • Reports from sources other than Member States (media, private sector, NGOs, social networks, etc.) • WHO 24-hour monitoring, operations and response Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Reporting under the IHR (2005) National IHR Focal Under the IHR (2005) Point States Parties are required to assess public health events WHO utilizing this decision IHR RO instrument and notify WHO of all qualifying events within 24 hours of such an assessment. WHO HQ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
What is unique about Food Safety Events? • Requires collaboration of different partners in-country • Requires different expertise than most infectious disease events • Requires different types of questions to be asked • Often multi-regional due to international distribution • Sometimes treated with lower priority in the face of other infectious disease events • Can have major economic and trade implications Multi-disciplinary, Multi-sectoral, Integrated, Collaborative Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Key aspects of IHR for Food Safety • Food safety events which could have international implications should be reported to WHO in accordance with the IHR • Includes events due to imported foods or events that are linked to domestic product known to have been exported abroad – Can help to confirm food vehicle if other countries observing same problem – Can help to avoid illnesses in other countries • Links need to be established between INFOSAN Emergency Contact Points and IHR NFP Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Sample Protocol for Communication between INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point and National IHR Focal Point • Some countries have established agreed upon administrative procedures for notification of, and communication with the INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point regarding identification, assessment and management of food safety related public health events that may have international implications • Sample protocol template is in the new INFOSAN Members' Guide Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Aim ims and obje jectiv ives of IN INFOSAN Aims and objectives of INFOSAN Example of INFOSAN in Action S. Oranienburg in Galactooligosaccharide (GOS) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Outbreak of S. Oranienburg in Russia linked to internationally distributed powdered infant formula from Belgium – January 2012 • Russian media report picked up Belgium by WHO-EURO and relayed to Russia INFOSAN Secretariat • INFOSAN Secretariat contacted RASFF Secretariat and colleagues in Belgium Haiti • Belgian Authorities Congo subsequently launched an Burundi investigation into the Belgian Mozambique producer • Communicated to INFOSAN Secretariat that product was sent to additional countries INFOSAN Alert • INFOSAN notified national authorities in these countries Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Outbreak of S. Oranienburg in Russia linked to internationally distributed powdered infant formula from Belgium – January 2012 Belgium Russia Haiti Congo Burundi Mozambique Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
International Distribution of GOS and Products Containing GOS from South Korea ( + S. Oranienburg in USA and Netherlands with same PFGE) Norway UK Belgium Russia Netherlands USA France South Korea China Hong Kong Taiwan Haiti Congo Peru Burundi Mozambique New Zealand Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
International Distribution of GOS and Products Containing GOS from South Korea ( + S. Oranienburg in USA and Netherlands with same PFGE) INFOSAN Alert
Strengthening the Food Safety Community Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
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