INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY H.E. PROF. GUIDO DE MARCO, PRESIDENT OF MALTA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURAL CONFERENCE "THE IMPACT OF FOOD SAFETY CONTROL", ORGANISED BY THE WORLD FOOD SAFETY ORGANISATION - CORINTHIA SAN GORG HOTEL, ST GEORGE'S BAY

Mr Chairman, Honourable Minister,

Distinguished Audience, Ladies and Gentlemen,

When a few months ago Mr Kurkjian visited my Office, I welcomed his idea and the opportunity to inaugurate this first conference of the World Food Safety Organisation – because I believe there is an ever growing consciousness of the importance of healthy eating, and especially the necessity of providing ourselves and our children with safe food; because ultimately food is that essential ingredient that fuels and sustains every motion and activity of our daily existence.

The simple fact of life is that the healthier the food we eat, the healthier (and longer) we can possibly live. It is a matter directly related to our standards of living, and the quality of our food intake is one of the major indicators of such standards. In this respect, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that our health remains a priority.

I believe it appropriate that this first conference of the World Food Safety Organisation be held in Malta that, according to a recent World Health Organisation survey, ranks fifth in the world in matters of health care services. But health care is not just hospitals and medical care. We all recognise – Government, business and the public – that the safety of food is a must for a society that prides itself with such an achievement. Although we have come a long way in matters of hygiene and safety standards, we acknowledge that more can be done for our safeguard and confidence.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the greatest effects of the industrial revolution on the life of man was the severing of the contact of people from the land which produces food, from livestock that grazed the fields, from a way of life that had seemed permanent for generations.

The phenomenon of urbanisation generally accompanied the drive towards industrialisation. Factories and industry replaced farms and countryside communities. The net effect of all this was the definite detachment of working men and women from direct contact with the production of food.

In over two centuries, societies developed and modified further. The latest revolution which we have witnessed in our lifetime and of which we have not experienced the whole array of effects was that brought about by Information Technology – the digital revolution that further distanced us from our sources of nutrition.

Today, most of us purchase foodstuffs from the shelves of supermarkets and local grocery stores. Fortunately, markets still survive. The fish market in Marsaxlokk is one such thriving example. However, in all probability, in a few years' time, buying food through the internet will become more convenient and popular. This could be our ultimate detachment from the remaining vestiges of the food supply chain with which we have contact. Notwithstanding this lack of contact, it is essential that the alimentary goods which we eat and drink be genuine and healthy, as appropriate to the standards of a civilised society.

Therefore, it is clear that we require to develop and maintain trust in what we buy or is being delivered to our tables.

I believe I am correct, within the parameters of generalisation, in stating that today, many consumers – and that involves all of us – are unaware of the procedures and methods involved in the production of foodstuffs. How many comprehend the nature of most of the ingredients listed on packaging? How many appreciate the modern technology and conditions prevalent in the rearing of livestock? How many of us can distinguish the often subtle difference of nutritional elements, be they genetically modified or not?

This ignorance on the part of the general consumer will naturally be fanned and inflamed by news of disease outbreaks and the potential risks to human health.

Therefore, an independent forum which is a creditable and impartial voice that provides information through training and conferences to both the commercially interested parties and the general public will be a welcome catalyst in the chain linking producer to supplier to consumer.

The underlying fact is that all concerned have an interest in fostering confidence in the safety and in the genuine nature of the food we put on our tables, be it for economic or health concerns.

Especially in the past few years, many legislative developments have been adopted to safeguard consumers against health risks from alimentary products. The heated debate on genetically modified foods, the recent outbreaks of BSE, the dioxin crisis and foot and mouth disease have amplified the importance of such precautionary legislative measures. Today, standards have been set aimed at protecting consumers – standards that often bear a cost which producers, suppliers and consumers alike have to make up for.

In a market-driven society, it is of the essence that commercial and financial concerns be given due importance. Therefore, one of the most laudable effects of the World Food Safety Organisation should be that of linking up the interests of both supply and demand, in providing a common platform for the interaction of supplier- and consumer-oriented ideas and initiatives.

We are all aware of the consequences that the latest serious health scares have had on producers, suppliers and retailers, not to mention their effect to the economies of countries, especially where these problems were most prominent. But we must also consider the collateral damage done to consumer confidence, resulting from a reaction of concern and apprehension to the terrible news, spread through mass media, of the risks involved in ingesting contaminated food.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Being Head of State has provided me with the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. During various meetings with members of the public, there transpires a justified concern and uncertainty regarding the safety of food. In meetings with food producers and suppliers, I have been often told of their increasing concern for increasing costs and difficulties entailed in complying with new regulations. In meetings with catering and leisure professionals, I have been informed of the repercussions that befall their sectors due to uncertainly on the part of their clients. The unease surrounding the alimentary sector runs right across the board since we are all, in one way or another, interested parties to the positive outcome of real or perceived problems.

What is certain is that the skepticism surrounding the possibility of eating a healthy meal should be surmised by a renewed confidence in the possibility of being able and assured of it. In this respect, both the Government and the private sector have the onus of providing citizens with this confidence and assurance. Whilst seeing to economic interests, due attention is to be given to the fact that our well-being is directly linked to our food intake.

In international politics, we often speak of the need for confidence-building measures where tensions and mistrust abound. As regards our daily meals, we must speak of a mutually healthy confidence-building partnership between producers and consumers. The stated aim of the World Food Safety Organisation is "to promote the safety of food products from field to plate, representing the interests of consumers, producers, retailers and wholesalers." I hope that this conference on the subject of the impact of food safety control, but more importantly this Organisation itself, will be a message of renewed confidence in all areas connected to the alimentary field.

I wish you, Mr Kurkjian and all members of this Organisation, success in your work.

Thank you.