MINISTER FOR TOURISM CONCLUDES WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY THE MALTA HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ASSOCIATION (MHRA) ABOUT FOOD SAFETY

"Training and zero tolerance are our watchwords"

Minister for Tourism Michael Refalo delivered the concluding address at the MHRA’s Workshop on Hygiene and Food Safety. The Minister commended MHRA for organizing the event and said that he was very encouraged and pleased to see such a massive attendance of participants from all links of the food chain.

"You all depend on one another. Whether you succeed or fail is as much your concern as the concern of whoever is involved in the preceding or next step in the process. From those participating in the primary industries of farming and fishing, the storage of crops and produce, in manufacturing, to transport, the kitchen and those whose business it is to present the customer with his choice of food."

Minister Refalo confirmed that the new Food Act currently being discussed by the House in Committee "has cross party support" and added that it would introduce greater accountability, easier means of redress for those who suffered from the mistakes or negligence of others, and tougher penalties for those in default of regulations.

"MHRA has not brought us together to scare us, to put the fear or the wrath of God and man in us. This is as much an initiative to make each and every one of us conscious and aware of the importance of the role we play, as much as one which underlines our dependence, trust and confidence in one another."

The Minister said that public awareness about the care and precautions needed to guarantee food safety was on the increase.

Successful campaigns undertaken by the Ministry of Health, through the Health Promotion Unit, had led to a decrease in food poisoning cases along the years. "The incidence is now lower than in the UK."

The legislation, said the Minister, "which should soon be on the national statute book, is primarily one which deals with people’s health. It is consumer health protection legislation and therefore it is only proper that, despite the many and varied interests of so many other parties, it should be the Ministry of Health that administers the new law as it does today."

Rather than overlap with tourism’s interests the legislation presented an occasion for synergy, where health and tourism and their respective inspectorates, could strengthen and fine tune the cooperation which already existes between them.

Although the legislation does not mention the presence of a representative from the tourist sector to sit on the Food Safety Commission by name, Minister Refalo confirmed that he had reached agreement "with my colleague, Minister Deguara, that one of the three members he would be nominating to the Commission would come from the tourism sector after consultation with me."

The Minister went on to say that a destination’s reputation and competitiveness could be ruined because of laxity in hygiene and food safety. He said that he was very proud to see that the team from the ITS had cleared the board in all competitions for hygiene and food safety at the recent Malta Cookery and Food Association event.

"This speaks volumes about ITS and it must have been most satisfying to the students and their lecturers to see off competition from those already working in the industry."

"While the practice is not widespread we sometimes still witness circumstances where food is stored, sold and sometimes served in situations which are far from salutary and ideal. In this regard the new law will make up for the weaknesses of its predecessor."

The Minister said that regulations and subsidiary legislation would be very similar to that in EU member states. "Taking the EU as a benchmark in areas where the EU is a shining example does not reflect some "mindless headlong rush to join the EU come what may", but a calm and rational decision to achieve levels and standards comparable to those practised in the EU which "are among the highest in the world."

Minister Refalo reminded the audience about the Tourism Ministry’s thrust to ensure hygiene and safety in all food operations under its supervision or that of the Malta Tourism Authority.

"We would be doing a disservice to those who abide by the law if we are "kind" to whoever fails in this respect. This is why we have opted for two pronged process of education followed up by strict enforcement."

"Our watchwords are training and zero tolerance. It is my duty to warn, for the last time, those members of the trade who have as yet failed to submit documentation that their waste and swill disposal operations are as required by law."

"The Police are currently closing down unlicensed food operations. Our next step will be closing down food and catering operations not in line with the health and safety standards established by licence conditions. This is an area where we cannot afford to take risks. If we are sorry for others and turn a blind eye we will all end up by being sorry for ourselves."