Introduction

Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards. In lesser developed countries like Pakistan, the food safety control system is very weak.

For this purpose international experts from UNIDO had reviewed the background and status of food safety control system in Pakistan. According to these experts, clean water in Pakistan is unavailable to 20% urban and 47% rural population. Only 33% compliances of food safety management principles are followed in public hospitals in the country. It is also estimated that as a whole, healthy and clean food was available only to 48% population of the country. Adulteration in milk and artificial colours used in sweets and candies are injurious to health, particularly for the children. The experts have suggested the TRTA-II programme, which has three complementary components aimed at improving the trade and investment policy climate and enhancing trade development, strengthening standards and quality capacity, and improving the protection of intellectual property rights.

The implementation of the above three components is expected to result in strengthening of the trade capacity building process in Pakistan, thereby, promoting the economic integration of Pakistan into the global and regional economies and stimulate decent work and employment creation by increasing exports and enhancing the enabling climate for international trade.

Keeping in view the above mentiond problems and assessments, it is suggested to start a new, high grade, technically proficient and academically qualified Post Grad Diploma in Food Safety & SPS Control.

Scope/ Jobs

The demand of the course will increase over the period of time as illustrated through the development of Food Safety Authorities at Federal and Provincial levels as well as indicated by the private sector, Food Business Operators, that they need trained Food Safety Experts.

At present the only dedicated food safety training courses available in Pakistan are short courses (5-10 days) in HACCP and ISO 22000 focused on industry middle managers. Based on the recommendations of Technical Committee constituted for amendments and revision of The Punjab Pure Food Rules in 2011 and International experts’ suggestion, a modest provision of one (01) Inspector/ Officer per 50,000 population, there will be a need for almost 3600 inspectors to be trained to meet the current needs. There will be annual requirement for 100-150 per year in replacements. Furthermore, it is expected that 20-30 trained Food Safety Experts will be required/hired by Food Business Operators in the country.

Objectives

General Objectives:

1. To protect consumer by improving the safety status of food up to consumer desk 
2. To facilitate Pakistan’s capacity to integrate into global trade
3. To improve compliance of exported and imported products with market requirement

Specific Objectives:

1. To bridge the knowledge gap of the existing food safety officers in the country and their counterparts in developed countries
2. To provide internationally recognised training opportunity locally by creating partnership with International faculty
3. To make food safety officers capable of inspecting the food for domestic consumption, food that is imported to Pakistan and food that is intended for export
4. To make UVAS a Pioneer and Leader Institution in Food Safety Training, Education and Hub for policy making