19/07/2010

Within the framework of current DG SANCO projects in the area of Better Training, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition is taking part in a mission in Chile aimed at facilitating technical assistance for the strengthening and improvement of its National Rapid Alert System.

This project is due to be implemented in two phases, the first of which took place from 11-17 July 2010, with the aim of carrying out an initial assessment of the current situation of ACHIPIA, the Chilean Food Safety Agency’s Alert and Information Network System, and of identifying areas for improvement or implementation targets for setting up the system. To this end, meetings were held with representatives of all the central authorities involved:

• Ministry General Secretariat of the Presidency (ACHIPIA)
• Ministry of Health (DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND NUTRITION)
• Ministry of Agriculture (AGRICULTURAL AND LIVESTOCK SERVICE)
• Ministry of Economy (NATIONAL FISHERIES SERVICE)
• Ministry of External Relations (GENERAL DIRECTORATE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS)

There was also a training workshop both for the above authorities as well as the private sector.

Milagros Nieto, Deputy Director for Coordination of Food Alerts and Official Control Programmes, together with Elena García, Head of Area for Coordination of Alerts have participated in this first stage.