Dr Musonda calls for common principles in food inspections

Dr Musonda calls for common principles in food inspections
By Kabanda Chulu and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tue 08 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT

HEALTH deputy minister Solomon Musonda yesterday said there is need to adopt common principles for food inspections in order to enhance consumer protection in the world.

And European Union Head of Delegation to Zambia Derek Fee said the EU has evolved into a highly integrated market place in the area of agricultural products where food must be safe irrespective of its origin.

Meanwhile, the EU has urged the government to make known the position concerning revenues earned from the 2008 mining fiscal regime.

During the fifth regional workshop on sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) issues in Lusaka, Dr Musonda said the programme had come at the right time because many African countries lacked the infrastructure and legislation necessary to produce desired food products that met international standards.

He said the workshop would ensure that officials involved in food controls were properly informed and trained to verify compliance with EU food safety requirements.

“It is also expected that the operators of the food production sector particularly small medium enterprises improve their level of compliance with international and European Union food safety standards so as to enhance consumer protection,” said Dr Musonda. “It must be emphasised that there is need to adopt common principles for food inspections in this global village, as well as strengthening of capacities in this field. This initiative comes at the right moment because many African countries lack the infrastructure and the legislation necessary to produce desired food products that meet international standards.”

And Ambassador Fee said the SPS field, in particular food safety, had emerged as a major policy area at European level.

“In fact, it was one of the first areas to be fully harmonised and one in which there have been many changes, challenges and successes over the decades, leading to the current integrated system that the EU enjoys today. Over its 50 year existence, the EU has evolved into a highly integrated marketplace in the area of agricultural products, where food must be safe irrespective of its origin,” said Dr Fee.

Under the 10 million euros, the programme themed “Better training for safer food in Africa”, the EU together with the African Union aim at promoting compliance with international SPS measures as a key to facilitate bilateral trade both within African and EU consumers.

And EU Economic advisor Francesca Di Mauro said there was need for the government to state the country’s position on the money collected from the 2008 mining fiscal regime.

“As 2008, mining companies which paid the revised rate for corporate taxes, for royalties, the windfall tax...and only one company paid, what is happening to this money which is actually due to the Zambian government?” said Di Mauro. “I know some companies are questioning the fact that the DAs have been cancelled but I really would like to know what the government is going to try and do to get some of these funds that were due to the state."

The country in 2008 introduced a new mining regime after abolishing the Development Agreements. The shift was expected to raise the country revenue of up to US $415 million from the key mining sector.

The country this year, however, abolished the 2008 mining tax regime which included the famous windfall tax and introduced a tax system, a move most analysts said was government’s yield to foreign mining companies who opposed the popular mining fiscal regime.

The country is believed to have collected US $200 million, with only Kansanshi Copper Mine which is operated by Canada-based First Quantum Minerals, having paid the controversial tax as most companies disputed the new regime. Among the foreign mining companies that operate in the country included Vedanta Resources, FQM, Swiss commodity traders, Glencore International AG, Equinox Minerals and other Chinese firms with related activities.