Remarks for Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Merle Pierson, at the 37th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene, March 14, 2005, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Introduction

Good morning! Thank you Ambassador Gutierrez. I appreciate the opportunity to provide opening remarks for this very important Codex meeting.

On behalf of the United States Government, I want to thank Secretary Campos and the Argentinean government for hosting with us the 37th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to Gabriela Catalani and her staff for all the hard work and dedication they have put into organizing this week's meeting.

Over the years, this committee has made significant progress in furthering food safety worldwide through the development of internationally recognized science based standards and guidance. In recent years this committee has been responsible for leading the world food safety community in the effective development and application of risk management, risk assessment, and HACCP as systematic approaches to effectively address food safety issues. I look forward to continued progress in this regard from this meeting.

I am personally very interested in the issues to be discussed on the agenda since this committee's recommendations provide governments throughout the world a commonality of understanding in addressing food safety issues. The work of this committee plays a very key role in assuring the safety of our global food supply.

USDA's Food Safety Program

Let me provide a little background on what I do within the U.S. government. As the Acting Under Secretary for Food Safety, I oversee USDA's food safety regulatory program. This program includes over 10,000 employees, and it is responsible for regulating the safety of all meat, poultry and processed egg products produced domestically, as well as those imported into our country.

The products we inspect represent more than one-third of all consumer spending on food in the United States, and about 40% of all domestic food production. To carry out meat and poultry inspection, as well as other food safety activities, we work with all of our stakeholders including industry and the public, to continue to find the best ways to keep our food the safest it can possibly be.

We also work extensively with other countries ensuring the "equivalency" of other nations' inspection programs and the safety and security of imported meat and poultry. In addition, I oversee the work of the U.S. Codex Office, which is located within our organization.

The Importance of this Committee's Mission

This committee's work plays an integral part in the overall efforts of all of the Codex committees to protect the health of consumers worldwide by providing access to safe food of all types.

The importance of a plentiful, nutritious, and safe food supply cannot be overstated. We have many examples, unfortunately, of the effects of world hunger, malnutrition, and foodborne disease throughout history. It is a fact that no society has ever flourished without the basic need for food being met. It is also true that the abundance, wholesomeness, and safety of food are all characteristics that ideally should be present simultaneously. I think we can all agree that a plentiful food supply is of little value if it is unsafe, or does not positively contribute to human health.

Obviously with a global food supply, we are interdependent on each other's actions. Food trade has a tremendous impact on the health of populations around the globe.

Increasing international trade means that a greater variety of foods are available to the world's population. This expanded reach in food distribution, which has resulted in improved nutrition, also means that a greater probability exists for unsafe food to reach a large population and a greater geographical area.

Our Success Hinges on Three Key Factors

To mitigate the possibility of unsafe food being traded, the success of your work here is fully dependent on three key factors: inclusiveness, building bridges, and science.

Inclusiveness
To seek the improvements we all want in food safety on a global scale, the first key is inclusiveness - ensuring that all voices are heard. We need to make certain that all governments understand the importance of cooperation in assuring food safety, and that all countries are able to fully participate in international policy making.

The standards set in food hygiene are recognized by all member countries, thus pushing everyone toward improved food safety everywhere. But the burden to some countries is often not considered. Establishing realistic standards, and the methods and technical assistance to achieve them, should always be part of your discussions, especially this week.

Inclusiveness not only matters for this conference, but also for when you return home. Stakeholders, both industry and consumer groups need to understand the importance and ramifications of your work. Keep in mind that it might be impossible to meet all of their expectations, and there will no doubt be disagreement on some issues, but only through an open exchange of ideas can all voices be heard and ultimately this committee's goals be attained.

Bridges
The second key to enhancing this committee's success relates to building bridges of understanding and collaboration between delegates of member nations. Personal interaction is, I think, one of the great advantages of having meetings like this one where delegates from all over the world spend time together in an open exchange of views. For all of the advantages of modern telecommunications, and the cost in time and money of traveling to such meetings, I feel there is no substitute for developing the foundation for professional relationships. We have much to learn from each other. Our interaction will encourage collaboration that will further the food safety mission in all of our countries.

As delegates, your work is critically important, not only for your own respective agencies or countries, but for consumers everywhere. Because of Codex's important role, you need to make certain to use its full power to unite yourselves so that common goals can be achieved. You can't build understanding and effectively collaborate without building bridges. It is the strength of our interaction that allows for agreement on key issues.

Science
The third and final key to unlocking the potential for improving food safety around the world is science. It is important that the cause of science is served in Codex and within this committee.

In the increasingly high-speed world we live in, it can be difficult to understand that successful science is not immediate gratification nor can it be immediately measured. But over time, positive results, or I should say, practical results - such as dramatic measurable declines in foodborne illnesses or incidence of pathogens in products, show that a science-based approach pays off greater returns than any other option.

Let me give you an example. For me, as someone who has spent his entire career as a food scientist, I am particularly proud of the work my agency, the USDA, has done over the past several years in using science to develop policies to improve the safety and security of the U.S. meat, poultry, and egg products supply.

Through the use of comprehensive risk assessments and science-based policies, we are now finding smaller percentages of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella positive samples in our regulatory testing program. This news is encouraging, but a more significant measure of public health impact is looking at the numbers of foodborne illnesses. A report from the U.S. government last year stated that there were significant declines from 1996 to 2003 in illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia.

Specifically to the products we regulate, the report stated that illnesses caused by Salmonella Typhimurium, typically associated with meat and poultry, decreased by 38 percent from 1996 to 2003. Human illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7, often associated with ground beef, declined 42 percent from 1996 to 2003.

Closing

All three of the factors I mentioned are connected. Inclusiveness by all member countries provides the necessary elements for thorough scientific discussion to take place in an atmosphere of understanding and collaboration. In closing, it is important that you:

• Ensure that all voices are heard within this committee;
• Develop solid bridges of understanding and collaboration with member countries; and
• Continue the commitment to science-based policies and standards.

I highly value the work you put into this committee. The decisions you make significantly contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of millions of consumers around the world.

In closing I want to recognize another individual for her hard work and dedication to the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene. Committee Chairperson Dr. Karen Hulebak works for USDA/FSIS and she plays an essential role by leading these meetings. I appreciate her commitment to working with you to make this meeting a success.

I wish you a very productive session this week.