Representatives from Tonga’s public and private sectors, district and town officers and churches are meeting to review the country’s Food Regulations of 2014.
The aim of the workshop is to finalise the Food Bill 2017 and Food Regulations 2017.
Deputy Director and Head of the Food Division, Metuisela Falesiva, in his welcoming remarks stressed that this consultation is about dealing with the public in bringing their viewpoints on the Food Act that was passed in 2014.
The viewpoints and feedback will help finalize an outcome for the Food Bill and Food Regulations 2017.
A local legislative drafting consultant funded by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), Sela Bloomfield, helped the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Foodto develop the Bill and Regulations.
She said that initially, she was engaged to develop Food Regulations under the Food Act 2014. However, during the review the project team recognized that there were certain provisions in the Food Act 2014 that were needed to be amended or incorporated, in order for the Act and Regulations to be implemented effectively.
The purpose for the Act is to regulate the manufacture, sale, import and export of food for commercial purposes, to guarantee food safety and fitness for human consumption, and to promote fair trade practices in the food sector in Tonga.
After this week’s consultations the Food Bill 2017 and Food Regulations 2017 will be finalized before being presented to Cabinet for approval and to be processed through the legislative process.