Food safety is a key component of public health. Ill health outcomes due to foodborne infectious diseases and food contamination are well documented. With growing globalization of the food trade, foodborne diseases do not stop at national borders. Food produced in one country may be processed in another, then transported and consumed in yet another country or several other countries. Mass production of farm animals for food production is also a potential source of health risks emanating at the human-animal interface. It is, therefore, clear that food safety is an essential element of health security.
The current progress report provides information on the state of implementation of the Western Pacific Regional Food Safety Strategy 2011-2015 at its midterm, recognizing that food control system development is an ongoing process.