Minsk, Belarus, February 3, 2011
—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping Belarus harmonize food safety regulations with international standards, which will increase export potential of food producers, raise the competitiveness of Belarusian enterprises, and contribute to sustainable growth of the national economy.
On February 2-3, IFC Belarus Food Safety Project in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Foodstuffs conducted the first training for 50 senior veterinary inspectors from across the country. The workshop covered international food safety standards and requirements, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points food safety system and practical aspects of its implementation, as well as modern approaches to food safety inspections based on risk analysis. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, or HACCP, is a food safety management system based on analysis and prevention of potential hazards during the entire production process.
“Thanks to the IFC workshop, our specialists now are better informed about modern international food safety management systems, how they benefit both food processing companies and state agencies,” said Yury Pivovarchyk, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. “The training on HACCP was very useful for our agency, as it corresponds with our current strategy to increase export opportunities for Belarusian enterprises.”
Current Belarusian food safety legislation doesn’t fully comply with the international standards and this is a significant barrier to economic growth. IFC Belarus Food Safety project works on harmonization of the legislation as well as raising awareness among state officials and food processing companies of international food safety standards and requirements.
“Companies that implement HACCP system not only improve their export opportunities but are also more attractive for investors as complying with international standards helps companies mitigate food safety related risks and boost sales,” said Olga Sherbina, IFC Food Safety Project Manager in Belarus. “Thus, implementation of international food safety requirements will benefit Belarusian dairy and meat producers and enable sustainable economic growth of the food industry.”
IFC Belarus Food Safety Project will also conduct training programs for veterinary inspections in Mogilev, Vitebsk, and Brest.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. We create opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We do so by providing financing to help businesses employ more people and supply essential services, by mobilizing capital from others, and by delivering advisory services to ensure sustainable development. In a time of global economic uncertainty, our new investments climbed to a record $18 billion in fiscal 2010. For more information, visit
www.ifc.org
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