Tuesday, Jun 19, 2012
Abu Dhabi: Responding to a motion by a member of the Federal National Council (FNC) to set up a federal food and drug watchdog to protect people from unfit food and drugs, Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said it was not in his powers and the issue should be posed to the ministries of Health and Environment.
Ahmad Mohammad Rahmeh Al Shamsi, a representative from Ajman, said the answer was irrelevant.
I called for setting up a new authority. The UAE does not have a federal food and drug watchdog and as such, this motion should have been taken up by the Cabinet, Al Shamsi said.
A federal food and drug agency that adopts internationally recognised standards and regulations will protect people of the UAE from unfit food, drugs and chemicals which otherwise find their way into our shops, Al Shamsi told Gulf News.
Varying standards
Al Shamsi added that local food control agencies adopt different standards, which result in tons of unfit foods and drugs entering the country and being consumed by people.
Al Shamsi insisted that the government should address the issue and not refer it to other ministries for lack of powers.
Al Shamsi also objected to Al Gergawis failure to refer to the FNC members name in the reply letter.
Seeking expertise
Praising the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authoritys (ADFCA) performance, Al Shamsi suggested that the government seek expertise from ADFCA and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) to set up a state-of-the-art food and drug watchdog that meets internationally accredited criteria.
Stressing that he is a believer in the supremacy of the UAE Federation over local authorities, Al Shamsi said the UAE constitution mandates the federal government to monitor foods and drugs, citing federal watchdogs in the US, European and Asian countries.
By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
