1. Presenter:
Krishna Prasad Acharya
B.V.Sc & A.H Intern
IAAS, Rampur, Chitwan
Welcome!!!
7th National Conference on Food Science and Technology
(Food Conference 2014)

2. Food safety governance in Nepal: Opporttunities
and challenges

3. FOOD SAFETY
Where is food safety for
him?

4. INTRODUCTION
 Food safety is defined as assurance that food will not cause harm to
consumer when it is prepared and/eaten according to it’s intended use (
FAO/WHO,1997).
 Governance: Act of governing
Food hygiene is important aspect of food safety. Five major principles of food
hygiene as per WHO:
 Prevent contaminating food with pathogens spreading from people, pets,
and pests.
 Separate raw and cooked foods to prevent contaminating the cooked
foods.
 Cook foods for the appropriate length of time and at the appropriate
temperature to kill pathogens.
 Store food at the proper temperature.
 Do use safe water and cooked materials.

5. Why food safety??
Food safety
Change in
production
and
consumptio
n pattern
Incresing
population
and demand
for safe
food
Greater
public
demand for
health
protetion
Emergence
of
resistance
microbes

6. Do we know???
Source: Nature’s education, 2012

7. PILLARS OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNANCE
Food safety
governance
Technical
assistance
Food security
information
Coherence
between food
security
strategies,
policies, rules
and regulation
Setting standard
and promotion
of knowledge

8. RISKS OF FOOD SAFETY
 Microbial risk:
 Infections
 Food poisoning
 Drugs and antibiotics risks:
 Haphazard use of Hormones, Drugs and Antibiotics in Animal
 Pesticides risks:
 Directly through application
 Indirectly through Toxic residues----- no appropriate withdrawl period

9. CONTINUE…
 Miscellaneous risks:
 Urbanization
 Change in feeding habit
 emergence of pathogens and
 International trade
 Political--- Election target

10. PRESENT SITUATION
Sector Deficit ( M ton)
Milk 11.2
Meat 800000
Eggs 0
Crop Deficit ( Mt)
Paddy 150000
Wheat and barley 130000
Maize 120000
Total 400000
Source: NVA 2013
FAO report 2010

11. FOOD SAFETY CONCERN
1)Intensive animal husbandry practice:
Overcrowding of animal
Increased prevalence of
zoonotic diseases
Increased use of
antibiotics
Development of
antibiotics resistant new
microbes
Increased chance of
pathogens in food
Unsafe foods

12. 2) Changes in agronomic practices:
Increased use of
chemical fertilizer
Untreated sewage
Irrigation with
contaminated water
Disease pathogens in Ag. Products
Unsafe foods

13. 3) Increase in susceptible population:
Advances in medical treatment
Increased longivity with immuno-compromised state and
contracting chronic medical conditions
Increased chance of contracting food borne illness

14. 4) Increase in travel:
Person exposed to
foodborne illnes of one
location
Person not exposed to
food borne illnes of other
location
Meet by travel
Contracts disease by non-exposed ones

15. 5) Changes in life style and consumer demand:
Rise in urban living Increased trend of consumption of
street foods
Increased us of foods prepared outside
Home
Increased food borne diseases

16. 6) Increase in international trade:
Rapid
transfer of microorganisms from one
country to another
Unfamiliar food borne hazards
reaching easily to consumer who are
not immune
Increased hazards on consumer

17. 7) Changes in food and agriculture
technology:
Advances in technology such as refrigeration for preservation
of food
Increased outbreak of listeria monocytogens
Genetic engineering ( GMO) --- cancer development.

18. 8) Rapid population growth in urban areas
Many people live in conditions of extreme poverty with poor sanitation
Poor food safety

19. PRESENT SITUATION
Carcass with house flies on it Flies on the table

20. Buffalo feeding on the waste of
Sabji Mandi in Narayanghat.
News on effect of antiibiotics in
poultry

21. Unhygienic condition of
slaughter house
Unhygienic condition of poultry slaughter
area
Poultry dressing area

22. Lack of residue testing system in Nepal
Washing of dish by contaminated
water

23. Street food in Chitwan
Drinking of remains in thrown off coca
cola in Narayanghat

24. Unsafe Rasbary with Housefly
Women spraying pesticides on pumpkin plant in
saktikhor VDC of Chitwan

25. Carcass and viscera on same table ready for
sale
Meat in open space

26. PRESENT SITUATION CONTINUE….
 About 60% of foodstuffs comes from other countries such as India,
China and so on. ( FAO,2012).
 Microbiological contamination of food and water is a major cause of
deaths and illnesses due to diarrhea ( FAO country report 2010).
 70 percent of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to
biologically contaminated food and food borne parasites such as
Diarrhoea and neurocysticercosis.( Joshi et al., 2012).
 About 40% of the population of country use contaminated water with
marginalized community having 60% of total population using unsafe
drinking water source and 50% of population using the water stored in
unsafe container.( Wealthhungerlife project 2012).
 About 94% of the diarrhoeal disease burden is attributable to
environment, and is associated with risk factors such as unsafe drinking
water and poor sanitation and hygiene(Joshi et al.,2012).

27. MILK AND MEAT SAFETY
 Joshi et al 2004 reported human taeniasis upto 43% in syangja district and 18% in
Tanahun district
 Ghimire et.al, 2013 reported 38.85% prevalence of campylobacter in pork meat of chitwan.
 Similarly more than 80% coliform contamination of raw meat of Kathmandu as indicted by
Maharjan et.al.,2006.
 Ale et al reported upto 11.4% salmonella contamination in raw meat of Kathmandu valley.
 Ghimire 2013 reported upto 25.39 % prevalence of Enterococci in mince buff meat of
Chitwan.
 None of the butchers use water sanitiser in chitwan (Ghimire 2013).
 Poudel A. reported that 10% of people don’t boil the milk properly for consumption
which is one of the cause of poor food safety of Nepal. ( B.V.Sc & A.H internship
report 2013).
 About 10% of food item sold in Kathmandu are adulterated with major problem detection
on bottle water, milk, oil and ghee( The Himalayan times 2012-08-19).
 Shah D.N & C.poudel 2009 showed the 1.27-4.27 *106 that indicates very poor quality
of milk sold by dairies of kathmandu valley.
 In chicken isolates the highest rate of resistance was against A (100%), followed by Cp
(95.31%), T (78.12%), Do (64.06%), Co (51.6%), Nf (6.25%) and G (4.68%).( Shrestha
et.al., 2007)
 Even the canteen in government office sell stale and unhygienic foods , then what about

28. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES:
 Increasing trend of use of ripening agents such as carbide and
pesticides such malathion pose greater challenge to food safety.
 Farmers and retailers of pesticides do not have adequate
knowledge regarding pesticide use and health safety (Giri 1998;
Baker and Gyawali 1994; Dahal 1995)
 Koirala 2007 reported contamination of pesticides in root
vegetables(11.9%) followed by leaf vegetables( 10.9%).
 There is high degree of adultration and sub-standarization of vegetable
oil, Ghee , milk.( koirala et al.,2007)

29. HORMINES AND ANTIBIOTICS
 50% of antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately ( DDA Nepal, 2011).
 Research report by khatiwada S. 2013 showed that 71% of drugs sale is by self
prescription rather than qualified registered veterinarian.
 Powder form of antimicrobials used as feed premixes and poultry feed
supplement with no any withdrawl period.
 Hormones such as Prostaglandins , Oxytocin and GnRH has been used
hapazardly by both para-veterinarian and farmers themself thus posing
greater risk on food safety.( Personnel communiction – Dr. Bhuminand
Devkota , Associate professor IAAS, Rampur , Chitwan)

30. SAFETY OF WATER:
 A total of 55-85% of drinking water sources are micro-biologically
contaminated (OCHA, 2008).
 Wealth Hungerlife project in marginalize community of Nepal reported that
more than 60 % of drinking water source are polluted and 50% of people in
community drink water stores in unsafe container.
 About 94% of the diarrheal diseases is due to envirinment and is
associated with unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and
hygiene(Joshi et al.,2012).
 Shrestha et., 2012 reported high level of arsenic( 0.143mg/dl) in deep
water of Kathmandu valley.
 Raymajhi et al 2013 reported 150 peoples suffering from diarrhea in
Shantinagar VDC of Nepal and positive confirmation of Vibrio cholera in
water sample.
 Research by Bhattarai D., 2011 found out that 12% prevalence
campylobacter in water used in slaughterhouse of Rupandehi district
 Recently there has been death toll of 9 people in Biratnagar due to
contamination of water supply

31. OPPORTUNITIES OF FOOD SAFETY GOVERNANCE
 Greater public health demand for health protection.
 Increasing demand for safe foods.
 Liberalization of Agriculture by developed countries which opens the market
 Increased foreign investment for technological expertise
 Increased global food trade
 Major advantages on consumer with lower price
 Opportunities for public private partnership (PPP)
 Diverse ecological zone – high potential to grow diverse agricultural crops throughout the
year.

32. CHALLENGES
 Political instability
 Climate change and development of new and resistant microbes.
 Poor infrastructure facility
 Long food supply chain with more critical points in supply chain
system.
 Poor co-ordination of government and private sector----- poor
Public private partnership
 Improper surveillance
 Inadequate laboratory facility
 Lack of awareness among the illiterate and proper attitude
among literate
 Poor enforcement of policy and lack of proper standard.
 Illegal trans-boundary movement of animal and plant products

33. WAYS AHEAD
 Awareness of consumer and other actors of supply chain
 Farmers field school on safety issues
 Coordinating team of public private partnership for close monitoring at the field level.
 Multidisciplinary networking within national and international networks to alleviate problem of food
borne diseases.
 Laboratory capacities and facilities should be strengthened.
 Strict application of HACCP management system in critical points of supply chain
 Monitoring and regulation of food safety should be made consistent all round the year not
present situation like seasonal or occassional monitoring and regulation.
 Proper extension of research made on research station to farmers level for execution
 Intregated pest management for pest control and alternative to antibiotics to treatment of disease.

34. WAYS FOR FOOD SAFETY GOVERNANCE
1) Producer: Follow the good agriculture practice
2)Processor:
 Ensure production of safe food
 Upgrade facility design and official food control system
3) Handler:
 Safe handling ensuring the safety and stability.
4) Governments:
a)Grading of foods and food products
b) Regular examination and monitoring on
 HACCP in production and marketing chain
 Adulteration
c) Legal action against poor grades
6) Consumer:
 Should demand safe products
 Strictly follow the direction for storage and use

35. SOME OF FOOD MESSAGES
Consume
safe foods
Cook food to
safe
temperature
Keep raw and
cooked products
separately
Keep food
contact surface
clean
Keep house and
kitchen free from
pest and insects
Store food at
safe
temperature
Read product
label information
on safety
Frequent and
correctly washing of
hands
Keep food
contact surface
clean

36. REFERENCES
Aryal KK, Joshi HD, Dhimal M, Singh SP, Dhimal B,Dhakal P,Bhusal CL
(2012): Environmental Burden of Diarrhoeal Diseases due to Unsafe
Water Supply and Poor Sanitation Coverage in Nepal, Journal of Neapl
health research council(10)21:125-29
Bajagai, YS 2012, 'Food Safety Regulation in Nepal and Issues in the
Regulation of Meat Safety', National Conference on Food Science and
Technology (Food Conference-2012), 10-11 August, 2012, Kathmandu,
Nepal, pp. 90-7
Bhandari G.P: Diarrheal Disease a neglected epidemics in Nepal. In:
Bhandari GP SS, Sharma A,. National Workshop on prevention and
control of diarrheal diseases 2011; Kathmandu: Nepal Public Health
Foundation; 2011
Bhattarai D., 2011 Prevalence of thermophilic campylobacter isolate from
water used in slaughter house of Rupandehi District and Kathmandu
valley. Nepal Veterinary Students Association Blue cross annual bulletin,
PP:51-55.
Deubanzar M. and Gupta M. 2013 : Prevalence and antibiogram of E.coli

37. REF….
FAO 2003a “Assistance in the Review of Agricultural
Policy and Legislation : Veterinary Drugs Legislation”,
Final Report by Dr Jim Fingleton prepared for His
Majesty’s Government, Nepal, December 200
FAO, 2012, Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural
Statistics,Twenty-fourth Session, Nepal – Agriculture
Census ,8-12 October 2012
FAO. 2010. National Medium-term Priority Framework
(NMTPF) 2010/11 – 2014/15 (Draft). FAO
Representation Office in Nepal, June, 2010.
Ghimire L and Singh D K 2013:
Prevalence,antibiogram and risk factors of
Thermophilic campylobacter in dressed pigs carcass
of chitwan( B.V.Sc & A.H Thesis).

38. REF….
https://www.google.com.np/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&sourc
e=web&cd=7&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEgQFjAG&url=http
%3A%2F%2Fwww.fao.org%2Fdocrep%2F016%2Fi3014e
%2Fi3014e00.pdf&ei=TguZU9niCNO68gWW8YLYCQ&us
g=AFQjCNH5XU3T-OFzB4llPMR4RcE-
H0SWRA&bvm=bv.68911936,d.dGc
Joshi L. and Pandey KR 2013: Prevalence of methicilin
resistant staphylococcus aureus in Dairy farms of Pokhara
valley.( B.V.Sc & A.H Thesis)
Kathmandu Post.2014 May 5.Available at
www.ekantipur.com
Koirala P., Khadka D.B., Mishra A.,(2007) Pesticide residues
as environmetal contaminants in foods in Nepal,
Government of Nepal and world Food Program,
Kathmandu.

39. REF….
Maharjan, M., Joshi,V.,Joshi,D.D.,Manandhar,P.(2006) Prevalence of
salmonella species in various raw meat of samples of local market in
Kathmandu.Annuals of Newyork academy of sciences.1080.
Nepal Veterinary Association(2013).Vetnews.2013 Feb.Available at
www.nva.org.np
Nirmal,B.K; Bajwar,N.B and Thakur,U.C(2012).Strategy of livestock
services to increase the productivity of livestock in Nepal.Proceedings
on 10th National Veterinary Conference of Nepal Veterinary Association
.2012 March 28-30.Nepal Veterinary Association,Kathmandu,Nepal
Paudel A. and Dhakal I.P 2013: Prevalence of leptospira in suspected
bovines in Buffer zone of Chitwan National park( B.V.Sc & A.H Thesis)
WFP and MoAC. 2009. District level food Security Monitoring: Resource
material MoAC, Government of Nepal and world Food Programme,
Kathmandu
WFP, 2009. Nepal Food Security Bulletin, Issue -24. WFP, August 2009.
Kathmandu

40. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 Dr. Krishna Kaphle
 Dr. I.P. Dhakal
 Dr. Bimal kumar Nirmal
 Dr.Ajit karna
 All my helping hands

41. THANK FOR YOUR ATTENTION…….