http://tiny.cc/faowgsworkshop Use of genome sequencing technology on food safety management- Uruguay. Presentation from the FAO expert workshop on practical applications of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for food safety management - 7-8 December 2015, Rome, Italy.

1. WHOLE GENOMIC SEQUENCING
A VISION FROM URUGUAY
Dra. Ana María Maquieira
amaqui@latu.org.uy
LATU –URUGUAY

2. • Surface: 175.016 km2
• Population: 3,286,314
URUGUAY - GENERAL INFORMATION

3. Economy is based
on Agricultural
production :

4. LATU - TECHNOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF URUGUAY

5. LATU - TECHNOLOGICAL LABORATORY OF URUGUAY

6. HOW DOES FOOD SAFETY MANAGMENT
WORK IN URUGUAY?

7. FOOD SAFETY MANAGMENT -DIFFERENT ACTORS :
PUBLIC HEALTH
MINISTERY (MSP)
Epidemiology
Sanitary police
MINISTERY OF
LIVESTOCK,AGRICULTURE
AND FISH (MGAP)
INAC
REGIONAL
GOVERNMENT
(RG)
LATU
MSP LAB
School of
Medicine (UDELAR)
- Hygiene Institute
DILAVE
(MGAP LAB)
Authorized
laboratories
RG Food LAB

8. Normas Nacionales: MSP, MGAP, INAC, Intendencias, LATU.
Leyes :
Ley Orgánica 9202 del 12/01/1934: MSP policía higiénica de los alimentos
Ley 3606/13/04/1910 : MGAP Policía Sanitaria en Sanidad Animal
Decretos:
Decreto 315/994 – Reglamento Bromatológico Nacional
Decreto 338/82: LATU verificación conformidad de alimentos industrializados
importados (menos pesca y piensos)
Decreto 368/000: MGAP Autoridad Sanitaria Oficial de leche y productos lácteos
Decreto 360/003; 576/009 y Resolución 11ª/2010: MGAP Plan Nac. De Residuos
Biológicos.
Decreto 2/997; 20/998; 177/004 y 135/005: MGAP Condiciones de Higiene para
Tambos
TRAZABILIDAD - Ley 17.997 (2006)
Ordenanzas Municipales
Food Regulations - examples

9. National situation
Foodborne diseases

10. Distribution of the foodborne diseases outbreaks reported (1993-2014,
Graciela Naviliat MSP - 2014)
N

11. Distribution of outbreaks of ETA by etiological agent (2014) Sepi 45
(Graciela Naviliat MSP)

12. SWOT – FODA
WGS

13. STRENGTHSSmall country:
• Our longest distance is 665 kms
• “We know each other” on food safety.
• Possibility of sharing resources.
Knowledge:
• Training on this topic is actually developing (ex.
Masters in Bioinformatics- Science University)
• Research groups working on sequencing (Instituto
Pasteur and Clemente)
Regulations:
• There is a national code on diseases and health
reportable events
• Existence of an Integrated Health System.

14. Evento de
Notificación Obligatoria
Notification must be performed
within the first 24 h
( “A Group” of the Reportable
Mandatory Diseases Code, 2012)
to the Surveillance Department of
the Ministry of Public Health.
Tel: 2 409-12-00.
Fax: 2 408-58-38 o al e-mail:
vigilanciaepi@msp.gub.uy
on line system
www.msp.gub.uy

15. OPPORTUNITIES
• Knowledge of the sourranding flora’s
characteristics.
• Use of an advanced methodology.
• Possibility of deeper epidemiology studies .
• Improvements on chain production.

16. WEAKNESSESNetworks:
• Weakness in scientists institution´s networks
• Food Safety Authorities` networks need
strengthening.
Knowledge:
• No shared information, food safety data not easily
available .
• Fragmented information, it´s generated only in
especific areas, difficulty in traceabiliy.
• Therefore , information is poor at the moment of
decision making (regulations, risk assessment ,etc.)
Economic resources:
• Resources needed for equipment, training and
supplies.
• Training of teams in data processing.

17. WEAKNESSES
Epidemiology:
• Inmature epidemiology system in food area.
• Underreporting
• Poorly defined reportable diseases
Methodology
• Need for further development on WGS for use in
food testing (no need of strain isolation).

18. TREATHS• High cost.
• Need of training on the methodology
• Not all the authorities know about WGS
methodology.
• Low undersatnding of the usefullness of WGS.
• “NASA” methodology – “A Ferrari in a stone street”
• Confidence in the use of databases.
• Fear of trade barriers.

19. THANK YOU/MUCHAS GRACIAS