New authority set up to oversee food sustainability, safety and security

A new authority was established on Monday as the national body to oversee food safety and the supply chain across Malta.

The Food Safety and Security Authority will also ensure compliance with both national legislation and European and international standards on food safety.

Details of the authority were announced at a press conference by Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo. 

He said the authority will ensure that every player in the food chain, from farmers to fishers to food processors to retailers, complies with the highest standards of safety, quality and transparency. 

The roles of the authority include formulating and implementing national food policies, legislation and strategies to enhance food safety and sustainability. It also includes inspections, audits and product testing.

Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Refalo explained how, to date, different entities have been responsible for various aspects of food safety. Now, all roles and responsibilities fall under one roof. 

"One important role for the authority is to strengthen innovation in the food chain, to find incentives to tackle climate change and excel in innovation and resilience in the food sector," he said. 

He highlighted how the authority will serve the entire food chain, from farmers, fishers, businesses, to the consumers. 

"It is important that our consumers are protected and informed about the products they are placing on their plate," he said. 

The Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Nikolaus Kriz congratulated Malta for setting up the authority. 

Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Nikolaus Kriz during Monday's press conference. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

"If it is not safe, it is not food," Kriz said in an address at the authority's inauguration. 

"When a fisherman hails his catch, when a family places food on the table, they all deserve to know with confidence that the food they are holding is safe."

Also present was the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen. Hansen said he had met local farmers to understand their needs and challenges in the local agricultural sector.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said the aim of the authority is to protect the local food supply chain, even against the backdrop of global uncertainties. 

He recalled how Malta faced two unprecedented challenges in recent years, mentioning the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the Ukrainian war, both of which he said had brought challenges to Malta’s food importing sector.

He said the government introduced grants and subsidies to ensure stability and security in the food sector, such as subsidies to cereal and flour importers and stability schemes to control prices for certain products.