Portugal is to be a major contributor to a new database bing launched to gather information on hazardous or potentially hazardous foods.
Suspected cases of foods contaminated by chemicals, additives and pesticide residues will be available on a web platform populated with information from several Portuguese bodies and can be accessed by concerned European associations.
To create the Portuguese system for logging official food safety data, a protocol will be signed on Wednesday between the Institute Ricardo Jorge, the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Science, the Food and Economic Safety, the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research and the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere.
These organisations are participating in the pilot project which "will be an appropriate and effective tool in the harmonisation of data between Portugal and the European Food Safety Authority.”
The President of the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research, Fernando de Almeida, explained the great advantages to the various European countries in receiving online information at the same time through a standardised communication which will highlight problems with food, particularly problems involving chemicals in food and pesticide additives."
It is World Health Day on Tuesday in a year dedicated to the issue of food safety. This also is the day of the first meeting of the representatives of the signatory organisations.
