May 4 – 14, 2020
Janie Dubois, Ph.D. in Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry

Webinar "Organization and Operation of the Risk-Based Food System
The webinar focused on the example of how organization and operation of the risk-based food system translates into reality in the United States of America, with special emphasis on the role of regulatory laboratories in the food safety system.

The presentation was organized within a join initiative of the US Department of State and the United States Department of Agriculture in partnership with Agricultural Extension Center BRIDGES.

During the webinar, Dr. Dubois reviewed the reasons why risk-based systems have become necessary and how they actually work; talked about the differences between risks and hazards, and what it means in the context of regulations in food safety. Since discussing risks always prompts the question of whether we can avoid all risk, the speaker discussed the concept of an acceptable level of risk. She also talked about what this means for government laboratories who are tasked with checking compliance with risk-based regulations and also the role played by industry in the risk-based systems.

Major topics presented:

  • Risk-based assessment methodology as a WTO standard
  • Forming an expert database/directory for risk assessment
  • Practical model for the formation of experts and databases used in the United States
  • What is risk-based approach and its international implications
  • Identification of a hazardous factor in risk assessment
  • What are "acceptable risks" and how they are defined in the US
  • Risk assessment when importing/exporting goods
    The webinar was attended by employees of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP) and its laboratories, representatives of the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture, experts of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program «Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine» and Medved's Institute of Ecohygiene and Toxicology, Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine
    The webinar was available within the timeframe May 4 – 14, 2020 to the registered participants at the link:
    https://youtu.be/w_P2Ibrw0HI

    Registration and other requests for the webinar were submitted to the following email: office@bridges.com.ua

    The registered English speaking participants can access the webinar at the following link:
    https://youtu.be/sX9cc4UXiww
    THE PHOTO REPORT FROM THE PREVIOUS SEMINAR OF RISK ASSESSMENT THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY USDA AND BRIDGES ON OCTOBER 25, 2019:
    OTHER INITIATIVES