المملكة: Appointment of a qualified official .. Conditions of “food and medicine” to reduce the risk of production and supply in food facilities

The Food and Drug Authority presented, through the platform of “reconnaissance” of public opinion, a detailed guide project that defines the requirements for appointing the “Food Foundation Officer”, in a move aimed at enhancing professional governance in the food sector in the Kingdom, and effectively limiting the potential risks associated with the production and food supply chain.
The proposed guide covers the detailed requirements for appointing this official, whether in factories or food warehouses, in addition to a comprehensive clarification of his tasks, responsibilities and requirements for his scientific and practical rehabilitation.

Raise the efficiency of institutional performance

The commission clarified that the appointment of a specialized and qualified official in each food facility has become, under this proposed evidence, an indispensable requirement to obtain or renew the facility’s license.
This important organizational step comes within the trend of the strategic body to raise the efficiency of institutional performance in the food sector, and ensure the safety and quality of food products by relying on scientifically and practically qualified human cadres, as well as supporting a culture of compliance with systems and regulations within the sector through the presence of a clear -minded official and knowledge official.

Conditions for applying to the facility official

The guide detailed the requirements for the facility’s official in food factories, where the authority stipulated that he be a Saudi national, and holds a scientific qualification of no less than a bachelor’s degree in directly related specializations, such as food science, nutrition, food manufacturing, microbiology, chemistry, or any other specialty adopted by the authority.
She also stressed the need to obtain a specialized and accredited training from a recognized authority within the Kingdom in the quality and food safety management systems «ISO 22000 and HACCP», with complete familiarity with the regulations and regulations issued by the authority, and the preference of people with practical experience in areas related to the food industry and the possession of leadership skills and a deep technical understanding of manufacturing and storage operations.
As for the facility official in food warehouses, the guide has set the minimum scientific qualification required in the degree of diploma in specializations similar to those required for factories or in the field of professional safety, with the requirement for obtaining certified training in the food safety management from a recognized one. Despite reducing the condition of the educational qualification compared to factories, the evidence stressed the importance of the availability of leadership skills, the accurate knowledge of supply chains, a comprehensive understanding of diets, in addition to emphasizing the importance of practical experience in the fields of safety and quality, following up developments, and modernizing the officials of the authority periodically.

The most important tasks assigned to it

The guide identified accurate and pivotal tasks for the facility official that exceeds the traditional administrative aspects to reach the core of technical operations, and includes ensuring the commitment of operations to the approved systems, reviewing the steps of manufacturing and storage, and verifying the conformity of the specifications of the final product and raw materials for the approved specifications, and ensuring the safety of the food card and packaging.
Its responsibilities also include supervision of tracking, retrieving and withdrawing systems, training of food traders, applying good operating practices, preventing the work of any individual suspected of any infection that may affect food safety, and immediate reporting to the authority about any food that is likely to be harmful to consumer health with the statement of the measures taken, in addition to supervising the entire food chain and documentation requirements And keep the necessary records and submit them to the supervisory authorities upon request.
This proposed organization comes within the framework of the relentless pursuit of the commission to frame the executive role of specialists working in food establishments, and to make the “facility official” a pivotal and basic point of reference to ensure the application of national and international systems and specifications.
It is expected that this trend, if approved, will represent a qualitative shift in organizing professions associated with food security, and that it will contribute greatly to raising the efficiency of performance in food establishments, enhancing consumer confidence, and increasing job opportunities for qualified Saudis in this vital sector, in line with the Kingdom’s directions towards building a healthy community and achieving a sustainable food economy.