National food safety system reviews, conducted in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), recently concluded in two countries: Belize and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These reviews leveraged the FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) Food Control System Assessment Tool.

The FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool comprises four main dimensions with 160 assessment criteria developed to measure system competencies, around which countries gather and analyze data. The tool was created in 2019 to support national compliance with internationally recognized food safety standards.

Nations that have made use of this tool since its launch include Chile—the first Latin American country to do so—as well as several countries in the African region, such as Egypt, Maritius, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and others.

Belize Completes First System-Wide National Food Control Review

In November, the Government of Belize completed a comprehensive assessment of the country’s national food control system, supported by FAO. Senior policymakers have endorsed the assessment’s findings and committed to implementing the strategic action plan that was developed during the process.

Using the FAO/World Health Organization Food Control System Assessment Tool, Belize officials evaluated the performance of the country’s food control system and identified priority actions for improvement. The work was carried out under an FAO project to strengthen food safety governance and control systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Over nine months, Belize food control authorities worked closely with the FAO team to collect and validate data, review system performance, and agree on priority gaps. The process included an inception workshop in March 2025, extensive multi-sectoral data collection, a validation mission, and a three-day technical workshop held from November 24–26 to finalize the strategic action plan.

During the concluding meeting on November 27, government officials noted that the assessment marked the first comprehensive, system-wide review of Belize’s national food control system, offering a clear picture of both strengths and areas for immediate improvement. They stressed that successful implementation of the strategic action plan will depend on strong leadership and sustained collaboration across ministries and stakeholders.

Using the FAO/WHO tool, Belize identified several priority areas for strengthening its food control system, including modernizing legislation, adopting risk-based inspection, enhancing laboratory capacity, improving stakeholder communication, and reinforcing governance and coordination mechanisms.

The Strategic Action Plan identifies tangible actions, responsible institutions, timelines, and indicators to guide implementation over the coming years.

The assessment and the resulting plan align Belize with international standards and support national efforts to safeguard consumer health, strengthen competitiveness in regional and global markets, and build a resilient and sustainable agri-food sector.

UAE First GCC Nation to Fully Use FAO/WHO Food Safety Assessment Tool

Also in November, the Government of the UAE, in collaboration with FAO, concluded its own national and regional workshops, which were aimed at strengthening food safety governance and advancing coordinated action across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The workshops marked the end of a months-long effort to use the updated FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, marking the tool’s first full application in the GCC region.

Specifically, the workshops, which took place from November 10–14, 2025, bookended the “Assessment and Strategic Analysis of the Food Control System in the UAE” project, launched earlier in 2025 by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and FAO. The initiative used the FAO/WHO tool to assess the performance of the national food control system and guide the development of a comprehensive strategic action plan.

Over four days, more than 90 participants including federal and local authorities, international and regional organizations, and food safety experts, reviewed assessment findings, validated technical inputs, and identified priority actions to strengthen food safety governance. The process included a high-level meeting with senior government officials, a technical workshop with national focal points, and a regional session involving representatives of the GCC food safety standing committee and scientific committee.

The strategic action plan resulting from the assessment outlines targeted activities, timelines, responsibilities, and indicators to improve regulatory efficiency, enhance inspection services, strengthen coordination mechanisms, and reinforce communication and stakeholder engagement. The plan is expected to guide national implementation efforts in the coming years, supporting the ongoing modernization of the UAE’s food control system.

The concluding regional workshop expanded the national achievement into a broader platform for GCC collaboration. Participants exchanged experiences, explored opportunities for regulatory harmonization, and aligned their efforts with international standards, including the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. The discussions highlighted the importance of regional integration and collective capacity building to facilitate safe food trade, improve market access, and enhance food security across the GCC.