Health and Trade Officers in Mtwara Region have been urged to strengthen efforts aimed at controlling safety and quality of food and cosmetics in the country.
The advice was given by the Mtwara Administrative Secretary, Mr Abdallah Malela at the opening of training on laws, regulations and guidelines to health and trade officials from the area on implementing obligations between Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and the Regional Administration and Local Government (RALG).
The training was organised by the TSB and targeted health and trade officials from the regional commissioner’s office, district councils, towns, municipals and cities.
“To implement this initiative, the government decided to use inspectors under the RALG in controlling safety and quality of food and cosmetics in order to protect consumers’ health,” he said.
By doing this, he added, it will simplify the operations and increase efficiency in controlling safety and quality of food and cosmetics.
He told participants that the laws, regulations and guidelines followed the formal procedures for their enactment from the Ministry of State in the President Office, Regional Administration and Local Government and Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade.
“Public servants are obliged to understand and implement the laws, regulations and guidelines. I believe, the training will enhance efficiency in efforts to control safety and quality of food and cosmetics in the region and countrywide,” he said.
On his part, the TBS Quality Assurance Manager, Mr Gervas Kais said the training aimed at building capacity of the health and trade officers in order to increase efficiency in their daily obligations.
“The objective of the training is to provide education to health and trade officers on laws, regulations and guidelines for the implementation of various obligations between TBS and RALG,” he noted.
Mr Kais said TBS has been conducting inspection and controlling safety and quality of food and cosmetics in collaboration with councils and thus the training would enhance efficiency in realising their obligations.
He said TBS was recognizing that public servants in all regional councils particularly, health and trade, have huge contributions in protecting the quality and safety of food and cosmetics and ultimately protecting consumers health.
