Dubai: The sixth Dubai International Food Safety Conference concluded yesterday with a call to establish a federal system for investigating food-borne diseases. It also called for developing the existing system in the emirate of Dubai for investigating diseases transmitted by food.

The conference called for implementing the "person in charge" system in food establishments.

It suggested creating an integrated database for each food through classification and registration in a unified electronic system.

It also urged disseminating of information on food imported from various parts of the world, including the foods rejected. The conference suggested transfer of strategic control points for imported food into the country of origin.

It wanted the unification of GCC and UAE standards with international standards. The conference suggested developing the capacity of food and medical laboratories to support investigations on diseases transmitted by food.

The conference called for effective programmes to raise the awareness on food safety in all segments of the society and also to ensure the qualification and training of food dealers.

Other recommendations include creating strategic partnerships with key countries that export food to the UAE with regard to food safety, exchange of information between regulators in the GCC countries with regard to food safety and creating a regional centre for risk assessment of food. On the final day of the conference, Ahmad Abdul Rahman Al Ali, Head of Food Inspection Section, Dubai Municipality, presented a paper titled "Food-borne diseases investigation and surveillance system in Dubai."

The two-day conference, was organised by the Food Control Department of Dubai Municipality with the support of the Centre for Disease Control of the US, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the International Association for Food Protection, the largest association of professionals in the field of food safety, the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and the UAE University.