DIFSC 2008 was held from the 23rd to the 27th of Feb 2008. We had some great speakers who provided latest information in the field of food safety. Dr. Mike Doyle spoke about an FSO based food safety management system in his key note address and highlighted the importance of having a science based system. Numerous talks and discussions during the conference covered topics like risk based inspections systems, Psychological barriers to implementation of food safety programs etc.

The conference pointed out those governments at different levels should be fully aware of the importance of food safety information management and further strengthen information exchange between different countries.

The conference also highlighted the need to have a surveillance system for food borne diseases in the GCC Countries.

The following topics were presented during the program :
(To view the topics please click on the PDF File No)

	Topics	Speakers	PDF File No
1.	Food Safety Management: Present and Future	Michael Doyle	3FSC01
2.	Preparation for the future: Bridging ISO 22000 & HACCP	John G. Surak, PhD	3FSC02
3.	Risk Based Inspections	Roy Costa	3FSC03
4.	Human Behaviour: A Neglected Component of Food Safety	Prof Chris Griffith	3FSC04
5.	AFLATOXINS: Awareness and Control	Prof. Dr. M. Diaa El-Din H. Farag	3FSC05
6.	Basic principles of shelf life assessment	Jochen P. Zoller	3FSC06
7.	Food Safety Issues In the Region:Codex PerspectiveCodex Perspective	Fatima Hachem	3FSC07
8.	CURRENT ISSUES OF FOOD SAFETY IN UAE	Dr. Aisha Abushelaibi	3FSC08
9.	Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)An Industry Perspective	Alan Morgan George	3FSC09
10.	Food Safety Management in Fraser Health Authority	Inderjeet Gill	3FSC10
11.	The role of HACCP Implementation in improving compliance level of food premises in Dubai	Yousuf Al Rashid	3FSC11
12.	HACCP in HACCP Traditional Arabic FoodsArabic Foods	Mohammed I. YamaniYama	3FSC12

Dubai International Food Safety Conference 2007

After the resounding success of the Dubai 1st International Food Safety Conference (in 2006), the Food Control Section of the Dubai Municipality decided to make this conference an annual event.

Hence the second Conference was held during February 20th – 22nd, 2007 and was themed "Latest Trends in Food Safety and Risk Assessment".

The conference featured speakers representing food control authorities, International Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Codex Alimentarius Commission, academic and scientific circles, food manufacturing and trading companies and many other entities which are concerned with the safety of food.

Food Risk Assessment was discussed in light of the following elements:

• Food safety laws and regulations
• Food safety systems
• Best practices in food safety

(To view the topics please click on the PDF File No)

	Topics	Speakers	PDF File No
1.	Food Safety Strategy in Dubai	Mr. Khalid Mohamed Sharif	DIFSC01
2.	Food Safety Risk Analysis - Codex perspective	Dr. Ezzeddine Boutrif	DIFSC02
3.	The Role of GSO on Food Safety Standards & Risk Assessment	Dr. Rashid Bin Fahad	DIFSC03
4.	The Application of Risk Assessment – using science to establish effective food safety control for the European Union	Dr. David Jukes	DIFSC04
5.	Legal Implications of Risk Assessment	Mr. Mark Mansoor	DIFSC05
6.	Managing the Hazards in a Food Operation to Control the Risks in retail operations	Dr. Peter Snyder	DIFSC06
7.	HACCP for retailers (UK perspective)	Dr. Eunice Taylor	DIFSC07
8.	HACCP implementation in UAE (Benefits & Challenges)	Dr. Mariam Shenasi	DIFSC08
9.	Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Foods – The FSANZ Approach	Dr. Ken Buckle	DIFSC09
10.	Risk Assessment of Pesticides Residues	Dr. Jean-Pierre	DIFSC10
11.	Risk Assessment of Food Packaging Materials in Dubai	Ms. Amina Ahmed	DIFSC11
12.	Food Safety Control - Risk Management System, Aqaba Special Economic Zone- Jordan	Ms. Rima Zumot	DIFSC12
13.	Vendor Quality Assurance	Dr. Andy Bennett	DIFSC13
14.	Assessment of Artificial Food Colour Intake Levels by 4- to 14- Year-Old Children in Kuwait	Mr. Adnan Husain	DIFSC14
15.	Food Item Catalogue: the first step in Risk Assessment in Dubai	Mr. Hamad Abdullah Falamarrzi	DIFSC15

Dubai 1st International Food Safety Conference 2006

Dubai Municipality’s Strategic Plan called for enhancing the public’s health through ensuring food safety. As food safety requires inputs from all concerned parties, the Food Control Section of Dubai Municipality teamed up with many international, regional, & local bodies in order to organize a conference that would serve as a forum for discussing issues related to the safety of food.

Hence, Dubai 1st International Food Safety Conference was introduced during the Gulfood Exhibition 2006. This exhibition constituted an optimum opportunity for the Dubai 1st International Food Safety Conference as it attracts major international food manufacturers and food safety professionals.

The 3-day conference attracted more than 250 delegates from different sectors of the food industry as well as international, regional and local food control entities. Topics discussed were as follows :

(To view the topics please click on the PDF File No)

	Topics	Speakers	PDF File No
1.	Food Import & Export Procedures in the U.A.E	Mr. Khalid Mohamed Sharif	TOPIC01
2.	Food Safety and Problems associated with Food Trades	Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Abdulla/td>	TOPIC02
3.	Importance of Traceability in the Food Industry	Mr. Norman Cheesman	TOPIC03
4.	Electronic Certification System for Animal Products Trade – The New Zealand Example	Dr. Peter Gollan	TOPIC04
5.	Food Safety System in the Dairy Industry	Dr. Anne M. Astin	TOPIC05
6.	The Regulation of Genetically Modified Foods in Saudi Arabia	Dr. Hamad A. Al-Awfy	TOPIC06
7.	International Food Laws and Regulations	Mr. Syed Amjad Ali	TOPIC07
8.	Food Safety System in the Meat Industry	Ms. Heather Haines	TOPIC08
9.	Food Safety Challenges in the Middle East	Dr. Vincent Hegarty	TOPIC09
10.	QUALITY ASSUARENCE IN THE FOOD CONTROL LABORATORIES	Dr. Amin Mohamed Yousuf	TOPIC10