NFTMC Hosts Microbiology Sampling Training
The National Food Testing and Monitoring Centre (NFTMC) through Papua New Guinea University of Technology’s (PNGUoT) School of Applied Science, successfully conducted a one-day training course with the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) last week Thursday.
This short training course is specially tailored for the needs of NFA to carry out environmental microbial sampling on food processing facilities, to meet the Asian Market demand through Chinese Food Safety Laws.
The training course highlights the importance and different environmental sampling in food processing areas; and understanding the concept behind methods for analysis of test samples. It covers scopes of; ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, protecting brand reputation, operational efficiency, risk management, public health protection, cost savings, and continuous environmental sampling improvement.
NFTMC’s Manager, Justin Narimbi said, “we see ourselves as an important player to enable fish trading for the country and we are proud and happy about the part we play and contribute”.
“NFTMC hopes to facilitate more of these short trainings in the future, not just with NFA but other interest clients as well”, he added.
The establishment of the National Food Testing and Monitoring Centre (NFTM) is one of the many positive outcomes of this ongoing mutual relationship between PNGUoT’s NFTMC and NFA. NFTMC plays a significant role in providing analytical testing services to the fisheries sector in Papua New Guinea. The fisheries sector supports the livelihoods of fishers and processors and enhances the country’s reputation in international markets. This, in turn, contributes to economic growth and food security in PNG.
NFA as the Competent Authority (CA) plays a crucial role in enforcing fisheries safety standards and regulations in Papua New Guinea, ensuring that fish and fisheries products are safe for consumption and comply with national and international standards.
Their key roles include; Regulation and standard setting, inspection and monitoring, certification and licensing, risk assessment and management, capacity building and training, surveillance and enforcement, public awareness and education, collaboration with other agencies, and emergency response. These participants went through a half day of theory and proceeded to the second half of practice at the PNGUoT’s Mess.
Participants of the training are staff from the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) under the Audit & Certificate Unit (ACU).
A participant said, “this training is very useful to what we do under ACU within PNG borders and also for NFA to meet PNG’s largest demand for fish market – that is the Asian market”.