The gathering was part of the BPI 95th anniversary celebration, with the theme THRIVE @ 95: Innovating for Climate Resiliency Towards Food and Nutrition Security.
The meeting aimed to strategize and implement food safety management initiatives for FY 2025, focusing on enhancing regulatory measures, monitoring systems, and capacity-building programs to ensure food safety and security.
The discussions covered a range of critical topics, including the PPSSD expansion plan, opportunities for harmonizing Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), streamlining export procedures, and the development of a project proposal for potential funding assistance in 2026. Additionally, specific programs such as the Pagkalinga Program and the Rice Up! National Rice Trade Monitoring and Registration System were discussed. The meeting concluded with an open forum and consultation session, encouraging active participation and dialogue.
BPI Director Dr. Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban attended the event and commended the PPSSD for their unwavering dedication and hard work. Also present in the event were section and unit heads, staff from PPSSD, representatives from other BPI operating units, and key collaborators such as FSANZ, BPI-National Plant Quarantine Services Division (BPI-NPQSD), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), and various divisions of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The active engagement of all participants was crucial for the success of these initiatives, driving progress toward the bureau’s overarching goals of ensuring food safety and security for all.
(012425-20)