Saudi FDA , represented by Food Sector, organized a workshop about “The Proposed GCC Rapid Alarm System for Food Safety” on Monday & Tuesday 25-26/10/1431AH ( 4-5/10/2010). The workshop included experts from Food Safety Authority( Ireland), Federal Institute for Drug & Medical Devices (Germany), Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Consumer Protection (Germany). The Workshop program covered many topics including a brief presentation about European Union Countries experience in the field of Rapid Alarm System for Safety of Food, the legal and technological requirements for building the Rapid Alarm System for Safety of Food in GCC Countries, implementation steps for the system and a presentation of Saudi FDA experience in the field of Early Food Alerts.The workshop was attended by representatives from GCC Countries, General Secretary of GCC council, representatives from several Government entities which are concerned with Food Control, a number of Saudi Universities staff and people interested in this field.

H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Kanhal, CEO of Saudi FDA, has also received at his office all participants in the workshop and explained to them that the Royal directives urges SFDA to put all its facilities and capabilities in the service of its sister GCC and neighboring countries.. H.E also emphasized that further efforts must be put to achieve progress in implementation of the GCC Rapid Alarm System for Food Safety, to ensure consumer protection in GCC countries against unsafe food, whereas GCC countries secure most of their food through imports and GCC citizens have almost the same nutritional habits.