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{
    "id": 1488301,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488301/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 398,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "South Mugirango, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Silvanus Osoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "It is also very critical that food safety be assured by protecting the food supply chain from all types of hazards that may occur during all the stages of food production. This also includes growing, harvesting, processing, transporting, retailing, distributing, preparing, storing and even consumption. To this end, all measures must be put in place to ensure that food will not cause harm to the consumer, while it is prepared or eaten according to its intended use. This is central to consumer safety and public health. This is where Hon. Pukose and his Committee comes in. They are in charge of food security and key to facilitation of local and international trade. Clause 22 of the Senate amendment proposes an amendment to Clause 22(2) by deleting the words ‘conduct risk management’ that appear immediately after the words ‘the Controller may’, and substituting therefor the words “advise on the appropriate risk management measures.” Analysis of the Senate amendment in Clause 22 is that the amendment proposed seeks to amend the function of the Controller from conducting risk management to advise on the appropriate risk management measures. This is with regards to where the Controller conducts a risk assessment in relation to food and feed hazards and discovers an overlap in the functions. The Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock observes and agrees that the Controller may not have the competence to conduct the necessary risk management. Therefore, the proposal by the Senate for the Controller to advise on the appropriate risk management measures makes sense as the advice can be used by the relevant competent authority to mitigate the risk. There is also a proposal to amend Clause 25 in sub-clause 3 by inserting the following new sub-clause— ‘3A. On receipt of report under subsection 3(b), the governor shall submit the report to the respective county assembly.’ This proposal intends to allow county governors to submit their annual reports on the state of food and feed safety in the counties to the respective county assemblies. When the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock looked at this proposal, they agreed and said that submitting the annual report on the state of the food and feed safety to county assemblies increases oversight to the sector - which is a good thing - given that it is a very critical function. Additionally, the reports are submitted to Parliament. Therefore, it makes sense for them to be submitted to county assemblies because the data is collected from counties. There is also the Senate amendment to the First Schedule of the Bill. It is amended by inserting the following new items immediately after item No.3— 3A. Each county government department dealing with matters relating to agriculture. 3B. Each county government department dealing with matters relating to health. The amendment seeks to include each county department dealing in health and agriculture matters in the list of competent authorities. This was rejected by this relevant Committee because the competent authorities at the county level are not recognised internationally. A county authority that is formed within the county cannot be used as an authority to be recognised internationally. The competent authorities that are proposed by the Senate report to the competent authorities that are listed in the First Schedule of the Bill. Therefore, it makes no sense to include them in the list. In conclusion, I read the Committee’s Report and appreciated the captured observations. I urge the House to agree with the Senate amendments to Clauses 22 and 25 of the Bill, and reject the Senate amendment to the First Schedule of the Bill. I am also getting new development from Hon. Pukose, who will second this Motion. This will also be reviewed, as we proceed. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}