Iterative and ongoing process:Risk analysis is an iterative and ongoing process in which steps are repeated when needed.
Highly interactive process: Risk managers must interact and communicate frequently with risk assessors and other members of the risk analysis team (internal communication), as well as many different types of stakeholders (external communication) as often as needed.
Techniques used in food safety risk assessment -Statistical techniques -Probability
Probabilistic scenario analysis: Creating and analyzing different scenarios of risk is a useful tool for risk assessment. A scenario can be defined as an outline for any proposed series of events, real or imagined. In other words, a scenario is a series of events that could happen. In risk assessment, a scenario is defined by a set of assumptions about model input values and how those input variables are related.
Conditions necessary for risk analysis Some essential conditions are necessary to implement successful risk analysis, notably:
Operational food safety system In order to perform risk analysis, countries should ideally have the essential foundations of a food safety system in place including adequate food laws and regulations, a national food control strategy, effective inspection and laboratory services, scientific and technical capacity, infrastructure, epidemiological data, and mechanisms for information, education and communication.
Knowledge about risk analysis Government officials and decision-makers at the highest level need to be aware of risk analysis and the value it adds to public health. Similarly, food safety regulators and scientists who become risk managers and risk assessors need to learn what risk analysis is, why it is carried out, and how to perform the three components of risk analysis. Although government has the main role in performing risk analysis, it is also important to ensure that the food industry and consumers understand the essence of risk analysis.
Support and participation of key stakeholders Risk analysis will only be effective if it takes place in an environment in which government; industry; academic institutions and consumers recognize value and participate in the process. Risk analysis must have the support of food safety regulators at the highest level of government. Industry must find value in the results of risk analysis. Academic institutions must produce information that meets the needs of risk analysis. Consumers and businesses must be able to recognize and derive clear benefits from the risk analysis process. Similarly, mechanisms must be in place to enable stakeholders to participate in the development of risk analysis policy, as well as in the various activities performed during risk analysis.
Participants