Food Safety Comes From New State Public Health Agency

The government has refused to integrate the functions of food security inside the future state public health agency who will be in charge of the prevention, detection and rapid response to health threats in Spain Ministry of Health, Despite the fact that the two branches share some specialist profiles, the executive has ultimately opted to place their functions under the supervision of portfolios. consumption.

Government sources clarified in a parliamentary reply sent to representative of congress integration of current Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (easier) in the new public health framework. While he has indicated that the responsibility for their management will rest with the sector as directed by the minister. Alberto Garzón.

The executive has answered the question formulated by the parliamentary group in this way Vocalwho wanted to clarify how the organization of the new entity was going to take place after approval general budget of the state (PGE) 2023. In the Public Accounts Program, special mention was made of the creation of “coordination procedures” between the Spanish Food Safety Agency and Health Alert and Emergency Coordination Center (CCAES) that direct Fernando Simon.

This separation of powers has taken place in a scenario in which health and consumption are no longer part of the same portfolio, although some of their functions have historically been linked. In fact, Renewal of Governing Council De La Asson placed three doctors on the multidisciplinary team of leaders. Among them the Director General of Public Health, Quality and Innovation, Pilar Aparicio, She acts as the vice-chairman of the public body, so she has a direct involvement in food security.

Among the tasks currently assigned to the Food Safety Agency is monitoring antimicrobial resistance working together in food Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps) to prepare reports on the consumption of antibiotics within the framework of a health strategy.

state public health agency

The decision to exclude food safety has set aside some doubts about the future of the public health agency. council of ministers The bill allowing the creation of this new institute was cleared in August last year after seeing the light of day pending for a decade. However, its implementation is still pending its final validation in Congress representative.

The new institute already has its own budget and is following the implementation of a State Public Health Surveillance Network Which will address both the impact of communicable diseases and social determinants associated with cancer, diabetes, chronic diseases or health. The project gained momentum with the arrival on the scene of Covid-19 pandemic.

remains in the main unknown Where will the new headquarters be located? The decentralization strategy implemented by the government has opened the door for the organization to operate outside Madrid, which has provoked interests of different communities autonomous Which aspires to become the epicenter of this sector in Spain.