Maria Theresa Medialdia¹, Maria Cecilia Salamat², Antonio Acedo Jr^3,

Food safety and food loss are major challenges to agrifood sector development in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) - the less developed economies of Mekong region. Evaluating policies and interventions could create strengthened direction and actions. Food safety and food loss reduction are embedded in overarching national policies aligning with global, regional and subregional policies. CLMV have new or amended food safety laws but have no legislation on food loss/waste reduction. Food safety laws of Cambodia and Laos stipulated both food safety and food quality (food loss reduction) while Vietnam has ministerial proclamation addressing both. Implementation of food safety laws involved 3-8 ministries led by the commerce ministry in Cambodia and health ministry in Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Multi-ministry implementation is challenging due to variable food safety capacities, duplication of regulatory activities, poor enforcement and surveillance, and poor coordination. A specialized agency may be created for unified implementation of food safety law. On the other hand, food loss reduction law is crucial to quicken and perpetuate actions complementing the overall strategy to feed the growing population. Several countries have enacted laws on food loss/waste reduction. CLMV have not taken the nexus strategy to addressing the interconnected challenges of food safety and food loss. Although knowledge on food safety and food loss reduction has increased, policies and practice are not harmonized for an optimal approach to producing more safe food. Value chain actors have to be capacitated to pursue the twin objectives of ensuring food safety and reducing food loss.

Greater Mekong Subregion, agrifood chain, food safety-food loss nexus