Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo presented the Food Safety and Security Authority bill in Parliament which will set up a new authority with the aim of ensuring the food safety and the security of its provision in Malta.

Refalo spoke during the second reading of the bill which proposes the establishment of a new national authority which acts as a regulator and ensures and enforces food safety and security across the whole food supply chain, from farm to fork.

The Minister said that the authority will unite all functions of food security under one, unique authority, as the current food system in the country is fragile.

He said that Prime Minister Robert Abela had recognised the critical importance of food security in his symbolic move to shift the food sector under the Agriculture Ministry, as it had long been a “note at the bottom of the page” under many Ministries, without clear leadership.

This, he said, has resulted in fragmented responsibilities, which led to the vulnerability of food security in the country.

Refalo said that the responsibility of food security was split between three Ministries, under 11 different departments, directorates, agencies and commissions, with different regulations, sometimes contradictory.

“What the government is proposing is an authority which is not the operator, but the regulator of the food security chain. What we are proposing today is not superfluous, but rather a big leap of quality, consolidating everything under the Agriculture Ministry,” Refalo said, adding that this was another one of government’s electoral promises.

He continued that global good chains have collapsed due to inflation after the war in Ukraine, which served as a wake up call for all countries to revise their food security systems and take action.

Refalo said that till now, there is “total confusion and inefficiency,” with the victim ending up being the Maltese and Gozitan farmer and animal rearers.

“We are proposing one transparent, efficient authority which monitors the full journey, one point of responsibility, one system and one voice which speaks clearly to the public,” Refalo said.

He said that the sector does not need more complexity, but more coherence, teamwork, and dedication rather than duplication, towards one mission to ensure the provision and security of food.

Refalo said that the establishment of the authority will lead to better results for public health, visibility in data collection, and more efficiency with less costs.

He said that currently, government is spending public funds on extra inspections, where labs are competing with each other, and there is inefficient enforcement.

By consolidating the forces, cut extra costa and simplify processes, the service will be strengthened, Refalo said.

The authority will also provide support for the food industry, and have a unified system which will benefit consumers, but also farmers, food producers and small businesses, he said.

Refalo said that consumer confidence and trust will also be strengthened, as the authority will be the public’s voice, provide transparent updates based on science, and strengthen trust in food security.

He said that other countries such as Denmark, Ireland and the UK have already implemented centralised agencies for food security and are now bearing the fruit, with higher response rates and higher classifications of food security.

Refalo said that the work to establish this authority took two years, led by a vision which believes in a leap of quality.

He addressed certain concerns, such as job transactions, and reassured workers that there will be no job elimination, but rather alignment. The bill also reduces bureaucracy, with simpler regulations and faster approvals.

The authority will have the unique legal powers, knowledge and independence needed to monitor and regulate the food chain, promote best practices in food industry, administrate licenses and inspections in food businesses, monitor exports and imports, enforce necessary standards and ensure that food is secure, but also sustainable, Refalo said.

Government is also proposing that the authority develops a national policy on food security and sustainability, which leads to the need for a national plan for water, a problem for farmers in the sector.

Refalo said the authority will also issue warnings, conduct investigations on food fraud, and coordinate with public health authorities in the case of an emergence of a disease which is carried through food.

The bill proposes that the authority has powers to establish labs and carry out inspections led by data collected, to determine the current state for the sector, and future plans.

“It will act rigorously when needed, will carry out verifications and issue enforcement notices and fines on food security,” Refalo said.

The authority will also promote food security culture in all sectors from production to the consumer, he said.

“Times of uncertainty have come, and will come again. We must prevent uncertainty when there is global unpredictability, even because of tariffs. Governments wants to prevent uncertainty and move forward, like we did in the pandemic,” Refalo said, adding that climate change is also a problem for the sector.

The authority is also tasked with making contingency plans in emergency cases, and promote a sustainable and resilient food security provision system, Refalo said.

Through the bill, several other acts will also be amended, including the Act on Food Security, that of wine, pesticide control, animal rights, fisheries, and more.

Refalo said that the bill also introduces immunity for public officials who are carrying out their functions in buona fede, in case they are somehow threatened with court procedures while carrying out inspections.

The authority will be monitored by a Board of Governors made up of experts in public health, agriculture, food science and the private sector – the latter, Refalo said was very important.

A CEO will be appointed transparently after a public call, and a checks and balances system will be established, as well as a separation of powers, Refalo said, adding that the authority will also issue public warnings when needed, leave communication lines open, create contingency plans for emergencies or a lack of food, and support local food production.

The authority will be financed through a mix of government allocations, with Refalo saying that it will not manage by crisis, but be proactive to be able to withstand uncertainties, involving consumers, food operators and civil society.