During the reporting period under “Food Safety” component, 42 training reports were prepared. They cover various topics and aspects of food safety ‘official’ control system, from food safety risk assessment, outbreak investigation, microbiological and residues’ laboratory methods, organisation, planning and implementation of ‘official’ controls, sampling procedures, veterinary medical products, import and trade of animal products, to planning and implementation of residues monitoring programme.

The project experts prepared 48 technical and acknowledgement reports. They include diverse topics such as labelling, traceability of food and feed, hygiene and HACCP, planning/implementation/documentation of control, audit, “milk channelling system”, monitoring of project outputs use, laboratory information/data management system, food safety culture maturity matrix, surveillance of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE), inter-sectorial platform for data collection.

17 supporting documents on traceability, HACCP compliances checklist, flowcharts, TSE programme, consultation for Multi Annual Control Plan development, procedures/guidelines for follow-up categorized establishments were also prepared.

Twelve pilot farms were visited for PDO registration purposes, and 11 of them are certified. Ongoing consultations, coordination, and pilot delivery/processing of PDO milk with 30 farmers and Food Business Operators (FBOs) took place. The reporting period was marked by further development and upgrade of the instructions, procedures, checklists, and documentation for self-control at farm, at collection/transportation of milk, and at milk processing levels, and implementation into practice.

Under “Animal Disease Crisis Preparedness” component 5 training reports on animal disease prevention and risk mitigation were prepared. 6 scenarios for simulation exercises for 5 different animal diseases were also developed. The standard operating procedures, contingency plans, and operation manuals for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and exotic animal diseases were upgraded. 9 leaflets and 9 posters on animal diseases were published on the Food Safety Platform.

The outputs of these activities are reflected in the achievement of the following results:

• pilot Turkish Cypriot community farmers, FBOs, and consumers are being trained/informed about EU Food Safety Standards
• staff performing ‘official’ controls and other ‘official’ activities have available written instructions on the implementation of controls
• project training materials are published/disseminated via the online Food Safety Project Platform
• pilot dairy food business operators are able to effectively implement EU food safety standards and are capable of guaranteeing the hygiene and safety of the milk products produced
• dairy farmers are being capable of effectively implementing disease prevention and hygiene requirements
• pilot food establishments have in place traceability procedures and product traceability can be demonstrated.
  

In the coming months of the project, the project team will conduct 10 training sessions on requirements for the import and trade of animal products, TSE surveillance, exotic animal diseases, passive (primary) surveillance, early detection and notification of animal diseases, and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) simulation. The other main activities that the project team will focus are: capacity building for the implementation of ‘official’ controls, including preparation of control plans and programs regarding the categorization of establishments; technical support for FBOs with HACCP development/implementation; implementation of the 'Milk Channelling' scheme.