The National Standards Centre (NSC) under the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA) conducted a socialization programme on PBD 38:2022 on Good Manufacturing Practice, GMP for Food Industry on 21 March 2023 at Dewan Al-Afiah, Berakas, Ministry of Health.
The socialization event was held to raise awareness of the Piawai Brunei Darussalam under PBD 38:2022 – Good Manufacturing Practice to the local food processing industry. The standard provides guidance on the multiple important elements for food manufacturing, whereby cleanliness and safety is vital; from the time of receiving the raw materials, including the handling of these ingredients and its processing, the packaging & storage of the finished processed food up to the selling or marketing of these processed food products.
The event started with welcoming remarks from Yang Mulia Dayang Wong Wai See, Chief Executive Officer BDFA, as the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee. She reiterated the role of the BDFA in developing food standards to ensure safe food production for consumption, and also to facilitate trade. She stressed BDFA’s hope that the local food industry or business entrepreneurs will gain recognition for adhering to the high food safety standards when implementing the elements of PBD 38:2022 (GMP – Food Industry) as part of their everyday best practice. She also expressed her highest appreciation to the team in the Working Group on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) (WG HACCP) under the Technical Committee on Management System (TCMS) for their concerted effort and diligence in developing this standard.
In attendance as Guest of Honour was Yang Mulia Awang Allen On, the Director of Industry and Business Ecosystem (IBE), MOFE in his capacity as Acting Director of the NSC. During his opening remarks he emphasized the important role played by NSC in streamlining standard development activities that adhere to Regional and International Standards. He further highlighted that PBD 38:2022 – Good Manufacturing Practices (Food Industry Sector) serves to streamline food industry players to meet the safety requirements. With these standards in place, he expressed his confidence that Brunei Darussalam will achieve the deliverables as outlined within the Food Industry Roadmap and one of the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035, i.e. becoming a Dynamic and Sustainable Economy.
The attendees also heard a presentation from Yang Mulia Pg Abdul Shahid bin Pg Hj Amir Bahar, Special Duties Officer Grade II on the role of NSC in the development of National Standards. Yang Mulia Dayang Siti Nasreyah binti Haji Ahmed, Technical Officer BDFA, Chairperson of the WG on HACCP also shared the contents of the PBD 38.2022 and provided insights into the elements of good manufacturing practices in a food processing facility.
The socialization event was attended by 110 participants made up of stakeholders from various government departments and the private sector, namely food manufacturing companies, service providers and higher education institutions. As part of the event, the PBD 38:2022 document was also made available for sale during the event. Ministry of Finance and Economy Negara Brunei Darussalam
