By Theckla Gunga – EM TV, Port Moresby
The National Food Sanitation Council has been revived with the swearing in of its new council members, in Port Moresby today.
The council has been inoperative for over ten years, leaving manufacturers, food bar operators and importers to conduct business without proper health inspections. The council members include representatives from statutory bodies in the public and private sectors.
It will be chaired by Chey Scovell, the current president of the PNG Chamber of Commerce.
Six out of ten council members were sworn in by a legal advisor this morning; from the six, the only female was Sogoing Denano, who represented the PNG University of Technology.
The council members have challenging roles before them. This includes the overseeing of imports; to ensure that the marking of all imported goods are in English and meet Papua New Guinea’s health standards.
The council will also be exercising its powers by inspecting food outlets, to make certain that food is being prepared in a clean environment, among other tasks.
Health Secretary, Pascoe Kase, who represented the state in witnessing the event, specified the responsibilities of the council members.
He said the council is an important body because it executes health policies in place by the state and those sworn in, must take their responsibilities seriously.
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