Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10CARACAS133
2010-02-02 18:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
Government Health Official Open to Scientific Food Safety
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHCV #0133 0331849 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 021849Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0401 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000133
SIPDIS
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/02
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD VE PGOV
SUBJECT: Government Health Official Open to Scientific Food Safety
Standards
REF: 9 CARACAS 493
CLASSIFIED BY: Randall Hager, Agricultural Attache, USDA, AGR;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000133
SIPDIS
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/02
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD VE PGOV
SUBJECT: Government Health Official Open to Scientific Food Safety
Standards
REF: 9 CARACAS 493
CLASSIFIED BY: Randall Hager, Agricultural Attache, USDA, AGR;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: According to a scientist with the Ministry of
Health's National Institute of Nutrition (NIN),technical level
officials are willing to adopt food product trade rules based on
sound science. Post believes that continued engagement on
scientific matters could support bilateral commerce and develop
relationships that would allow greater insight into the Ministry of
Health, a key player in food trade regulation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) According to Johan Puerta, a recently hired chemical
engineer with the NIN, the entity that tests the safety of
imported food products, technical level staff are eager to learn
about and adopt international testing and evaluation methods used
by Codex and other international bodies. Puerta indicated that
food products in Venezuela are evaluated against a mix of national
and Codex standards, and although he is not entirely familiar with
Codex processes, he understands the benefits of following
international standards and scientific trade rules.
3. (C) In contrast to SASA/INSAI (REF A),Venezuela's animal and
plant health authority dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture,
new hires into NIN are apparently not politically oriented. During
a breakfast meeting with AgAtt, Puerta noted that the food import
rules should focus only on safety and health.
4. (C) COMMENT: We have found in our limited interaction with
government ministries that technical-level staff often appreciate
the value of sound science and are more willing to adopt ideas that
ultimately could benefit commerce with all trading partners, not
just those that are politically cozy with Venezuela. Mr. Puerta's
attendance at a Codex seminar in Lima, Peru in February,
facilitated by USDA, could help achieve this goal.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SECSTATE PASS AGRICULTURE ELECTRONICALLY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/02
TAGS: EAGR ECON ETRD VE PGOV
SUBJECT: Government Health Official Open to Scientific Food Safety
Standards
REF: 9 CARACAS 493
CLASSIFIED BY: Randall Hager, Agricultural Attache, USDA, AGR;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: According to a scientist with the Ministry of
Health's National Institute of Nutrition (NIN),technical level
officials are willing to adopt food product trade rules based on
sound science. Post believes that continued engagement on
scientific matters could support bilateral commerce and develop
relationships that would allow greater insight into the Ministry of
Health, a key player in food trade regulation. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) According to Johan Puerta, a recently hired chemical
engineer with the NIN, the entity that tests the safety of
imported food products, technical level staff are eager to learn
about and adopt international testing and evaluation methods used
by Codex and other international bodies. Puerta indicated that
food products in Venezuela are evaluated against a mix of national
and Codex standards, and although he is not entirely familiar with
Codex processes, he understands the benefits of following
international standards and scientific trade rules.
3. (C) In contrast to SASA/INSAI (REF A),Venezuela's animal and
plant health authority dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture,
new hires into NIN are apparently not politically oriented. During
a breakfast meeting with AgAtt, Puerta noted that the food import
rules should focus only on safety and health.
4. (C) COMMENT: We have found in our limited interaction with
government ministries that technical-level staff often appreciate
the value of sound science and are more willing to adopt ideas that
ultimately could benefit commerce with all trading partners, not
just those that are politically cozy with Venezuela. Mr. Puerta's
attendance at a Codex seminar in Lima, Peru in February,
facilitated by USDA, could help achieve this goal.
DUDDY