In light of the sensitive circumstances our country is experiencing, and at a time when securing safe and sustainable food is a daily challenge for Syrian citizens, the Syrian Future Movement joins the international community in celebrating World Food Safety Day. The Movement affirms that the right to safe and healthy food is a fundamental aspect of human dignity and an indispensable pillar for building a stable future for Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the critical importance of World Food Safety Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as a platform to highlight the importance of detecting and managing foodborne hazards to ensure the health of communities.
The Syrian Future Movement bases its observations on alarming international statistics indicating that food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or chemicals causes illness in approximately 600 million people annually. This represents a massive health and economic burden that can be avoided through the application of rigorous control standards from production to consumption.
The Syrian Future Movement presents a realistic vision that takes into account the current transitional phase in Syria. It recognizes that food safety is no longer merely a health issue, but a matter of national security intersecting with acute crises such as the destruction of water infrastructure, the lack of market oversight, supply chain disruptions, and the unprecedented rise in malnutrition rates.
The Syrian Future Movement calls for an urgent, civilized approach to establishing an “Independent National Food and Drug Safety Authority,” working in partnership with local councils and civil society organizations. This authority would activate laboratory testing of food products and water, combat commercial fraud, and ensure access to safe, contaminant-free food for every Syrian citizen without discrimination.
Looking ahead, the Syrian Future Movement views food safety as an integral part of the reconstruction and economic recovery strategy. It believes that supporting local farmers, providing quality seeds, and modernizing preservation and storage technologies will restore the quality and historical standing of Syrian agricultural products both domestically and internationally, and will support the foundations of sustainable development for future generations.
