Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “Food security is an essentially important area of focus for every country. The Government of Mongolia sees that ensuring a secure supply of food and safe living conditions are imperative in promoting a healthy Mongolian citizen”, said Prime Minister J.Erdenebat during his food security report to Parliament on January 6.

“In the frameworks of relevant laws and regulations adopted by the Parliament, the Government has been functioning to ensure safety in raw material preparation, food production, transportation, storage, trade and consumption”, said the Prime Minister before proceeding to present relevant statistics on the current food demand, consumption and supply of the country.

In 2015, Mongolia suffered harvesting loss due to extreme weather which led to import 69 percent of wheat demand, 52 percent of vegetable and 20 percent of potatoes. But the 2016 harvesting results show that Mongolia can fully supply its domestic demand of flour, potatoes and vegetables this year. In accordance with food security indicators, 78 percent of basic food commodities demand was fulfilled by domestic production in 2016.

Reflected in the current Cabinet’s 2016-2020 action plan is a national program themed ‘Healthy food - Healthy Mongolian’ which will soon be formulated. The Prime Minister’s report continued with the current state of food security regulations and rules and the result of the inspection by the Specialized Inspection Agency of Mongolia in regard to food safety. “Ensuring food safety is an issue that matters to everyone, and requires coordination between government and non-government organizations working in the sector and active participation of private sectors. There’s a need to improve public awareness on food safety”, remarked the Prime Minister.

Then, he introduced the measures the Cabinet is planning to realize in regard to food security. The Cabinet’s upcoming actions include creating and utilizing an integrated registration database in order to ensure the implementation of food law, food security law and the organic food law; boosting the implementation of the food law and the food security law; proposing draft bills on enriched food and functional food; formulating and realizing the ‘Healthy food – Healthy Mongolian’ national program; organizing ‘The first campaign on meat and milk’ in order to ensure stable supply of healthy food in every season; regularizing proper production and sanitary practice in food processing factories, and adopting a relevant instruction; realizing organic food law, and promoting the production and trade of organic foods; taking measures directed at upgrading public awareness and knowledge on food safety; and resolving the issue of standard storage of perishable fragile food items.

“The Government has constantly paid attention to food security issue. Furthermore,  we will work towards securing food safety, and supplying population demand with healthy, safe food”, concluded Prime Minister J.Erdenebat.