The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry unveiled a new government food safety policy Friday that will mark a shift toward a more consumer-oriented approach.
The policy change, to take effect July 1, comes in the wake of widespread criticism following the outbreak of mad cow disease in fall 2001 that the agriculture ministry lacks the crisis-management skills necessary to protect the public.
The "policy framework" on food safety released Friday will commit the farm ministry to making the health of the public its "highest priority" and outline changes in the ministry's administrative structure to provide greater consumer protection.