ADFCA granted seven Integrated Management System certificates
HE Rashed Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), has stressed that ADFCA was keen, right from its inception, on continuous development of its performance and service components and on adherence to methodologies that would enable it to achieve its strategic objectives of ensuring people's wellbeing and their protection from food-related dangers.
"This was sought to be done through the adoption of international best practices and through laying down policies, rules and standards of quality and pursuing research and integrated awareness drives," Al Shariqi said, while honoring 88 ADFCA staff members who doubled as coordinators of Integrated Management System.
The occasion was the completion of the second phase of the implementation of Integrated Management System, in which ADFCA attained seven certificates from the British Standards Institution (BSI). Among those present on the occasion were Sir David Brown, BSI's Chairman and the accompanying delegation, in addition to ADFCA top management and staff.
Al Shariqi said the attainment of seven certificates of international management systems would bring in numerous benefits to the Authority. "Among them are the skills and knowledge and the subsequent improvement in the services provided. Team spirit, performance enhancement of the staff and the support for ADFCA's vision of becoming an internationally recognized organization are the other benefits," he pointed out, thanking the staff for their efforts and the strategic partners like BSI for their cooperation.
ADFCA is the only authority to implement an integrated management system consisting of seven management systems. The Director General concluded his remarks, expressing his hope that the achievement would lead to more excellence and contribute to realizing the vision of the Government of Abu Dhabi to be among the five best governments in the world.
ADFCA implemented the Integrated Management System across two phases. The first phase was done between the second quarter of 2009 and the last quarter of 2010, resulting in three certificates of IMS and the legislative framework for the Abu Dhabi Environment, Health and Safety Management System. The systems are the following: BSI PAS 99: 2006, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001: 1996, OHSAS 18001: 2007.
As for the second phase of implementation, stretching from early 2011 until the end of 2012, ADFCA got UKAS accreditation ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 for veterinary laboratories. ADFCA also got UKAS accreditation ISO/IEC 17020: 2008 for food inspection systems, in addition to conformity certificates BSI 25999: 2007 and ISO 10002: 2004. The last two were with regard to business continuity management system and customer complaint management system.
