Her Excellency Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at Abu Dhabi Agriculture Food and Safety Authority (ADAFSA), has received the award for Outstanding Leadership in Food Safety – CEO Middle East, highlighting efforts in food safety practices across the emirate.
The Outstanding Leadership in Food Safety - CEO Middle East was launched in 2009 by the UK-based CEO Today, which publishes an international magazine targeting senior executives across various industries. The award is granted annually to those who demonstrate a commitment to enhancing food safety standards in the Middle East.
The award aims to recognise her efforts in leading initiatives that have significantly enhanced food safety in Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. The initiatives include the development of the strategic plan for food security which targets a comprehensive axis of food safety. This involves the development of food safety policies and legislation, forming the basis for advanced systems for monitoring food establishments, such as the Zadna Rating programme and the Smart Inspection programme.
Additionally, she led the Together Blessings Last campaign, aimed at changing consumer and food establishment behaviours to reduce food loss and waste. The campaign also educates farmers on best practices for harvesting and post-harvesting. Other initiatives include launching the Food Security Data Platform, and the Import and Export Platform and supporting research and development in food safety.
Her Excellency currently oversees the Authority's strategy, policies, and corporate services in her capacity as Deputy Director General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs. She has played an active role in establishing the food establishment monitoring system in Abu Dhabi. Over the span of eight years, she led the inspection sector, during which she worked on building the capabilities of qualified Emirati personnel to manage the inspection system. This contributed to Abu Dhabi achieving food safety scores of 94 per cent and 99 per cent in 2015 and 2016 respectively, making it the first in the Middle East.
She also currently chairs the National Codex Committee in the UAE and serves as a member of the International Network of Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN), playing a role in enhancing food safety at national, regional, and international levels.
Her main responsibilities include representing the UAE at Codex Alimentarius Committee meetings and other international organisations related to food safety. She contributes to developing international food safety standards and ensuring they meet national requirements. She also oversees coordinating the efforts of national bodies concerned with food safety to ensure effective implementation of Codex standards and raising awareness about the importance of food safety among consumers and food producers.
Her Excellency reaffirmed her ongoing commitment to working with the relevant parties to ensure that community members have access to safe and healthy food. She expressed her gratitude to ADAFSA leadership, represented by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ADAFSA, for his continuous support, which significantly contributed to achieving this accomplishment.
Her Excellency Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, said: "This award is a regional recognition of our pioneering efforts in food safety and elevates the status of the UAE as an excellent and safe destination for living. It further recognises ADAFSA's excellence in launching unique initiatives to address food safety challenges. The award serves as an incentive for us to continue working hard to maintain this excellence and enhance our leadership in food safety, food security, and biosecurity at the regional and global levels."
