April 25, 2020
In this time of the COVID-19 crisis, the authorities in regions and states have taken measures to ensure food supply chains continue operating by permitting retail shops and markets to open, along with the flow of goods, as all must abide by health guidelines so that consumers are assured continued access to safe, healthy and nutritious food.
Additionally, the Ministry of Commerce and importers have come together to relax import rules to ensure that goods which are necessary for the people can be easily imported.
The government has implemented precautionary measures – from stay-at-home orders to enforcement of preventive regulations- in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, but the authorities do not limit nor prohibit selling, nor attempt to disrupt the food supply chains of companies and businesspersons in the country.
Hence, those who produce and distribute goods, including staples and other basic commodities complying with the standard of the Ministry of Health and Sports, are advised to keep their businesses operating at full capacity.
At an industry level, we recognize that companies and individual traders must also adapt to today’s challenges and continue to provide access to essential food amid changing consumer needs during the crisis.
At the same time, they must follow the health guidelines released by the authorities to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Closures or disruptions of food supply chains in one country could have a devastating impact on people in other countries, and we are already starting to see this play out following the decision by some governments to suspend the export of certain commodities.
As regional and state governments are obliged to assure that the people will have access to essential food, they must prevent resorting to protectionist measures that restrict the flow of food, as these will only serve to sow division, lead to retaliatory action and instigate further panic in various parts of the country.
At the same time, it is equally important that regional and state authorities ensure that the retail sector can continue selling basic commodities without interruption so that people have easy and convenient access to them.
Now, more than ever, is the time for us to collectively take action to keep food supply chains open and to protect the flow of food so that consumers can continue to have necessary access to safe and high quality food to help people get through this pandemic.
