Synopses & Reviews
The malicious contamination of food and water supplies for terrorist purposes is a real and current threat: deliberate contamination at one location could have severe global public health, trade and consumer confidence implications. The NATO Advanced Research Workshop responded to increasing concern in many countries that chemical, biological or radionuclear agents might be used intentionally to harm civilian populations and that food and water might be used a vehicle for disseminating such agents. Throughout human history drinking water and food supplies of civilians have been the target of attacks and sabotage. Initially these targets were attacked as a part of military campaign but more recently, drinking water and food have been attacked by terrorists in order to generate fear and panic in the civilian population, to create economic disruption or to undermine the people's confidence in their government and political systems. The key to minimizing the effect of food and water terrorism is the establishment and enhancement of existing food and water safety management programs and the implementation of reasonable security measures. Prevention is best achieved through a cooperative effort such Workshops, that give the opportunity to exchange knowledge, ignite fruitful discussions, create networking contacts and finally together make the next step forwards peace and security. A detailed review of the characteristics of biological, chemical and radioactive agents that would make them attractive for use as possible weapons against a given population, as well as the potential consequence bio- or agro-terrorism attack were presented by the speakers, often using actual examples.
Synopsis
vi of a large number of people due to the enormous quantities of radioactive material that would be required to reach high levels of contamination in mass-produced or distributed supplies. Although, based on data presented at the Workshop concerning the more than 30,000 missing radioactive sources all over the word, the radioactive contamination of food or water is also a scenario that must be taken seriously into consideration. During the last two decades there have been several emerging hazards linked to animal diseases or originating in animal products for example: Avian Influenza (AI), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), West Nile Fever, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Ebola virus. All these diseases or events directly or indirectly affect food security and/or food safety. Approximately 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic by either an association with animal populations or an evolution of the disease in a- mals making it possible to move from animal species to humans. Participants were presented the primary results of the ongoing NATO- SPS Pilot Study on Food Chain Security . These results focused mainly on (i) an overview of the food system; (ii) prevention, surveillance and detection systems and (iii) response system. The importance of issues such as: vuln- ability assessments, risk communication in risk analysis, risk perception, traceability, preparedness awareness, communication, have to be cons- ered when working on food chain security."
Table of Contents
Preface .The Food and Agriculture Planning Committee (FAPC), S. Santamato.-List of Contributors.-Threat. Radionuclear Materials Agents That Could Be Used In Food And Water Supply Terrorism; V.Koukouliou.-An Exploration of Potential Chemical and Biological Threat Agents; Chr. Hansen.-Food Quality Systems in Turkey: Perspectives in Terms of Food Defence; H. Alpas et al.-Monitoring Of Environmental Resources Against International Threats; N. Marmiroli et al.-Consumer Trust In Food Under Varying Social And Institutional Conditions; U. Kjaernes.-The Importance Of Local Production Of Food In Crisis Situation; A. Urbancic.-Terrorism "Assessing The Threat For Critical Infrastructure" Methodologies for water Supplier; W. Czerni.- Management.Water Management in Austria and Securityof Water Supply; W. Schimon.-Integral Management Of Water Resources In Croatia: Step Towards Water Security And Safety For All; Ž. Dadic.-Terrorism and the Food Chain; E. M. Maillot.-Water for Vienna; A. Rompolt