This project is focused on long term gains in food safety across the region. This will provide significant benefit to men, women and children throughout the region with more accessible, safe food becoming available. The direct benefits flowing from this will be decreased morbidity and mortality associated with conditions arising from poor food safety. In addition, from an economic perspective, a key focus of this proposal is about trade facilitation and limiting trade barriers in the event of a food safety incident. In terms of economic development, this will benefit men, women and children throughout the region.

In order to ensure that the project benefits both men and women, gender equity will be actively pursued when finalising invitations and speakers at this event, in order to have equal input representing the views of men and women within economies. Previous experience indicates that women are well-represented at senior leadership levels in food regulatory agencies, and therefore are likely to be available to participate in the Seminar. In the past APEC Seminar, held in China, over 50% of participants were women. Many of China’s (AQSIQ and Health System),Chinese Taipei's and Thailand's senior contacts in APEC Member Economies are women.

In undertaking the proposed project the APEC recognises the critical role played by women in ensuring the availability of nutritious and safe food to their families. Generally, women are the primary providers of food within the family so they need to be a focal point of any activities relating to food safety capacity building. This is particularly important for women and families in developing economies. Given this, it will be critical that at least half of the project participants are women.

The continued broader goals of the seminar will lead to benefits for both men and women by: promoting transparent information-sharing and communication networks that provide accurate and timely information to consumers and producers (both men, women and their families) on food safety; and enhancing skills and human resource capacities to enable the development of national food safety regulatory frameworks that are harmonized with international standards, leading to a safer local food supply and increased trade and a more developed economy.

Specifically for women, the continued broader goals of the seminar, will lead to benefits through promoting:

·   Availability of increased information relating to food safety issues, for use by
   women in local communities;

·   Safer food - women and families are often most vulnerable to food-related
   illness;

·   Increased employment opportunities in food and hospitality areas; and

·   Increased economic prosperity through growth in food trade.