Enhancing Food Safety Regulation and Enforcement Responsibilities in Myanmar

The Myanmar Association for Public Policy (MAPP) is an independent think tank in Myanmar founded by public policy graduates who systematically formulate and introduce relevant policy recommendations to policymakers based on research and evidence. The Capstone team collaborated with MAPP to better understand Myanmar’s food supply chain, its points of vulnerability to contamination, and the regulatory environment. The team conducted interviews with FDA authorities, political activists, scientists, and other stakeholders in the local food safety industry. The team also collected quantitative data in Yangon’s wet markets, surveying street vendors’ handling of produce. After identifying the main challenges in food safety, its regulations, and enforcement, the team created a report outlining current local food safety issues and identifying opportunities for setting future policy priorities, while acknowledging World Health Organization and Association of Southeast Asian Nations standards.