Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on people's livelihoods, health, and food systems worldwide. A joint statement by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted these challenges.

The pandemic has caused significant disruption to global supply chains and conformity assessment activities. Testing, inspection, and certification bodies faced unprecedented operational challenges during lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Key findings from the joint statement include:

• Over 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy were exposed to immediate risks
• Food supply chains were disrupted, affecting food safety and quality standards
• Demand for remote conformity assessment solutions increased significantly
• Digital transformation of accreditation processes accelerated

WQCAS responded to these challenges by developing remote assessment capabilities and adapting its accreditation processes to ensure continuity of services during the pandemic.