The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is set to formalise its relationship with the China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) in November this year, clearing the way for increased collaboration on a range of issues, including the global efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
EFSA is also due to participate in the “China International Food Safety & Quality Conference + Expo 2016” and to co-chair one of the event’s seminars on future priorities in food safety.
“China and the EU are increasingly working together in the area of food safety,” said EFSA, adding that the Authority’s executive director, Bernhard Url, and CFSA’s acting director general, Jiang Lu, will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on November 1 in Beijing.
The agreement will establish a legal basis to ensure cooperation programmes in the areas of capacity building, exchange of knowledge and expertise, as well as stimulating harmonisation and innovation in food safety risk assessment methods and approaches.
During the associated conference and expo, EFSA will give “insights” into areas of its work with global significance, such as its new guidance on applications for novel and traditional foods and its contribution to global efforts regarding AMR.