Food safety meeting focuses on influence of technology

Representatives from various food agencies met in Chile recently to discuss the use of technology to improve food safety systems.

The sixth annual meeting of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) was held in Santiago earlier this month. The forum was attended by officials from more than 18 countries and international institutions.

It took place under the theme “Innovation, Technology and Digital Transformation in Food Safety.” Representatives from national food agencies discussed strategies for using technologies to enhance global food safety systems.
Hosted by Chile
Diego Varela, from the Chilean Food Safety and Quality Agency (ACHIPIA), said the event was a great opportunity to address challenges posed by food safety in the 21st century.

“This meeting allows countries to share experiences and knowledge to strengthen their national food control systems, while also giving Chile the opportunity to directly showcase its work in food safety to these countries,” he said.

Sessions were chaired by the Singapore Food Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

“It is essential that Chilean products meet the highest food safety standards to maintain their competitiveness in international markets. International cooperation helps Chile strengthen its own national food control system, which benefits Chilean producers and consumers,” said Esteban Valenzuela, Chilean Minister of Agriculture.

Eve Crowley, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Chile, said it is working with the government to evaluate the country’s food control system, with the aim of strengthening food quality and safety and protecting consumer health.

“In an increasingly interconnected and technological world, FAO supports countries in the innovation and digitalization of their control systems,” she said.

The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC); the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR); the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA); the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet); the Portuguese Food Safety and Economic Authority (ASAE); and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) were also represented.

Founding member’s role
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) co-chaired a session on artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies in food safety inspection. Saudi Arabia’s delegation was led by Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, chief executive officer of the SFDA.

During this event, the SFDA presented its initiatives in adopting advanced technologies for food inspection and control, emphasizing the positive impact on enhancing compliance with quality standards. SFDA said it contributes to improved public health by ensuring the safety of food products available on the market.

Sessions highlighted the role digital methods have in the food sector and explored how AI and predictive analytics can improve the efficiency of inspection within food control authorities. Discussions also covered best practices for risk communication and information management and innovations in laboratory services and food testing.

SFDA is a founding member of the International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF), which held its first meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, in 2020.

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