Two world organizations join forces for food safety

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will facilitate both organizations in their efforts toward the achievement of a safe, sufficient and accessible food supply and science-based global standards. The mutually beneficial collaboration will help in preventing and addressing the increasing risks associated with food safety and quality and their impact on public health and consumer protection.

The collaboration will enable FAO to access a wide range of technical and scientific expertise through IAFP Members on issues related to food quality and safety. IAFP benefits by raising awareness about FAO among its membership and facilitating the transfer of more technical information to application by FAO members.

Established in 1945, FAO is a Specialized Agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries. FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and debate policy. FAO’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, with 11 subregional offices and 74 country offices around the world.

IAFP was founded in 1911 as a dairy association in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Since then, it has evolved into an international organization of more than 3,600 Members consisting of educators, government officials, microbiologists, food industry executives and quality control professionals who are involved in all aspects of growing, storing, transporting, processing and preparing all types of food. IAFP is based in Des Moines, Iowa. Its mission is “to provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply.”

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in August 2012.