FDA expands food safety collaboration with Mexican counterparts

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its Mexican regulatory counterparts have expanded a collaborative partnership on food safety.

Mexican counterparts include the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA).

In July 2014, the participants agreed to a Statement of Intent also known as “Produce Safety Partnership”.

With the enhancement to strengthen their existing partnership scope, a new Statement of Intent will replace the old one.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said: “US consumers rely on imports from Mexico for much of the fresh fruit and vegetables that they eat as well as other foods.

“Our enhanced food safety partnership with our Mexican colleagues will play an important role in helping each country’s respective efforts to create a modernised food safety regulatory framework.

“By strengthening our ongoing collaboration with Mexico’s food safety regulatory authorities, we can bolster our important work protecting public health in both countries and prevent foodborne diseases by using modern technology, preventive practices based on technical and scientific evidence, as well as actions of health surveillance and verification measures.”

Under the latest Statement of Intent, the food regulatory bodies agreed to incorporate new and emerging technologies, leverage food safety programmes at SENASICA and COFEPRIS and their work with local industry.

The agencies have agreed to initially focus on areas of mutual interest related to human food safety including prevention, outbreak response and more.