On April 18^th, the opening ceremony of the 10^th annual 2019 International Forum on Food Safety and Health was held in Beijing. The two-day Forum, focusing on “Innovation Drives Food Safety and Health,” discussed new trends within the international food industry, the difficulties facing by Food Safety in China, and the transformation of the food and health industry. The forum also aimed to explore innovative development paths for China's food industry from the past high-speed model to a high-quality one, and provide more scientific solutions for global food safety and health issues.

Co-organized by the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology and the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), the Forum has received great attention from various stakeholders at home and abroad.  More than 600 participants, including domestic and international experts and representatives from the government, academia, international and national organizations as well as the private sector, attended the event.

Professor Meng Suhe, the Chairman of China Food Science and Technology Association, announced that 486 international food safety experts have participated in the Forum during these past 10 years. As a mobile "think tank of international food safety," these international experts have actively participated in the training of grass-roots inspectors, and have opened up great knowledge sharing between Chinese experts and food safety practitioners. Through these continued discussions and efforts, our understanding of food safety in China has greatly improved and allowed us to become at par with international industry level.

Under the leadership of renowned domestic experts, the Forum functions as an avenue for breaking the boundaries between departments and industries, forming an "academic consensus" and developing more young professional local experts who have the ability to influence the whole country with regard to food safety.

Dr. Vincent Martin, Representative of FAO China, stressed in his remarks that FAO is leading the international effort in eliminating hunger and achieving food and nutrition security for all. FAO is the only international organization overseeing all aspects of the food chain and is thereby able to provide a unique 360-degree vision on food safety.

FAO assists its member countries in food safety by strengthening national food regulatory control systems and working with local food producers to develop measures to prevent or minimize food and feed safety risks.

The Codex Alimentarius, the body created by the FAO and the WHO, is the venue for setting standards to address food-safety risks. Protecting consumer health is a core mandate. Mr. Tom Heilandt, Secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission of FAO, also participated in this event.

“In the future, we need to strengthen national food control regulatory frameworks and capacities, to support science-based food safety governance, enhance food safety management along the food chains, and develop food safety intelligence and foresight,” said Dr. Martin.

The Forum also organized eight additional sessions, including: improving the management of food system in the 21^st century through innovation, scientific practices in food nutrition and health, the monitoring and control of allergens in food and special medical food production process, the international food safety index system, the international sustainable development of palm oil, priorities and opportunities for Improving China's food Industry testing standards, and intelligent food safety management in the New Retail Era.