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Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories (INFAL)

The Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories (INFAL) has as mission, to promote the assurance of the safety and food quality in the Region of the Americas, in order to prevent the foodborne diseases, protect consumer health and facilitate trade, promoting and strengthening the development and interaction of the food analysis laboratories within the framework of integrated national programs of food protection.

Its general objectives point at achieving the methodological equivalence of the food analysis laboratories, promote the implementation of equivalent systems of quality management in the INFAL laboratories and strengthen scientific and technical cooperation among the member countries.
The structure of INFAL is constituted by the Executive Committee, the Technical Groups (Microbiology, Quality Management and Chemical Analysis), Ex-Officio Secretariat, Advisory Group and National Networks.

The Ex-Officio Secretariat is jointly served by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), as part of the technical cooperation on food protection provided to the countries.
The first session of INFAL took place at Oranjestad, Araba, from 11 to 13 June 2001, defining in the ocasión the statutes and plan of action for the period 2001-2003. For further information on INFAL Network, please access: http://www.panalimentos.org/rilaa/e/index.asp