The North American Meat Institute and The China Society of Inspection and Quarantine (CSIQ) have signed an agreement to cooperate on key food safety programs and to enhance the technical information exchange between the groups.

Under the agreement, CSIQ and the Institute will strengthen technology exchanges and cooperation in inspection and quarantine, collaborate on inspection and quarantine verification and food safety cooperation and communication at the local and national level. The two organizations also will share information concerning regulatory and scientific developments that can impact their members and disseminate the information, as appropriate. Both organizations will convene periodically to explore additional mechanisms that would mutually benefit each organization’s members.

CSIQ is approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, registered by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and supported by General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ). CSIQ is a national, non-profit, voluntary organization that aims to promote academic communication and technical cooperation, advocates national high-tech inspection development and seeks to enhance the performance and level of inspection.

“This newly formed partnership is consistent with the Institute’s long-standing philosophy that food safety should be a non-competitive issue,” said Institute Chairman Dave McDonald, president of OSI Industries. “We both know there is a time to compete against one another – that makes both of us better and stronger. But there is also a time when cooperation should trump competition, and that is when it comes to food safety.”

“Our nations individually have some of the best minds in science and technology and food technology in particular,” McDonald said. “Separately, we are leaders, but working together, we can become exceptional leaders. In fact, we can help create a new global path.”

The Institute’s Senior Vice President of International Trade William Westman will serve as the liaison to the newly formed partnership. The Institute is also a founding member of the U.S.-China Agriculture and Food Partnership.

Source: NAMI