Second World Food Safety Conference Bangkok – Thailand 22-23 May 2014

Discussing Food Safety Standards challenges

On May 23, 2014, I was privileged to contribute to the Second World Food Safety Conference held in Bangkok Thailand, by making a presentation reviewing the drivers influencing food standard setting internationally and the resulting trends. The presentation made the case for the necessity of enhanced worksharing and collaboration amongst food regulators regionally and internationally, aiming for added efficiency and convergence in food regulatory requirements. The need to align standard development with the principles and outputs of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, as the preeminent international food standard setting body was highlighted. Participating in the meeting provided me with an excellent opportunity to discuss with a number of food stakeholders in Thailand, in Asia and the Asia Pacific region overall current and emerging challenges related to food safety and nutrition.

With Dr. Pisan Pongsapitch and his team and with H.E. Ambassador Philip Calvert, Canadian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand

My visit to Thailand gave me the opportunity to meet and exchange with peer food safety regulators and colleagues from Thailand, particularly Dr. Pisan Pongsapitch, Director of Standard Development, in the Thai Department of Agriculture and his team. My thanks and gratitude to our Thai hosts for their kind and generous hospitality

With Dr. Pisan Pongsapitch, Director of Standard Development, Thai Ministry of Agriculture