APEC FSCF PTIN
Food Safety Cooperation Forum Partnership Training Institute Network
Concerns about food safety in the Asia Pacific region have risen sharply, and spurred a high level, collective mandate from APEC Leaders to improve food safety standards and practices. In 2007, after the establishment of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF), APEC Leaders agreed on the need to develop a more robust approach to strengthening food safety standards and practices in the region, using scientific risk based approaches and without creating unnecessary impediments to trade. To this end, they called for increased capacity building to improve technical competence and understanding of food safety management among stakeholders in the supply chain, which include regulators, growers, packers, handlers, storage providers, processors, manufacturers, retailers and food service providers.
The Food Safety Cooperation Forum's Partnership Training Institute Network (FSCF PTIN) was created specifically to address the need to engage the food industry and academic food safety experts with the regulators, to strengthen capacity building in food safety.
May 15-16, 2023, APEC FSCF PTIN Workshop on Risk Communication Related to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), Detroit, Michigan
- USDA FAS hosted an FSCF PTIN Workshop on Risk Communication and MRLs in Detroit, Michigan, as part of the SOM 2 FSCF meetings. Co- sponsored by Australia and Canada, the hybrid workshop was attended by more than 40 participants, representing 13 APEC economies.
- The workshop included speakers from the private sector, academia, journalism, and economy representatives. The workshop focused on the foundations of risk communication and the impact it has for food safety, trade, and how it applies to MRLs, based on the APEC Food Safety Risk Communication Framework and Associated Guidelines.
- Economies and panelist shared their experiences with risk communication relating to MRLs when it comes to public perspectives. Panel interviews included economy perspectives, industry perspectives, and journalist perspectives on science communication to civil society.
- The closing session featured breakout groups discussing specific MRL risk communication scenarios that involve addressing public perceptions, highlighting the importance of hands-on experience and practical risk communication strategies.
- The workshop is part two of a two-part series on MRL risk communication. Part one of the series was held during SOM 3 of 2022 with a focus on economy to economy and to regulator strategy and roles on MRL risk communication.
May 17, 2023, FSCF PTIN Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Laboratory Capacity Building of Environmental Testing for Foodborne Pathogens Workshop, Detroit, Michigan
- On May 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in cooperation with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), executed a one-day hybrid workshop to serve as the culmination of a three year-long workstream designed to introduce WGS technologies, data analysis, and data sharing for pathogen detection to the APEC region in order to improve traceback and overall food safety management.
- Economy representatives who participated in an earlier phase of the project shared their perspectives on the trainings in which they participated as well as teach-forward initiatives they’ve undertaken.
- Other speakers provided: presentations to help APEC economies justify adoption of the technologies, via economic arguments; presentations containing suggestions as to how to build political will and support; and presentations to elaborate upon the many ways WGS can be employed across sectors to ensure food safety.
- Speakers and participants consisted of a mix of technical and policy staff. The event provided a forum to discuss the integration of innovative methods at the economy-level, as well as to develop ideas for future capacity building efforts related to the employment of WGS technologies and the resultant data sharing practices throughout the APEC region.
May 18, 2023 FSCF Public Private Innovation Dialogue, Detroit, Michigan
- On May 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FDA/CFSAN), the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS), and the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (DOC/ITA) collaborated to implement an FSCF Public-Private Innovation Dialogue.
- The event was designed to discuss the future of food safety by examining innovative methodology, digital solutions, and new technologies through the lens of cross-cutting themes, such as traceability, outbreak response, public-private partnerships, and climate change. The event built upon the goals of the FSCF’s Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN) to provide food safety regulatory dialogue, priority-setting discussions for capacity-building efforts, and information-sharing between industry, academia, development banks, and regulators.
- Robust discussion led to the identification of new potential workstreams to explore in coming years, including: development of pilot programs to apply Australia’s Risk Communication Guidelines or the deployment of Whole Genome Sequencing pathogen detection techniques at the economy-level; further discussion regarding big data, how to ensure its utility, and how to share it appropriately; the application of new technologies and communications tools to address food waste; the development of a series of Innovation Case Studies that could be housed online and shared electronically; and the implementation of prioritization exercises to employ existing tools and resources (such as P-IMA from STDF and the IFC Scan Guide).
- United States – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on LinkedIn: The APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Food Safety Cooperation Forum…
May 19, 2023, FSCF Conference, Detroit, Michigan
- On May 19th, the United States Chaired the Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) Conference with Vice Chairs Peru and Thailand. The FSCF held its first meeting as an official APEC subgroup since reaching endorsement of its Terms of Reference in March 2023. The FSCF was established in 2007 and last met virtually in 2021. The FSCF Conference met quorum with attendance from 17 economies. The FSCF will now hold meetings annually as specified by its Terms of Reference.
- The APEC Secretariat provided suggestions of how FSCF work could contribute to the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 Objectives by leading activities related to facilitating trade, resilient supply chains, and increasing knowledge of standards and conformance.
- The United States presented its 2023 Host year themes including the US APEC Ag Theme of Together Achieving Sustainable, Equitable, and Resilient Agri-Food Systems.
- The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) at the University of Maryland presented information on how it has partnered with APEC on past FSCF work and the benefits of collaboration with academia.
- The United States presented on WTO Sanitary Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee work relevant to the FSCF including upcoming thematic work on sustainably increasing production through technology use, establishing SPS measures in uncertainty, SPS measures adapted to regional conditions, and strengthening engagement of developing economies in the WTO. Also highlighted was a planned Thematic Session in November on misinformation and disinformation related to food safety.
- FSCF members reported on FSCF capacity building events including a US led Workstream on Risk Communication Related to Maximum Residue Limits, a US led Workstream on Whole Genome Sequencing, a US led FSCF Public Private Innovation Dialogue, an Australia proposed project on use of the APEC Risk Communication Framework, Australia led work on improving food safety through increased cooperation between food safety regulators and APAC member bodies accrediting certification, inspection and testing services, Chile led work on sustainable aquaculture production, Peru led work on management of aquaculture diseases for small and medium enterprises, a Malaysia led project on use of Next Generation Sequencing for Probiotics, and a China led workshop on improving transparency of food safety requirements.
- FSCF members noted interest in potential future projects including further US led work on pesticide mrl harmonization, risk communication, application of sequencing platforms, food traceability, outbreak response, and use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to prevent or mitigate food safety issues, Japan self-funded work on a joint PPFS/SCSC survey, and Chile led work on antimicrobial resistance.
FSCF Risk Communication Framework endorsed in 2022:
- Australia concluded a two year workstream with the endorsement in 2022 of an APEC Food Safety Risk Communication Framework and Associated Guidelines | APEC. Australia has proposed future FSCF work to build out use of the framework.
FSCF and FSCF PTIN Steering Group meet for biannual meeting in Valpraiso, Chile in May 2019
The FSCF PTIN Steering Group held its biannual meeting in Valpraiso, Chile in May 2019 followed by the biannual meeting of the Food Safety Cooperation Forum. FSCF members endorsed the 2019 FSCF Statement on meeting outcomes.