FSSAI to Host Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 on July 20, 21

The Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 will be hosted in Delhi, marking the first time this important event will be conducted outside of Rome, Italy. The summit, organized as a G20 event, will take place on the July 20 and 21 at the Manekshaw Auditorium in New Delhi. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which is part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is in charge of the organization.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, unveiled the official logo of the Summit, alongside Prof. S P Singh Baghel, the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare. Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the paramount importance of food safety, which deserves as much attention as food security. The summit will serve as a critical platform for representatives and regulators from over 40 countries to join hands and collaborate. Additionally, 30 international organizations and 25 research institutes/universities from across the globe will also participate in this grand event.

The primary objective of the Global Food Regulators Summit is to bring about the harmonization of global food safety standards and to enhance regulatory frameworks. The ultimate goal is to ensure the supply of safe and high-quality food for consumers worldwide. By facilitating collective efforts and cooperation among nations, the summit aims to create a solid network for addressing food safety and regulatory aspects.

Emphasizing the relevance of the Summit, Prof. S P Singh Baghel said, "This summit aligns with the theme of India’s G20 Presidency- One Earth, One Family, One Future. Indian tradition has always been about Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, and this summit is a step in that direction."

The event is expected to witness enthusiastic participation from stakeholders representing diverse countries, international organizations, and national entities. Regulators from G20 member countries will actively take part in the summit, demonstrating their commitment to bolstering food safety systems and regulatory frameworks.

Renowned international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), CODEX, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) from Germany, the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (USA), Health Canada, the Australian Institute of Food Safety and Technology, and more will contribute their expertise to the discussions.

National stakeholders, including the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of Food Processing, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and various other authorities like APEDA, MPEDA, and EIC, will play an active role in showcasing their collective efforts and commitment to ensuring safe and high-quality food for all. The Global Food Regulators Summit 2023 promises to launch several groundbreaking initiatives that will revolutionize the accessibility and sharing of food safety information. One of the significant initiatives includes the release of Food-o-Copoeia, a comprehensive collection of food category-wise monographs, serving as a single-point reference for all applicable standards for specific product categories.

Another remarkable initiative is the common regulator's platform 'SaNGRAH' (Safe food for Nations: Global food Regulatory Authorities Handbook). It is a comprehensive database of Food Regulatory Authorities from 76 countries worldwide, presenting their mandates, food safety ecosystems, food testing facilities, contact details for food authorities, and information related to SPS/TBT/Codex/ WAHO. SaNGRAH is available not only in Hindi and English but also in six Indian languages—Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

In addition to these, the Summit will also witness the launch of a Common Digital Dashboard, a unified IT portal providing comprehensive information on standards, regulations, notifications, advisories, guidelines, contamination limits, and the latest developments by Food Regulators in India.

G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of FSSAI, expressed his excitement for the two-day event, which will feature a diverse range of activities, including keynote addresses by international organizations and scientists, technical and plenary sessions with food regulators, interactive sessions with national and international stakeholders, and bilateral and multilateral meetings to address current and emerging challenges.