13/07/2016 2 min

Signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between ANSES and the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) of the Republic of Korea

During the visit to ANSES headquarters of a NIFDS delegation, the two Directors General, Dr. Yeowon SOHN and Dr. Roger GENET, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 12 July 2016. The signature of the MoU takes place during France-Korea year, 2015-2016, which celebrates 130 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Since 2005, several South Korean delegations have visited France on issues related to agriculture, and the Ministries of Agriculture of the two countries have agreed to strengthen the contacts between their respective agencies, especially regarding food safety, a major concern shared by the two countries.

The National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS) of the Republic of Korea is a government agency responsible for science-based risk assessment, review/evaluation, approval and research on food and medicinal products for ensuring public health. The NIFDS is a part of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).

In March 2016, ANSES hosted a delegation from the NIFDS to explore the possibilities for future collaboration.

The signature of the Memorandum of Understanding on 12 July by Dr. Yeowon Sohn, NIFDS Director General and Dr. Roger Genet, ANSES Director General, formalises this desire for collaboration between the two agencies.

Its purpose is to facilitate greater scientific and technical cooperation between the two parties, enabling them to develop knowledge and exchange information and thus improve their ability to carry out their respective missions. The two agencies plan to collaborate in the field of food safety, especially concerning microbiological risk, chemical risk and nutrition, for example on marine biotoxins and endocrine disruptors.

Within this framework, ANSES and the NIFDS jointly agree to undertake actions regarding risk assessment and research, the exchange of technical knowledge and know-how, such as the planning and implementation of projects of common interest, the organisation of exchanges and visits by scientists and trainees, or the dissemination of scientific knowledge during seminars and workshops, among other initiatives...