Singapore and France sign Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation on food safety

The MOU was signed by Mr Lim Kok Thai, Chief Executive Officer of SFA, and Mr Roger Genet, Director-General of ANSES. The signing was witnessed by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore, and Mr Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, France.

The MOU demonstrates Singapore and France’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in the field of food safety to safeguard the health of consumers, by enhancing the exchange of knowledge and know-how, and reinforcing their research cooperation and expert assessments. Potential areas of collaboration include: a) risk assessment of chemical and microbiological food safety hazards; b) testing programmes for chemical and microbiological food safety; c) safety assessments of novel foods; and d) emerging food safety risks.

Mr Lim said, “The food system has become increasingly complex and globalised. SFA will continue to forge strong partnerships with our counterparts from like-minded countries to keep Singapore’s food safety regulatory framework robust and stay abreast of global food safety developments.”

Mr Genet said, “This MOU will help bring us closer in the domain of food safety, through shared activities in research, surveillance and risk assessment, thereby reinforcing the scientific expertise production and public health decision-making, and the trust of citizens. This is an ever more important concern in the current health crisis".

About the Singapore Food Agency

As the lead agency for food-related matters, the Singapore Food Agency’s mission is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. SFA works hand-in-hand with the industry and consumers to grow our three “food baskets” – Diversify import sources, Grow local, and Grow overseas, as well as ensure food safety from farm-to-fork.

SFA also partners food businesses to strengthen capabilities, tap on technologies to raise productivity, undertake research to develop new lines of business, and catalyse industry transformation to ensure food security.

> For more information on SFA, visit sfa.gov.sg.

About the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety

ANSES provides public decision-makers with the scientific benchmarks needed to protect humans and the environment against health risks. It studies, assesses and monitors all the chemical, microbiological and physical risks to which humans, animals and plants are exposed, thereby helping the public authorities take the necessary measures, including in the event of a health crisis.

A national agency working in the public interest, ANSES comes under the responsibility of the French Ministries of Health, the Environment, Agriculture, Labour and Consumer Affairs.

> For more information on ANSES, visit anses.fr/en