For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/291
15 June 2015
Re-issued as received
BEIJING/VIENNA, 15 June (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the China Food and Drug Administration of the People's Republic of China (CFDA) are to enhance their cooperation in the field of food and drug safety, with a focus on the pharmaceutical trade, technology transfer and local production in Africa.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in Beijing on 12 June by LI Yong, the Director General of UNIDO, and BI Jingquan, Minister of the CFDA, which is the institution charged with streamlining regulation processes for food and drug safety.
"We foresee that our joint cooperation will include a range of capacity-building activities in the field of food safety and food safety emergency response. We will also cooperate on international certifications, and risk management and communication on food safety," said Director General Li.
"In addition, we envisage multilateral cooperation in the field of food safety and drug regulation, as well as the pharmaceutical trade, technology transfer and local production in Africa."
Speaking at the opening of the International Food Safety Forum today in Beijing, Director General Li said that "UNIDO has helped more than 230 food-processing enterprises in Asia and Africa become certified in line with international quality and food safety management system standards. UNIDO also has helped more than 200 agro-food testing laboratories to gain international accreditation."
"Based on the UNIDO-China Strategic Cooperation Framework 2014-2016, approved by the State Council in 2014, the ongoing UNIDO-China cooperation is focusing on two priority areas. One is green industry. The other is food safety," said Li.
In China, UNIDO has already helped a number of food-producing enterprises in Fujian province to gain international recognition for their food safety management capabilities and systems (ISO 22000), and has strengthened the capacity of a food testing laboratory in Dali, in Yunnan province.
UNIDO will support the CFDA with strengthening food safety governance and improving food safety in China in order to protect consumers and boost trade. The two organizations agreed to implement a project entitled, "Food Safety Supervision Capacity Building for China" that will enhance the CFDA's capacity building and training activities.
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UNIDO is currently implementing a project that aims to expand and upgrade small and medium-size enterprises in selected developing countries, mainly in Africa and in Asia, for the local manufacturing of essential generic drugs. The project is enhancing access of the poor to these drugs at affordable prices. More details, see here
For details about UNIDO's programme to help developing countries and economies in transition overcome the shortcomings of their standards and conformity infrastructure, see here
For information about how UNIDO helps developing countries and economies in transition to comply with international standards, see here
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For more information, please contact:
Bernardo
Calzadilla-Sarmiento
Director, UNIDO Trade Capacity Building Branch
Email: B.Calzadilla[at]unido.org
