International cooperation for consumer health protection
On 1 March 2023, the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela Van Treek, and Professor Dr Dr Andreas Hensel, President of BfR, signed the renewed contract between their institutions at a reception held at the residence of the German ambassador in Chile. The objectives are organizational and policy advice in the field of risk assessment, continuation of scientific mentoring and joint scientific collaboration as well as and cooperation in the field of capacity development."Worldwide cooperation enriches and improves consumer health protection through continuous exchange. Within the framework of the long-standing cooperation with ACHIPIA, it has already been possible to implement several projects, among others in the field of exposure assessment," says Professor Dr Dr Andreas Hensel. "Our cooperation agreement will help to strengthen the national institutional framework for food safety and quality," says Diego Varela, Executive Secretary of ACHIPIA. Also, the Minister of Agriculture commented that "We are very interested in the experience of the work carried out by Germany in terms of risk analysis, we see it as a benchmark, and we want to learn from the work they have done. We want to continue on this path of collaboration to improve our food system, and what better way to join us than institutions like BfR that have so much prestige and experience in these matters”.
The signing of the first contract in 2018 enabled several risk assessment studies carried out in Chile and the organisation of conferences of great importance for the Latin American and Caribbean region.
In addition, BfR and ACHIPIA were able to successfully conduct numerous scientific consultations (scientific mentorings). Priorities were, among others, the assessment of dietary exposure to sweeteners, to arsenic and cadmium in seafood or, currently, the assessment of dietary exposure to arsenic in rice and baby food.
In addition, ACHIPIA was involved in the 10th BfR Summer Academy in 2022 with scientific lectures and discussions.
In view of the increasing pressure on food systems, ACHIPIA is seeking institutionalisation in order to be able to make a sound contribution to improving the functioning of the national food control system. The BfR is consulted in this situation in order to advise ACHIPIA with its own experience.
About ACHIPIA
The Chilean Agency for Food Quality and Safety (Agencia Chilena de Calidad e Inocuidad Alimentaria, ACHIPIA) is a governmental commission that advises through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Under-Secretariat with the same name. The aim of its work is to coordinate all actors in the food chain, i.e. government agencies, food producers, industry, universities, research centres and consumers, and to contribute to the reduction of food risks through national and international coordination bodies and risk analysis tools, especially in the areas of evaluation and communication.
About the BfR
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientifically independent institution in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). It advises the Federal Government and the Federal States on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics closely related to its assessment tasks.
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.
To read this press release in Spanish, click here (Para leer este comunicado de prensa en español, haga clic aquí):