GFSI and TAFS Forum Sign Memorandum of Understanding

PARIS, France – The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) and the Swiss-based TAFS Forum recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support their joint efforts for the continuous improvement of food safety throughout the global food supply chain, the organizations announced this month.

The MoU was signed by Ulrich Kihm, President of the TAFS forum Board and by Yves Rey, Chair of the GFSI Board of Directors and Corporate Quality General Manager, Danone.

“With the prospect of 9 billion people to feed in 2050 and a particularly strong increase in the demand for animal-based protein such as meat, milk and eggs, the efficiency of food production needs to be optimized and losses reduced wherever possible,” Kihm said. “Animal diseases represent a major source of food losses, besides being a potential hazard to food safety. Working hand in hand with the GFSI will assure enhanced collaboration between all stakeholders.”

Both organizations see animal health as a prerequisite for food safety and will team up to address these issues together, they said. The TAFS forum and GFSI will work together along with other stakeholders to identify key areas for future collaboration, they said.