GROWING GLOBAL

IFAC prioritizes global activities, capabilities, and expertise to support the food ingredient industry. From establishing an IFAC office in Beijing, China, to retaining a regulatory consultant in Europe, to participating in government-sponsored workshops in emerging markets, and partnering with organizations in other parts of the world, IFAC provides a truly global voice to promote the benefits of food ingredients. We also work to foster global harmonization of science-based regulations and standards while uniting industry stakeholders in a professional, responsible, and sustainable global food environment.

IFAC is committed to growing its global capacity and welcomes collaboration with international stakeholders. For more information on collaboration please, contact us at info@foodingredientfacts.org.

IFAC China

Since 2012, IFAC China has served as a regional asset to help facilitate monitoring and response to regulatory proposals in this key global market. The mission of IFAC China is to build a network of IFAC representatives in China to exchange information and technical expertise, develop positions, coordinate industry comments, and work in concert with IFAC members around the world to ensure global member support of food additive safety.

IFAC China is led by staff in Beijing who work in Mandarin and engage IFAC member company representatives based in the region. IFAC China staff also effectively engage with Chinese regulators on issues of importance, particularly when challenges arise. IFAC China enables IFAC to identify key regulatory proposals in real time, quickly translates proposals of interest into English, translate IFAC comments into Mandarin for regulatory submission, and establishes IFAC as a technical and scientific resource for Chinese authorities. IFAC China provides a foothold to reach all of Asia and has been critical in IFAC’s expansion in the region over the last several years.

Emerging Market Activities

IFAC enthusiastically supports and participates in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emerging Markets Program (EMP), which is intended to build capacity of food industry stakeholders in developing countries. IFAC has also participated in the Standards Alliance, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) focused on providing capacity building assistance to developing countries.Over the past several years, EMP and Standards Alliance sessions have focused on informing food additive producers, manufacturers, regulators, and other audiences in emerging markets about the safety and suitability of food additives, with a particular focus on combating chemophobia, as well as the U.S. Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Program and Good Manufacturing Practices for food ingredients. IFAC has been represented at EMP sessions in China, Colombia, Dubai, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

  • Click here to access IFAC’s 2019 presentation to Thai officials on Ensuring Food Safety Through GMPs.
  • Click here to access 2018 IFAC-supported presentation to Indian officials on Regulatory Elements of the GRAS Procedure.
  • Click here to access IFAC’s 2016 presentation to Vietnamese officials on Suitability of Food Additives: Natural vs. Artificial.
  • Click here to access IFAC’s 2016 presentation to Indonesian officials on GRAS Overview and Industry Perspectives.

International Partnerships

Over the years, IFAC has engaged regulatory agencies and industry organizations around the world to establish relationships, share information, offer technical and scientific expertise, and collaborate when possible. Since 2011, IFAC and the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) have worked under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the sharing of information and work on areas of mutual interest related to food ingredients. As part of this MOU, IFAC meets annually with CFSA during the Codex Committee on Food Additives Meeting. Collaboration with CFSA whenever possible is a cornerstone of the IFAC China program, and the MOU provides IFAC with unique tool to nurture this type of collaboration in China.

IFAC also has MOUs in place with the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT), the International Dairy Federation (IDF), the European Food and Feed Cultures Association (EFFCA), and Europe’s Phosphoric Acid & Phosphates Producers Association (PAPA).

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