New Delhi- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has emphasised the need for regional collaboration to strengthen food safety and standards in Asia. This was stated by the agency as it addressed the Regional Conclave on "Enhancing Regional Collaboration & Harmonization in Standard Setting Process" at the ongoing Second Edition of Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 hosted by FSSAI.

The conclave, which is being organised by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) alongside the World Food India 2024 event, aims to enhance regional collaboration and harmonization in food safety and standard setting process. The purpose of the regional conclave is to enhance regional collaboration and harmonization in food safety and standard setting process.

Underlining the importance of the conclave, Anupriya Patel stated that, "the Asian region is responsible for a significant portion of the world's food production. With this prominence comes the responsibility to ensure food safety, promote health, and uphold fair trade practices that align with international standards. The conclave reaffirms a stronger, more collaborative approach to food safety and standards within the Asia region. It is a vital milestone in our collective journey towards a safer and healthy food system for not just our region, but also for the entire world."

Patel emphasised that "despite the potential we hold as a region, the challenges like vast differences in regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities and technical expertise across the region and the lack of awareness among national stakeholders regarding the food-safety standards limit our ability to comply with international food safety standards. To address these challenges, we must enhance our regional collaboration by pooling our resources, sharing technical expertise and aligning our strategies" as "only through unity and cooperation we can elevate the region's role in shaping international food standards."

Patel further said that "we need to look ahead at the new and emerging sectors. Standards must be developed for areas like aquaculture, processed foods and organic farming while addressing new technologies like bio-technology and sustainable farming. These advancements are critical as we strive to make our food systems safe, more resilient and sustainable for the future." She added that "the conclave will drive meaningful progress towards harmonizing food-safety across the region that will facilitate seamless trade and also strengthen food-safety for all our populations."