The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has announced that it will be hosting 200 industry and government leaders at dedicated briefings in Washington D.C. this month. As new laws are being implemented within the U.S. FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), the public and private sector will convene to discuss how GFSI can be leveraged by both governments and industry for FSMA implementation, international business and above all, public health. GFSI is powered by The Consumer Goods Forum.
GFSI as Partner for FSMA Implementation and Harmonization
As the U.S. government implements FSMA, both American and foreign companies are working to ensure they comply with the new requirements. In its role as global partner for collaboration on food safety and business efficiency, GFSI brings together the worldwide food network to do what no one company or government can do alone.
Addressing food safety as a shared responsibility, GFSI has gathered the collective best practices of leading companies for the past 16 years and amalgamated this knowledge into a common understanding of fundamental food safety requirements, recognized internationally.
Streamlining Food Safety Assurance in Shared Supply Networks
By benchmarking and recognizing food safety schemes, GFSI drives harmonization and continuous improvement in the delivery of safe food to consumers everywhere.
The GFSI approach has enabled tremendous strides towards global harmonization of food safety practices as well as improved business efficiency in managing those practices. This consensus on food safety management requirements translates into heightened transparency, mutual trust and streamlined compliance processes, such as third-party certification.
Acting as a B2B FSMA in the Marketplace
The Washington D.C. GFSI briefings, sponsored by TraceGains, aim to enhance understanding of the role GFSI has played in the marketplace and its relevance now, more than ever, in regards to the implementation of the most sweeping U.S. food safety reform in the last decade.
Food operations who have implemented strong food safety management practices and obtained certification to a GFSI-recognized scheme are in a better place to comply with FSMA requirements. Similarly, companies seeking FSMA compliance and access to local, regional and global value chains benefit from recognition within the GFSI approach.
Public-private Dialogue to Achieve Shared Goals
"Science guides industry and policymakers to the same place as we work towards our common objective of ensuring a safe food supply for consumers," commented Mike Robach, Chair of the GFSI Board of Directors. "Public-private dialogue and collaboration is paramount to achieving this goal."
The speaker line-up includes industry heavyweights Amazon, Cargill, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, Dole, McDonald's, Mondelēz, Target, Walmart and Wegmans. Policymakers and national legislators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other institutions will be present and food safety expert David Acheson will give a special session on FSMA.