The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Chinese National Food Industry Association (CNFIA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to intensify their joint food safety efforts in China and the United States, GMA announced today.

At a formal signing ceremony held in Beijing, GMA and CNFIA agreed to increase government-industry exchanges and dialogue on food safety, trade facilitation, and other common interests and to also seek opportunities to collaborate regionally and globally, a GMA news release explained.

“As our food supply has become more global and more complex, partnerships like these have become even more critical to enhancing food safety,” said Pamela G. Bailey, GMA president and CEO. “We all share the common goal of building safer food systems, and we welcome this close coordination with CNFIA and other partners to achieve that goal."

Shi Xiushi, CNFIA president, recognized the MOU as “a new start for the two associations to further strengthen cooperation, promote the development of our food industries, and contribute to food safety."

Together, GMA and CNFIA represent more than a thousand industry members, whose experiences are vital to ensuring food safety regulations are practical, focused, and deliver results.

Chinese Food and Drug Administration Vice Minister Yin Li also attended the MOU signing and called on GMA and CNFIA to carry out broad cooperation and exchanges, strengthen information sharing, and increase food safety training for the benefit of food trade and consumer safety. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing were in attendance as well.