Abu Dhabi, June 1, 2010: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and Ireland Food Safety Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the 8^th meeting of the Scientific Committee of ADEFA.

The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation between the two food safety agencies. The areas identified in the MoU for special cooperation between the two organizations are training, research and surveillance practices, communication strategies and awareness programs, IT exchanges, food safety and inspection systems for both imported and domestic food, food policies and legislation development and regulatory affairs and laboratory methodologies and management systems. Quarantine, animal and plant health affairs and animal welfare, occupational safety and health and quality management systems are among the other areas earmarked for collaboration.

Rashed Mohamed Al Shariqi, Director General, ADFCA, said the MoU was a significant step in bringing the regulatory system for food safety in the emirate of Abu Dhabi on par with the best anywhere in the world. "We are looking forward to benefitting from the experience and expertise that mark Ireland out in the sphere of food safety. This MoU is in line with our commitment to the people of Abu Dhabi to guarantee total food safety and strive for maximum food security," he added.

On his part, Professor Alan Reilly, Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety Authority of Ireland, said: "We look forward to collaborating with ADFCA in the area of food control, sharing experiences and assisting in strengthening the scientific basis for food control in Abu Dhabi. There are many similarities between our two organizations and we indeed have real opportunities for collaboration and for learning from each other."