Expansion of cooperation in the area of food safety BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and Saudi Arabia's SFDA sign cooperation agreement
What it's about:
On 20 November 2025, a delegation from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) visited the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) in Berlin. Both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that deepens cooperation in the field of food safety and risk assessment and forms the framework for future cooperation.
The delegation was led by H.E. the Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel and the MoU was signed by Dr. Mohammed Al-Nasser, SFDA Vice President for the Food Sector. From the German side, the signing was attended by Dr. Monika Lahrssen-Wiederholt, Head of Department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), while Professor Andreas Hensel, President of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, signed the MoU.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is a leading regulatory authority dedicated to safeguarding public health by ensuring the safety and efficacyPositive Predictive ValueTo glossary of food, drugs, medical devices, and related products. Beyond its core function of regulatory oversight, the SFDA actively pursues scientific excellence by integrating advanced risk assessment methodologies and embracing new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
At the core of the MoU is the establishment of a dedicated network of food safety risk assessors from both authorities, with a particular emphasis on the safety of food contact materials and packaging, and their impact on food safety.
To further strengthen global food safety, the MoU facilitates the exchange of information and best practices related to the use of artificial intelligence in risk assessment, as well as the assessment of innovative products developed through biotechnology and AI. This includes mutual reporting on product safety, efficacyPositive Predictive ValueTo glossary, and assessment methodologies. The partnership will also be advanced through reciprocal visits, joint workshops, and collaborative training programs.
This strategic collaboration underscores the commitment of both the SFDA and BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment to building a modern, data-driven, and future-ready food regulatory system that supports public health at the national and international levels.
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH) in Germany. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.