Strengthening existing Indo-German cooperation BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment President Andreas Hensel visits the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Transnational scientific exchange, a visit to the most important conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics in India and a meeting of the Indo-German Working Group on Agriculture, Food Industry and Consumer Protection: these and other
points were on the agenda of the delegation trip organised by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture). The aim of the delegation trip was to intensify cooperation with India, the specialised ministry responsible for agricultural issues and other Indian institutions. Professor Andreas Hensel, president of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment), also took part in the delegation trip and also visited the Indian cooperation partner, the local Food Safety Standards Authority (FSSAI). The purpose of the visit was to further intensify the existing partnership and to evaluate joint topics for future projects.
From 17 to 20 March 2025, BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment President Professor Andreas Hensel travelled to India together with a delegation from the BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, led by State Secretary Silvia Bender. The presidents and representatives of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLIshort forFriedrich Loeffler Institute), the Julius Kühn Institute (JKIshort forJulius Kühn Institute), the German Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), the Thünen Institute (TIshort fortitanium) and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety) from the BMELshort forGerman Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture were also present. Industry representatives were also part of the group. In addition to attending the 10th Raisina Dialogue, India's most important conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, the 8th meeting of the Joint Indian-German Working Group on Agriculture, Food Industry and Consumer Protection (JWG) also took place. In a presentation, Professor Hensel gave an overview of the existing cooperation between the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety with the FSSAI and other Indian partners. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the FSSAI signed a cooperation agreement back in 2015 and have been working closely together ever since. Professor Hensel visited the FSSAI together with Dr Marina Rusch, Head of the ‘Herbicides & Maximum Residue Levels’ section in the BVLshort forGerman Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety's ‘Plant Protection Products’ department. The meeting focussed on identifying common topics. These included food contact materials, biotoxins and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Previously, a delegation led by G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Director General of the FSSAI, visited the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in December 2024. At this meeting, they exchanged views on novel foods and marine biotoxins, among other things. In addition, several FSSAI experts take part in the annual BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Summer Academy, a professional training programme on risk assessment and risk communication in the area of food safety.
The FSSAI reports to the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is responsible for regulating and monitoring food safety in India. This includes establishing standards and guidelines in the area of food safety as well as providing scientific advice to the Indian central government and the states.
Further information on BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment cooperations
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