Bilateral meeting with the Under Secretary for Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Dr José Emilio Esteban
Rome – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and the Under Secretary for Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Dr José Emilio Esteban, met on the sidelines of the 46th meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). The Under Secretary was joined at the meeting by Mr Jason Hafemeister, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Trade, USDA.
The Director-General thanked the Under Secretary for the USA’s ongoing support to FAO’s mandate, while the Under Secretary expressed appreciation for FAO’s dedication and commitment to science, technology and innovation.
The Director-General and Under Secretary shared views on the essential work of the Codex Alimentarius, highlighting the importance of science, technology, innovation, new ideas and youth, while stressing the critical role that transparency, impartiality and a science-focus play in the work of Codex.
They also touched upon the distinct roles of, and linkages between, various stakeholders in the realm of food safety and food standards – including the private sector, scientists, policymakers and others – while recalling the primacy of science and evidence in this critical area of work.
The pair also briefly discussed the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) and an emerging food safety initiative for Africa, and noted the importance of continuing to work together towards shared goals and ambitions.
Finally, the Director-General noted with appreciation the USDA Chief Scientist’s recent participation in the opening segment of the Science and Innovation Forum, held on 18 October 2023.