Joint Press Release by Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute, University of Maryland and United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce

BAKU, COLLEGE PARK, WASHINGTON D.C. – On May 17, Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute (AFSI), the University of Maryland’s Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (UMD/JIFSAN) and United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation, Mutual Assistance and Exchange of Information. The document promotes international academic, scientific and other forms of cooperation in the areas of food safety, nutrition, public and animal health in Azerbaijan.

The three parties will work together to complement AFSI’s mission of improvement of national food safety standards in line with international food safety requirements and best global practices. UMD/JIFSAN and USACC will support AFSI’s mission through technical assistance, information exchange, development, and delivery of education and training programs.

The agreement includes the development of joint projects; exchange of subject-matter experts, specialists and scholars for training programs, capacity-building programs, workshops, seminars, conferences, and other academic meetings.

Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute (AFSI) Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute is a legal public entity under Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency. AFSI responsibility includes: the implementation of scientific and practical testing and research work in the area of food safety, risk assessment based on scientific principles, the development and introduction of technical normative legal acts for food safety, as well as promotion and voluntary application of international standards and best practices on food safety by food manufacturers and processors. The main purpose of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute is to organize the food safety chain, i.e. handling, preparing and storing food in a way to best reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and threat to public health.

The University of Maryland (UMD) is a major research and teaching institution with the land grant mission of improving agriculture in the state of Maryland and worldwide. Its outreach arm, Maryland Cooperative Extension, extends research to improve food safety and productivity of farms and agribusinesses. UMD’s efforts extend beyond Maryland’s borders, as it conducts capacity-building, as well as research and development projects worldwide. The University of Maryland through a series of cooperation engagements and training programs with its foreign counterparts helps public and private organizations, agribusinesses, farmers, food processors, distributors, importers, and others in getting access to adequate knowledge.

United States-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (USACC). Since its inception in 1995, USACC has been a vital resource for individuals and businesses of the United States of America and Azerbaijan seeking to establish long-term business ties. USACC serves as a platform for trade missions and conferences, and arranges business meetings where key government and business leaders from both countries can meet, share ideas, and forge business partnerships.

   

Source: USACC