Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan strengthening cooperation in food security

Cooperation with Azerbaijan will allow Uzbekistan to strengthen the consumer protection system, expand access to safe and quality food products, and increase competitiveness in international markets, Report informs referring to Uzbek media.

A high-ranking delegation of Uzbekistan is currently in Azerbaijan. The delegation is headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan Nurmat Atabekov.

The purpose of the visit is to exchange experience in the field of modern food security management. The visit was organized with the support of the FAO Representative Office in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek delegation visited the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan. The meeting discussed prospects for cooperation in the field of plant protection and animal health, as well as strengthening national food security systems.

Representatives of Uzbekistan were informed about reforms in Azerbaijan, including the introduction of a risk-based approach to inspections, crisis management and rapid notification systems, control and inspection procedures (including HACCP standards), requirements for the import and export of food, the procedure for registering new types of products, food additives, pesticides and veterinary drugs, and the work of the Automated Food Safety Information System.

As part of the visit, the delegation also got acquainted with the activities of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute (AFSI), border inspection points and laboratories, where they studied the practical implementation of the "single window" model in the control of foreign trade supplies.