Food Protection Trends - January/February 2020 - 49

Dubai International Food Safety Conference
The 13th Dubai
International Food Safety
Conference (DIFSC)
and IAFP's 5th Middle
East Symposium on
Food Safety took place
11-13 November, 2019,
at the Dubai World Trade
Centre, Dubai, U.A.E.
IAFP provides
valuable support to this
growing conference,
uniting food safety
professionals for
educational opportunities
and networking.
Organized by the Food Control Department of Dubai
Municipality, this year's event again featured an impressive
faculty of reputed speakers, world-renowned scientists,
respected food safety professionals, and high-profile
speakers. Along with IAFP, supporting organizations included
the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Middle East,
the University of Laval, and SAFE (Arab Food Safety Initiative
for Trade Facilitation), working closely together to provide a
compelling variety of topics, research work, presentations,
lectures, and Master Class Sessions.
Approximately 2,000 delegates once again reflected the
importance of addressing the world's food safety challenges.
The symposium looked beyond - while maintaining a connection to - food safety, focusing on timely and trending topics
that addressed the opportunities and challenges in the
emerging technology and data-driven food safety world.
His Excellency Dawood Al Hajri, Director General for the
Dubai Municipality, provided opening remarks to attendees.
Next, Pamela Byrne, CEO, Food Safety Authority of Ireland,
presented the Keynote Address, "Building Effective and
Sustainable Partnerships." Four highly successful Master

Class Sessions were held during the conference: "Practical
Approach to Design, Develop and Implement an Integrated
Management System;" "Making the Best of Food Safety
Audits;" "The Impact of Unconscious Bias on Food Safety
Inspections and Audits;" and "Evaluation and Training - A
Wholistic Approach to Food Safety." Master Class presenters
included Mohamed Mohamady, Ministry of Planning,
Monitoring, and Administrative Reform; Judi Lazaro, AIB
International; Judy Sebastian, Apex Global Consultants; and
Sadi Amawi and Gerard DuPlessis, both with Lobster Ink.
During this time, the IAFP Symposium was also held,
covering a variety of topics, including "One Health Concept:
Food Safety through the Perspective of the Health of the
Environment, Animals, and Health," presented by Kali
Kniel, University of Delaware and IAFP President; "Food
Testing and the Mechanics of Validation," presented by Roy
Betts, Campden BRI Group, UK; and "Salmonella Trends:
Perspectives from Ghana and Africa," presented by Courage
Saba, University for Development Studies.
Other diverse topics and speakers were "Capacity
Building through Trusts and Partnerships," by Rance
Baker, NEHA; "Future Directions in Food Inspection," by
Sultan Al Taher, Dubai Municipality; "Foodborne Disease
Surveillance in Dubai - An Overview of Activities," by Bobby
Krishna, Dubai Municipality; and "Food Testing and the
Mechanics of Validation," by Manpreet Singh, University
of Georgia. Additional conference speakers and panelists
included Julian Cox, University of New South Wales; Khalid
Mohammed, Dubai Municipality; Her Excellency Mariam bint
Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almehiri, Minister of State for Food
Security in UAE; Amjad Radhaideh, Jordan Food and Drug
Administration; and Donald Sharp, CDC.
The combined efforts between IAFP, the Dubai
Municipality and DIFSC organizers continue to produce a
highly-reputable food safety conference that provides an
ideal platform for the food safety community to work, learn,
share and mutually benefit from one another.

January/February Food Protection Trends

49
Food Protection Trends - January/February 2020

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