Deal settlement between SERNAPESCA and US FDA. (Photo: Sernapesca)
SERNAPESCA agrees to favour data exchange with US FDA
CHILE
Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 22:20 (GMT + 9)
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA) and the Latin American Office of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA) signed a "Confidentiality Commitment", through which both institutions commit to share and favour access to public and non-public information on regulated products of the sector.
The purpose of this agreement is to strengthen the common work between both services and respond in a timely manner to situations associated with the aquaculture-fishing market.
The protocol was sealed by SERNAPESCA national director Alicia Gallardo, and FDA director of the Latin American Office Katherine Serrano in a meeting held in SERNAPESCA's offices in Valparaíso.
SERNAPESCA director valued this agreement as the starting point for a collaborative work in the field of the safety of fishery and aquaculture products.
"It is very important, it is a starting point, since we can continue advancing in recognition in other areas for example of the health program of mollusks and bivalves, and also why not think about a homologation program, equivalence between both health authorities", highlighted Alicia Gallardo.
The fisheries authority recalled that Chile currently accounts for 9 per cent of the import market of fishery products in the United States and 44 per cent in salmon shipment.
"44 per cent of the salmon that they eat in the United States is Chilean, therefore we are in a certain way, one of the most important importers and therefore between both health authorities, the development of trusts is very important. We hope to establish a work agenda on these issues and we are also interested in working with them in the field of pharmaceutical products for veterinary use, especially the use of antibiotics, because of the experience we have in Chile with the successful plans of reducing antibiotics use," Gallardo said.
Katherine Serrano valued the agreement indicating that it is the result of continuous work between both agencies.
"We have always been able to share information but this agreement will help us to further share non-public information in order to respond much more effectively and quickly to signals, react to problems and work together so that they do not go deeper," Serrano said.
FDA representative for the region said that 91 per cent of the seafood and seafood products consumed in the United States are imported, and Chile is one of the countries that export the most.
"To the extent that we share information we can even prevent problems before they are deepened, therefore this helps both countries in terms of safety," he said.
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