In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Council for Border Crossing Points Security and Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, the 15th Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC) opened today at the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Held under the theme ‘Creative Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems’, the Conference opening was also attended by His Excellency Abdullah Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai, and His Excellency Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality. Other dignitaries and officials of Dubai Municipality were also present at the event.
 
In his speech, Al Hajri touched on the critical need to ensure a balance between food safety and the flexibility of the food system for food production and consumption in the emirate, and the importance of strengthening partnerships between government departments and strategic partners to maintain and further enhance the performance of food systems and boost food security.
 
He also mentioned that sustainable food systems are at the heart of Dubai’s future vision for food safety. The 15th Dubai International Food Safety Conference is showcasing the ambitious strategies and initiatives introduced by Dubai Municipality to develop food systems marked by the highest level of quality and innovation, which have enabled the emirate to set an example for the region and the world.

On the sidelines of the conference, His Highness Sheikh Mansoor launched "Dubai Star," a global initiative that will annually honour restaurants that apply sustainable practices to produce safe, healthy and high-quality food across the world.
 
The opening ceremony also featured a dialogue with officials from government agencies and the food sector on ways to enhance the business environment and strengthen cooperation and coordination between authorities in the food sector, with the aim of enhancing the smooth transit of food items through Dubai ports. Stakeholders from Dubai Municipality, Dubai Digital Authority and the Department of Economy and Tourism participated in the session.

This year's DIFSC features the participation of speakers from all over the world, who include experts, specialists and researchers in the fields of food safety, food security and nutrition. The conference, being held from 18-23 November, features virtual seminars for which attendees can register on the link http://www.foodsafetydubai.com.
 
The event also features the participation of multilateral, national and local bodies including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Life Sciences Institute, the US Department of Agriculture, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Gulf Standardization Organization , the Federal Center for Competitiveness and Statistics, the Jordan Food and Drug Administration, the National Food Safety Authority of Egypt, the Dubai Health Authority, the Abu Dhabi Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, other bodies and ministries and a selection of international, regional and local universities.