Source: FDA, 8/23/21


As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of food imported from Mexico and advance protections for consumers in both countries, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its regulatory counterparts in Mexico – the Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary RisksExternal Link Disclaimer (Cofepris) and the National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and QualityExternal Link Disclaimer (SENASICA) held the first Food Safety Partnership Annual Meeting on August 20, an important milestone in food safety. 

The meeting builds upon the Statement of Intent that was signed in September 2020 to enhance the partnership between all three agencies to work together on food safety in both countries. A previous partnership, signed in 2014, focused on produce safety, while the current partnership has broadened the scope of products to include all human foods under the FDA’s jurisdiction that are traded between the two countries. 

During the meeting, the FDA, SENASICA and Cofepris reflected on accomplishments from the past year and set goals for the coming year of the partnership. The FDA plans to work closely with SENASICA and Cofepris on activities that will enhance communication and oversight and enable us to share our experience with new approaches. This kind of collaboration is critical because of the high volume of food trade across our border. About one-third of all imported food into the U.S. is from Mexico, including 60% of all imported produce. As a result, the FDA, SENASICA and Cofepris work closely together on food establishment inspections and responding to foodborne illness outbreaks, as well as developing and implementing plans to enhance food safety in other areas of mutual public health interest.

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