AMCHAM Shanghai to hold Food Safety & Innovation Conference

Industry leaders in food safety and regulation from China, the United States, and around the world plan to gather on May 28th at the Grand Hyatt Shanghai to discuss key issues related to food safety, industry and government relations, and food innovation at The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai’s (AMCHAM) 2015 Food Safety and Innovation Conference.

This full-day conference is intended by AMCHAM to “serve as a bridge between the food and beverage industry and regulators and is developed by food industry experts and in collaboration with the Shanghai Food Safety Federation,” featuring one breakfast session, three discussion panels, four specialized workshop sessions, several networking tea breaks and lunch.

Conference participants will get an inside look at the current state of food industry and government regulatory collaboration in China, food safety practices, and food innovation by local Shanghai companies through keynote addresses from government food safety regulators and policy advisors, as well as through discussion panels and workshops lead by industry experts and leaders on topics of food safety operations, labeling, tracking, tracing, and regulatory compliance and government relations.

Of particular interest and attention will be the discussion of the newer, tougher amendments to food safety laws in China adopted this April by the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, effective as of October 1st, 2015.  These amendments focus on issues related to the online food market, setting stricter regulatory guidelines for infant food products, and greatly increasing penalties for food safety violations and violators.

Noted food safety industry speakers include Nicolas de Lavigerie, Vice President and Offer Management Director of METRO Cash & Carry China, Jacquelyn Howard, Vice President Supply Chain for China Operations, McDonalds, and Melanie Faust, Director of China Operations for Hormel Foods.

Gu Zhenhua, Vice Commissioner of the Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration, Luo Jie, Director for the Regulatory Affairs Department of the China FDA, and Dr. Yan Zhinong, Food Safety Director Asia-Pacific, Ecolab and Vice Chair of the Food Sanitation Professional Developing Group of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) are just a few of the numerous prominent speakers expected to share insights into the changing policy and regulatory environment of food safety in China.

The working language of the conference will be both English and Chinese and simultaneous translation will be available for participants for keynote speeches and panel discussions. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the first session starting at 8:00 a.m., and the conference is expected to conclude by 4:45 p.m.

Interested parties are invited to register for this pre-paid event on AMCHAM's registration page. Mention hearing about this conference through guojiguoshu.com and enjoy the member price of 3,000 RMB (non-member price: 6,000 RMB).