Asunción, October 25, 2024 (PANAFTOSA/VPH-PAHO/WHO) – The 11th Ordinary Assembly of the Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories (INFAL), held in Asunción, Paraguay, from October 21 to 25, discussed current and future challenges in food safety.
During this new edition, the achievements and challenges faced by the technical groups during the 2023-2024 period were also presented, and action plans were defined to strengthen the capacity of member laboratories for the 2025-2026 biennium.
The event was opened by Marcelo González, Vice Minister of Livestock; José Carlos Martin Camperchioli, President of the National Animal Quality and Health Service (SENACSA); Pastor Emilio Soria Melo, President of SENAVE; Elsi Carolina Overlar Fernández, General Director of INAN; Ana Ochoa Terreros, President of INFAL; and Marcelo Kork, PAHO Representative in Paraguay.
The Assembly was declared a National Tourist Interest event by the National Tourism Secretariat of Paraguay, at the request of the President of SENACSA.
The technical seminar "Current Challenges in Food Safety: Genomics, Fraud, and Climate Change," held on the first day, addressed topics such as food authenticity and fraud; biological hazards associated with new foods; and the impact of environmental contamination on food safety.
The Assembly was attended by 65 participants from member laboratories in 13 countries, including Nicaragua, which was chosen as the host country for the next edition in 2026.
INFAL was established in 1997 by representatives from 24 countries and six international organizations who recognized networking as an effective mechanism to improve the capabilities of food analysis laboratories based on South-South cooperation principles.
Currently, the Network consists of more than 177 laboratories from 25 countries in the Americas that regularly meet through web platforms, seminars, workshops, assemblies, and other activities promoted within INFAL.
The Network allows for maintaining a shared information system for all member states; promotes proficiency testing and interlaboratory trials, encourages the use of properly validated reference methodologies, and support training and continuing education programs, fostering the exchange of experiences. Additionally, it strengthens technical-scientific cooperation between countries and provides technical assistance for the creation of national food laboratory networks.
Food analysis laboratories are essential within a food control system to generate scientific evidence for decision-making. It is crucial that laboratories ensure the accuracy and reliability of their measurements by obtaining ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certification.
For over 25 years, the laboratories that are part of INFAL have worked together to strengthen quality systems, creating an environment of trust and collaboration among entities from different countries.
