Modern and reliable food safety systems are becoming a prerequisite for a country’s access to global markets. However, many developing countries’ exporters struggle with meeting global food safety standards.

The Food Safety Network (FSN) provides access to top U.S. government expertise to assist developing countries addressing food safety, animal health, and plant health issues along agricultural value chains.

The Food Safety Network (FSN) is an interagency funding mechanism among USAID, USDA and FDA.  The main objective of the FSN is to support technical capacity building of animal health, plant health and food safety systems in selected countries based on sound-science and good international practices.

The FSN can help achieve the Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) goals.  In particular, the FSN supports the link between animal health, plant health, and food safety -- the SPS system -- and trade. 

The FSN is structured into 3 pillars: 

• The first pillar includes the preparation of needs assessments of SPS market systems in countries that request assistance.  USAID Missions can buy into the FSN to (i) develop needs assessment; or (ii) fund SPS activities based on the recommendations of need assessments.
• A second pillar of the FSN includes a series of SPS web-based distance learning training modules for regulators and other stakeholders.  These modules will effectively teach how to incorporate and use science-based risk analysis concepts and tools in analyzing, establishing quarantine, and controlling pest and livestock diseases in your country.  These modules are being translated into Spanish and French. As they become available, these modules will be uploaded on Agrilinks, the online USAID University and AgLearn, at USDA.
• The third pillar of the FSN is a knowledge management platform that is a repository of SPS resources and serves as a community of practice around animal health, plant health and food safety issues and expertise.

Contact: foodsafetynetwork@fas.usda.gov