A new international body for sharing information and promoting
co-operation among fish inspectors around the world is being formed!
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has taken on a
co-ordinating role in the creation of the International Association of Fish
Inspectors (IAFI). IAFI is currently being incorporated as a federal
not-for-profit association with its first start up meeting to be planned later
this year.
The IAFI will be an open organization with representatives from
government, industry, academia, and public and private organizations in
fishing, fish processing and fish consuming nations around the world.
The association will facilitate an exchange of information, ideas and
methodologies, encourage collaboration between fish inspection
colleagues, and promote research and education in fish and seafood
inspection. A website is under construction and should be available by
the end of February.
IAFI originated at an international fish conference in Toronto, Ontario,
Canada in September of 1997. A steering committee was developed
with members extending from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization,
the US, New Zealand, Thailand, Mozambique, the UK and Canada.
In its present time, the committee has produced a Charter, Mission, and
Vision for the association, and proposed by-laws have been drafted.
The committee is presently conducting a membership drive for anyone
interested in participating in the association. The initial IAFI meeting is
proposed to be held in the inaugural meeting on October 4 and 5, 1999 in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
To request more information or to request an application for membership
regarding the International Association of Fish Inspectors, please E-mail
IAFI@em.agr.ca