AUCKLAND, New Zealand: Dr. Hisham Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), participated in strategic bilateral meetings with international regulatory counterparts during the 7th International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) held in Auckland.

Aljadhey engaged in discussions with Katie Pettifer, CEO of the UK's Food Standards Agency, focusing on the impact of nutrition policies and the alignment of regulatory methodologies to support evidence-based governance frameworks.

Additionally, he met with Gerard Bakker, inspector general of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, to explore opportunities for deepening technical cooperation and exchanging expertise between their respective agencies.

Dr. Aljadhey also held talks with Ingunn Midttun Godal, director general of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, further emphasizing the SFDA's commitment to international regulatory coordination.

In his concluding meeting, Aljadhey expressed appreciation for New Zealand’s hosting of the IHFAF and highlighted the SFDA's aspirations for outcomes that enhance global food safety coordination and regulatory coherence.

The IHFAF is an annual gathering that brings together global regulatory leaders with the aim of harmonizing efforts to strengthen the safety and quality of food systems worldwide.

This year, under the theme 'Risk Communication,' the forum continues to benefit from Saudi Arabia's leadership as a founding member.

The Kingdom, through the SFDA, has played a central role in driving collective international action on food safety by hosting the forum’s secretariat since its inception over six years ago.