Annual General Meetings of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety
Annual General Meeting 2026
On 5 August 2026, the WHO Alliance for Food Safety held its 2026 Annual General Meeting virtually, bringing together 55 participants from 28 institutions in 23 countries. The meeting reviewed progress since the 2025 Annual General Meeting in Muscat, Oman, showcased the work of Alliance members, and gathered feedback on future priorities and working arrangements.
Established in 2024, the Alliance brings together WHO Collaborating Centres and other member institutions to coordinate technical support, share expertise and foster collaboration across regions in support of the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022–2030.
Progress since the 2025 Annual General Meeting
Since the 2025 meeting, Alliance members have contributed to several WHO products and activities. These include the revision and dissemination of the WHO manuals on strengthening surveillance of and response to foodborne diseases, and the maturity model incorporated into the WHO Food Safety Roadmap Development Tool.
Members also provided rapid support through the Alliance network. When laboratory capacity was sought during a recent outbreak investigation in Africa, several institutions responded within hours with offers of testing support or laboratory contacts. The meeting also highlighted member contributions to the forthcoming WHO Global Report on Food Safety, regional training activities and World Food Safety Day 2026. Working Group discussions on exploring how evidence on the economic burden of foodborne diseases can support policy decisions and investment were also highlighted.
Showcasing member expertise
In response to a priority activity identified at the 2025 Annual General Meeting, four Alliance member institutions presented their work, expertise, and plans for future collaboration. The session aimed to make expertise within the network more visible, build connections among member institutions and identify practical opportunities for collaboration.
The showcase session featured:
- the WHO Collaborating Centre for Listeria at Institut Pasteur in France, including its international laboratory network and genomic database;
- the newly designated WHO Collaborating Centre for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Genomics at the University of Melbourne in Australia, including regional capacity-building and pathogen genomics initiatives;
- the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, including its food safety initiatives and the Alliance landscape analysis of foodborne disease surveillance, food contamination data and data-sharing mechanisms; and
- the Food Safety Consortium in Hong Kong SAR, China, a new member connecting academia, industry and government around knowledge transfer and innovation.
The presentations generated offers of support in outbreak response, laboratory and genomic capacity-building, surveillance and data sharing, research partnerships, training and drafting funding proposals. They also showed that connections made through the Alliance are already leading to collaboration among members.
Shaping the next phase of the Alliance
Participants discussed how the Alliance can maintain momentum, strengthen its visibility and continue connecting member expertise with clearly defined needs. The current terms of the Alliance’s four working groups conclude at the end of 2026. Options discussed for the next phase included fewer and more focused groups, time-bound task groups for specific projects, and a hybrid model.
Conclusions and next steps
The meeting reinforced several priorities for the coming period:
- Explore a regular programme of virtual member showcase sessions to build further connections among members and opportunities for collaboration.
- Continue to connect member expertise with clear country, regional and global needs and defined outputs in line with the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030.
- Members were encouraged to continue to improve the Alliance’s visibility by presenting at relevant food safety meetings they attend.
- Complete the current working group cycle and document its outputs, experiences and lessons by the end of 2026.
- Following consultation with the Steering Committee, the Secretariat will prepare options for consideration by members on priorities and working arrangements at the 2027 Annual General Meeting in Singapore.
WHO thanks the showcase presenters, the Alliance Steering Committee, the working group co-chairs and all participants for their contributions to the meeting and to the Alliance’s continuing work.
First Annual General Meeting 2025
Participants at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety.
Muscat, Oman, October 2025 – The WHO Alliance for Food Safety held its first Annual General Meeting in Muscat, Oman, hosted by the Food Safety and Quality Centre (FSQC). The meeting brought together WHO Collaborating Centres and partners from all WHO regions to reflect on progress, share experiences, and plan the next phase of collective work to advance the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety (2022–2030).
Launched in May 2024, the Alliance now brings together over 30 institutions and more than 100 active participants. The Muscat meeting marked its first in-person Annual General Meeting following a virtual one-year milestone meeting in June 2025.
Strategic collaboration for safer food
Discussions highlighted the Alliance’s growing role as a global coordination mechanism for implementing the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety, which has so far focused its efforts on foodborne disease surveillance and food contamination monitoring. Members shared country experiences and explored new ways to strengthen collaboration, mentorship, and regional cooperation, particularly across the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Despite ongoing challenges and emergencies in the region, participants demonstrated strong commitment to collective progress and knowledge exchange.
Participants at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety.
Technical progress and key achievements
The meeting highlighted major milestones from the Alliance’s first year of work, including the completion of the second edition of the WHO manuals on foodborne disease surveillance and response, now being prepared for publication. Updates were also shared on the development of the 2025 edition of the global foodborne disease estimates and the forthcoming and first-ever WHO Global Report on Food Safety, both of which will reinforce the evidence base for decision-making and policy action.
Through its working groups, the Alliance has transitioned from concept to delivery, demonstrating how collective expertise and shared priorities can accelerate progress more efficiently than isolated efforts.
Conclusions and recommendations
Participants reaffirmed the Alliance’s strategic role in coordinated technical collaboration and emphasized several priorities for the coming year:
- Strengthen coordination across regions and networks, including collaboration with INFOSAN and other relevant networks;
- Expand membership, particularly among WHO Collaborating Centres for food safety, to enhance technical diversity;
- Increase visibility through proactive communication, webinars, and international engagement;
- Support countries in applying WHO guidance through capacity-building, mentorship, and pilot activities; and
- Use forthcoming WHO reports and manuals to advocate for greater investment and policy action in food safety.
Participants at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety.
WHO extends its appreciation to the entire FSQC team for their hospitality and leadership in hosting this milestone event, and to all speakers and participants for their contributions to advancing food safety globally.