(HHS: Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mike Leavitt has signed a joint progress statement with the Honorable Li Changjiang, Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic of China. The document outlines steps taken by both nations in implementing the 2007 memorandum of agreement (MOA) on food and feed safety.

The parties are meeting on the week of June 23 in Annapolis, Maryland, as part of the fourth session under the United States-China strategic economic dialogue (SED).

“Today’s progress report reflects strong and sustained cooperation by both nations to strengthen the safety of food products exported to the United States from China,” states Leavitt. “I’m very pleased with our efforts and commend our Chinese counterparts for their commitment to this important work.”

The MOA, signed during the third session under the SED in December of 2007, established a bilateral mechanism to provide greater information and other assurances to enhance the safety of food and feed products traded between the two countries. Since its signing, HHS, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and AQSIQ have planned a joint implementation work strategy and have begun the initial steps called for under the agreement.

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