25 February 2026, 09:59

An online meeting was held with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) within the framework of the "Food Safety" textbook project, prepared through the cooperation of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) and the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA).

The meeting was attended by Mary Kenny, Food Safety and Consumer Protection Officer at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia; FAO experts Anna Vasilenko and Balazs Marias; Aynur Saidyusif and Beyrak Hajiyev from the FAO Azerbaijan office; as well as Ramil Huseyn, Deputy Executive Director of CAERC, and Senior Advisor Gunay Rahimli, along with several members of the book's authorial team.

During the meeting, Ramil Huseyn provided detailed information on the necessity, objectives, and strategic importance of the textbook project. He noted that the book serves to address existing gaps in the field of food safety by systematically presenting the regulatory framework, institutional approaches, and modern technological solutions. It was stated that specialists from Azerbaijan State University of Economics, Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Service for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control, and other relevant bodies have been involved in the project. Ramil Huseyn emphasized that FAO's expert support would provide a significant contribution to the quality of the project and enrich it with international experience.

Within the framework of the meeting, the content structure, target audience, and preliminary outlines of the book were discussed, and FAO experts provided feedback and proposals to further strengthen the content. Additionally, an exchange of views took place regarding FAO experts reviewing individual sections of the book, organizing trainings for the authorial team, and exploring possible support mechanisms from the organization.

The parties agreed on the steps to be implemented in the next stage and noted the importance of continuing cooperation to finalize the project in accordance with international standards. It was emphasized that the textbook, to be prepared within the framework of cooperation with FAO, will serve as a fundamental and reliable source in the field of food safety in the country, with wide application possibilities at both academic and practical levels.


Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication
www.ereforms.gov.az