China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment Holds Exchange Meeting on the Application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Food Safety Risk Assessment

Published: July 15, 2026

On July 8, 2026, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (hereinafter referred to as the “CFSA Risk Assessment Center”) held an exchange meeting in Beijing on the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in food safety risk assessment. The meeting focused on the international development trends of NAMs and China’s implementation pathways, with the aim of promoting the establishment of a safety evaluation and risk assessment system in China based on non-animal testing approaches.

Liu Zhaoping, Director of the CFSA Risk Assessment Center, attended the meeting and delivered remarks. More than 30 participants, including experts from the Academy of Military Medical Sciences and Peking University, representatives from industry, and professional staff from the CFSA Risk Assessment Center, attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Yang Hui, Research Fellow from the Toxicology Division of the CFSA Risk Assessment Center.

The meeting highlighted that the United States and the European Union have successively released roadmaps for reducing the use of animal testing in safety evaluations, driving the global development of NAMs from conceptual exploration toward systematic application and regulatory adoption. It was emphasized that during China’s “15th Five-Year Plan” period, efforts should focus on strengthening systematic planning and fundamental research, enhancing collaboration among relevant government departments, different scientific fields, and regulatory review institutions, and advancing the technical validation, standardized implementation, and institutional establishment of NAMs in an integrated manner. These efforts will support food safety regulation through scientific and technological innovation and contribute to the high-quality development of the food industry.

During the meeting, experts delivered presentations on topics including the development of human cell-based models and their application in screening and evaluating risk substances, the use of artificial intelligence technologies for predicting the toxicity of small molecules, and practical applications of NAMs in pesticide safety evaluation. The presentations provided a comprehensive overview of the current status of NAMs research and application at the CFSA Risk Assessment Center, the development of collaborative resource platforms, and future development plans.

Representatives from food enterprises, research institutions, and relevant industry organizations conducted in-depth discussions on key topics such as regulatory adoption pathways for NAMs, data-sharing mechanisms, and international standard harmonization. Participants also proposed constructive suggestions, including establishing a long-term cooperation and exchange mechanism and promoting deeper integration among industry, academia, research institutions, and application sectors.

The successful organization of this exchange meeting represents a significant step forward for the CFSA Risk Assessment Center in promoting the systematic development and application of NAMs. It also provides an important foundation for upgrading food safety risk assessment technologies in China and enhancing alignment with international practices.

Reference

https://www.cfsa.net.cn/zxdt/gzdt/2026/17064.shtml