International conference on chemical and microbiological risk assessment for food safety

Food safety remains a critical public health priority, requiring proactive, science-based approaches to prevent and control chemical and microbiological hazards throughout the food supply chain. Risk assessment plays a central role in providing scientific evidence to inform risk-based food safety management, regulatory decision-making, and digital transformation of food control systems.
Within this context, the “International Conference on Chemical and Microbiological Risk Assessment for Food Safety” was successfully held on 18–19 December 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hosted by the National Institute for Food Control (NIFC) under the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the conference brought together more than 150 reputable scientists, food safety managers, policymakers, international experts, and young researchers. Going beyond a conventional academic forum, the conference served as a bridge between science and management, enabling participants to assess the current situation, propose solutions, and outline directions for evidence-based food safety management in Vietnam.
The conference provided a strategic platform to introduce and promote food safety risk assessment as a core component of national food safety management. A key highlight was the introduction of the Vietnam Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (VFSA), established by the Ministry of Health in 2024 and hosted at NIFC, and discussions on strengthening national and international collaboration in risk assessment. Senior representatives from the Vietnam Food Safety Administration (VFA) emphasized the critical role of risk assessment in supporting regulatory decision-making, addressing management challenges, and advancing the digitalization of food safety management systems.
Sessions on risk assessment and risk management highlighted current practices in Vietnam and internationally, emphasizing evidence-based management and digital data frameworks. The toxicological studies in risk assessment session presented modern methodologies and study designs used to determine safe limits for food safety. the probabilistic risk assessment session focused on exposure assessment models and risk characterization, with practical case studies from Vietnam and the region. International experiences from Germany, Ireland, Korea, and other countries enriched discussions on risk-based official controls, total diet study (TDS), and next-generation risk assessment approaches.
The conference also addressed practical implementation challenges, human resource development, and regulatory alignment for risk assessment in Vietnam. Delegates highlighted the need to promote and institutionalize Total Diet Studies, strengthen capacity building, and expand technical cooperation with international partners to support both risk assessment and risk management.
The conference also provided an important platform for young scientists through dedicated scientific and poster sessions, reflecting strong engagement from the next generation of researchers and reinforcing the sustainability of risk assessment capacity development.