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LETTER OF INTENT ON THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A CONSULTATIVE MECHANISM ON FOOD SAFETY AND ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH ISSUES
BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF QUALITY SUPERVISION, INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE OF
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA
To further enhance technical exchanges and long-term cooperation in the field of food safety and animal and plant health, the United States Department of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China hereby declare their intent to:
(1) Establish a consultative mechanism to facilitate an ongoing dialogue and strengthen technical cooperation and exchange between both countries in the field of food safety and animal and plant health. Through this consultative mechanism, the United States and China intend to demonstrate their strong commitment to working cooperatively to address outstanding bilateral food safety and animal and plant health issues in accordance with each country’s applicable domestic laws and regulations. The United States and China also intend this consultative mechanism to demonstrate their strong commitment to adhering to and promoting the principles of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization and of relevant international standard-setting organizations; and
(2) Set forth food safety and animal and plant health issues of mutual interest that may be addressed through the consultative mechanism. When addressing such issues through the consultative mechanism, both countries should endeavor to communicate and present fully the positions and perspectives of all relevant issues. An important objective of the consultative mechanism will be to improve cross-ministerial and inter-agency coordination within each country on these issues and to report annually on the progress or resolution of issues addressed through the consultative mechanism.
The consultative process referred to herein may be established through formulation of a new Memorandum of Understanding or under the framework of an existing agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China as the United States Department of Agriculture and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection And Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China may determine appropriate.
Done in Washington, D.C. in English and Chinese, this 21st day of April, 2004.
| FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | FOR THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF QUALITY SUPERVISION, INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA |
| Ann M. Veneman Secretary |
Li Changjiang Minister |
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