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MONTEVIDEO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay on Friday established an inter-agency committee to oversee food safety through regulation, research and other measures.
The Food Safety Coordination and Research Committee (CCIIA) will oversee aspects of food produced for both export and domestic consumption, the daily El Observador said.
"The goal is to promote, coordinate, supervise and follow up on activities linked to the research and safety of foods of animal and vegetable origin," Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries Tabare Aguerre said at the ceremony for the committee establishment.
"Uruguay should not just meet the demands of international markets, but stay a step ahead, generate its own knowledge," added Aguerre.
A day earlier, Aguerre said his ultimate goal was to have Uruguay associated with fine food exports in the same way Switzerland is with luxury watches.
"When they speak of Uruguayan foods, they should say the same as what they say today about Swiss watches," said the minister.
Agrifoods make up some 78 percent of the country's exports.
