In 2004, the first ICMSF – China International Conference on Food Safety was jointly organised by the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) and the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) in China. This was the first international conference which covered food microbiology and also addressed the concerns of the industry in relation to food science and technology.

The 2012 ICMSF China International Conference on Food Safety will be jointly organised by CIFST and ICMSF at the Xiamen International Conference Centre from 21 – 25 October and has great significance as this coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the ICMSF. The theme of the Conference will be around Controlling Microbiological Hazards to protect consumers’ health. Several wellknown microbiologists from all over the world will come together to discuss various aspects around the challenges of public health related to microbial food safety, risk-based microbial food safety management and key aspects in the control of microbial hazards etc.