2026 Agenda

Interested in proposing a presentation? Please contact Jenny Goh at jenny.goh@infoexws.com for more information.

DAY 1
FOUNDATIONS OF FOOD ALLERGEN RISK MANAGEMENT

Grand Hall

TIME
SESSION DETAILS
09:00
OPENING PLENARY
Welcome Remarks
• Motohiro EBISAWA, MD, PhD, Director, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital; FAA 2026 Conference Chair
• Asian Life Sciences Institutes Network (ALSIN) & International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI Global)
• Strategic Partner
09:10
JAPAN'S 2026 REGULATORY TRANSITION
Food Allergen Labeling in Japan: Historical Development, Unique Features, and 2026 Mandatory Transition
Motohiro EBISAWA, MD, PhD, Director, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization Sagamihara National Hospital
09:30
Allergen Labeling: Operational Guidance for the 2026 Update
Hiroshi AKIYAMA, PhD, Professor, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Hoshi University
09:50
GLOBAL CONTEXT: FAO/WHO PERSPECTIVES ON FOOD ALLERGEN RISK
International Perspective: Science-Based Approaches for Managing Food Allergen Risks
Kang ZHOU, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO
10:10
WHO Perspective: Food Allergy in Asia: Emerging or Underrecognized Public Health Issue?
Gyanendra GONGAL, Regional Advisor (Food Safety), WHO – South-East Asia Regional Office
10:30
MORNING BREAK
10:40
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP IN FOOD ALLERGEN RISK MANAGEMENT
Moderator: Kang ZHOU, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO
Global Rules, Local Realities: Harmonizing Allergen Strategy with Japan’s Requirements
Jantra DAOLERT, Market Quality Expert, Nestlé Japan Ltd.
11:00
Presenter tba
11:20
Practical Approach to Allergen Detection, Risk Assessment, and Preventive Controls (tbc)
Linda NADEEM, Associate Director Food Safety Lead AMEA, Mars Snacking
11:35
Q&A
11:50
IMPLEMENTATION IN PRACTICE: LABELING & COMMUNICATION
When Law Meets Science: Lessons from Japan's 10 ppm Regulation & Risk Assessment
Tatsuki FUKUIE, Director of Allergy Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan
12:10
Communicating Residual Allergen Risks: From Precautionary Labels to Consumer Trust
Paul J. TURNER, MD, PhD, Professor of Paediatric Allergy & Immunology, Imperial College London
12:30
Q&A
12:40
LUNCH BREAK
TRACK A
Grand Hall
14:00
A-1: RISK SCIENCE & THRESHOLDS: GLOBAL BENCHMARKS AND IMPLEMENTATION
Harmonization of Global Food Allergen Risk Assessment: The Practical Application of Reference Doses
Benjamin REMINGTON, PhD, Director, Remington Consulting Group B.V.
14:20
Quantitative Exposure Assessment of Allergenic Proteins: Implications for Allergen Labeling in Japan
Hiroshi AKIYAMA, PhD, Professor, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Hoshi University
14:40
From Science to Policy: Implementing Thresholds for Harmonized Operations and Enforcement
Simon BROOKE-TAYLOR, PhD, Director / Principal Consultant, Brooke-Taylor & Co Pty Ltd., Australia
15:00
Q&A
15:10
AFTERNOON BREAK
15:20
A-2: CLINICAL SCIENCE
Tick Anaphylaxis and Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Global Clinical Perspective (recorded video)
Scott COMMINS, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
15:40
Determining Eliciting Doses: Key Data from Japanese Population Studies
Kyohei TAKAHASHI, MD, Chief, Division of Epidemiological Statistics, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, NHO Sagamihara Hospital
16:00
Gluten Safety in Coeliac Disease: Thresholds, reference Dose, and Risk
Jason TYE-DIN, Laboratory Head, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
16:20
Q&A
16:30
A-3: LIVE ALLERGEN CRISIS SIMULATION WORKSHOP
Workshop Leader:
Joseph BAUMERT, PhD, Professor & Director, FARRP, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Contributors:
Jasmine LACIS-LEE, President & Board Chair, Allergen Bureau
Benjamin REMINGTON, PhD, Director, Remington Consulting Group B.V.
17:30
CONCLUSION OF TRACK A & DAY 1
TRACK B
Grand Central Tower
14:00
B-1: APPLYING ALLERGEN TESTING: MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION & DATA MANAGEMENT
Data Management for Allergen Testing & Documentation
Annette J. SAUER, PhD, Market Development & Product Manager, Food & Feed Analysis, R-Biopharm AG
14:20
Environmental Monitoring & Ingredient Testing (tentative title)
Jasmine LACIS-LEE, President & Board Chair, Allergen Bureau
14:40
Q&A
15:00
AFTERNOON BREAK
15:20
B-2: ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN ALLERGEN TESTING METHODS & VALIDATION
Pilot Study on Inter-Laboratory Proficiency Testing Using the Official Japanese ELISA Method with Incurred Food Samples
Hiroshi AKIYAMA, PhD, Professor, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Hoshi University
15:40
A Universal Immunoassay Platform for Proteomics-Driven Biomarkers: Combining Anti-Peptide Monoclonal Antibodies and Structural Linearization for Food Allergen Analysis
Masahiro SHOJI, Consultant, Bio-Innova Co. Ltd.
16:00
Japanese Validation Standard and Study for Official Method (tentative title)
Norimasa TAMEHIRO, PhD, Scientist, National Institute of Health Sciences
16:20
Q&A
16:30
B-3: PANEL – PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO ALLERGEN RISK MANAGEMENT
Welcome & Introduction by Moderator
Hiroshi AKIYAMA, Professor, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Hoshi University
16:35
Single-Lab Validation of a Qualitative Immunochromatographic Test for Egg (A Mandatory Allergen) - (tentative title)
Mina ITO, Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd.
16:40
Risk Management For Allergen In Factory (presentation title tbc)
Yuriko SHIRASU, Kewpie Corporation
16:45
Presentation title tba
Yukie SUNAGA, Quality Assurance Headquarters, Food Safety Science Center Analysis Team, Kewpie Corporation
16:50
Initiatives for "Minimum Necessary Allergen Avoidance" and "Early Allergen Introduction" at Home: The Case of House Foods Group
Collaboration of Food Company, Medical Doctors, and Start-up Company
Chiaki MEGUMI, House Foods Group Inc.
16:55
Panelist
17:00
Q&A Moderated Discussion
17:30
CONCLUSION OF TRACK B & DAY 1

DAY 2
THE NEXT FRONTIER OF FOOD ALLERGEN SAFETY

Grand Hall

TIME
SESSION DETAILS
09:00
ADVANCING ALLERGEN SAFETY OF NOVEL AND ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS
Moderator & Speaker: Clare MILLS, PhD, Professor of Molecular Allergology, University of Surrey
Processing & Novel Proteins
Joseph BAUMERT, PhD, Professor & Director, FARRP, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
09:20
Predictive Allergenicity Tools
Philip JOHNSON, PhD, Food Allergy Specialist, Food Science and Technology - Food Processing Center, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
09:40
Allergenicity Analysis in a Risk Assessment Context
Clare MILLS, PhD, Professor of Molecular Allergology, University of Surrey
10:00
Edible Insects as Emerging Food Allergens in Asia
Sirinrat SRIKULNATH, Institute of Food Research and Product Development, Kasetsart University
10:20
MORNING BREAK
10:30
Advanced Analytical Perspectives for Complex Matrices
Hongbing CHEN, PhD, Professor of Food Science & Vice President, Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University
10:50
Analytical Method Validation
Hiroshi AKIYAMA, PhD, Professor, Hoshi University
11:10
Proteomic Reference Standards & Mass Spectrometry
Michelle COLGRAVE, PhD, Deputy Director (Food), CSIRO; Professor, Edith Cowan University
11:30
Q&A + Discussion
12:00
LUNCH BREAK
13:10
SCIENCE FOR THE FUTURE: ADVANCED ANALYTICAL & RISK ASSESSMENT APPROACHES
Moderator: Kang ZHOU, Food Safety Officer, Food Safety and Quality Unit, FAO
State-of-the-Art Validation of Test Kits for Allergen and Gluten Determination
Markus LACORN, PhD, Director of R&D Validation and Deputy Head of R&D Food and Feed, R-Biopharm AG
13:30
Diagnosing Food Allergy — Utility of Allergen Components
Eva SÖDERGREN, PhD, Nutritionist, Senior Manager Allergy, Global Medical & Scientific Affairs, ImmunoDiagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Phadia AB
13:50
From Matrix to Protein: The Evolving Approach to Allergen Quantification in Food
Speaker from Romer Labs
14:05
From MS Data to Risk Assessment: Interpreting Allergen Quantification for Safety Decisions (tbc)
Melanie DOWNS, PhD, Assistant Professor, FARRP, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
14:20
Q&A
ALLERGEN MANAGEMENT IN FOODSERVICE / RESTAURANTS
This session will explore practical and regulatory approaches to allergen management in the foodservice and QSR sectors. Experts will share key learnings from Codex, the VITAL Framework, and best practices from Australia and New Zealand operators. A panel discussion will examine how these global guidelines and tools can be adapted to the Japanese market to improve consumer protection, operational consistency, and regulatory alignment.
14:40
Key Learnings from Codex Allergen Management
Mr. NAKAJIMA
14:50
The VITAL Framework and Its Approach
Simon BROOKE-TAYLOR, PhD, Director / Principal Consultant, Brooke-Taylor & Co Pty Ltd., Australia
15:00
QSR Guidance: Best Practices from AU/NZ Operators
Lisa CLARK, Allergen Bureau
15:10
Panel: How Can AU/NZ QSR Guidance Be Applied in Japan? (tentative title)
Moderator: Jasmine LACIS-LEE, President & Board Chair, Allergen Bureau
Panelists: tba
15:40
AFTERNOON BREAK
15:50
PANEL DISCUSSION – FRONTIERS IN ALLERGEN RISK COMMUNICATION
Introduction by moderator
Takeshi YAMASAKI, President, NPO, Science of Food Safety and Security, Tokyo (SFSS)
16:00
Food Allergy Labeling System from the Consumer’s Perspective
Maki MORITA, Representative, Food Communication Compass (FOOCOM)
16:10
Hitoshi INOUE, Operation Officer (Quality Assurance), Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union
16:20
Yasunobu YAMASHITA, President, Food Sanitation 78
16:30
Q&A + Discussions
17:00
CLOSING SESSION
Presentation info to be advised.
17:50
CONCLUSION OF CONFERENCE