In December 1997, at PAHO’s headquarters (Washington DC), a consultation meeting was carried out for the establishment of the Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories, in which the 24 countries of the region and the 6 international organisms approved unanimously the formation of the INFAL.
It was established as mission of the network: promote the insurance of the safety and food quality in the Americas' Region, in order to prevent the diseases transmitted through foods, to protect the health of the consumer and to facilitate the trade, within the framework of the national programs integrated of food protection. With the general objectives of: the métodological harmonization, system development, and implementation of quality management and technical-scientific cooperation among the countries.
As a result of the meeting, in the operational plane, were formed a Executive Committee and a Technical Committee to continue the process of organization of the network, to perform a final review of the proposal Statutes, to prepare the work plan and a proposal of funding for the project. FAO and PAHO/INPPAZ will perform the ex officio Secretariat of the Network.

The First Assembly of the Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories was carried out in Oranjestad, Aruba from 11 to 13 June 2001. The meeting was attended by 56 participants from 26 countries and 4 organizations of technical cooperation.
In the opportunity the Assembly approved the new Statutes of the INFAL. It was also designated to the 7 members of their Executive Committee, being elected: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago for 2 years; Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela, for 4 years. In addition 4 Technical Groups were created: (1) microbiology; (2) quality assurance; (3) additives, contaminants, and pesticide residues and (4) veterinary drug residues in food. Finally the Plan of Action 2001-2003 of the INFAL was prepared and approved.
For the work of the different groups, the use of the electronic communication media was established, in order to give continuity them and reduce operational costs. The INPPAZ-PAHO/WHO is given support for that initiative.

After the Assembly, June 14 and 15, was carried out the "Workshop on Aspects of Quality Assurance in the Laboratories of the INFAL", that had the involvement of 38 representatives of 24 countries and 3 organizations of technical cooperation.
During the workshop it was decided to adopt as model of quality management for the laboratories of the INFAL the Standard ISO 17025. In addition, was carried out a brief diagnosis of the situation of the systems of quality management of the food laboratories of the participating countries, and 3 working groups were organized: (a) South America, (b) Middle America and (c) the Caribbean and the United States, those which prepared proposals for Quality Assurance Technical Group of the INFAL.

The second Assembly of the Interamerican Network of Food Analysis Laboratories took place in Cancun, Mexico, from 11 to 13 June, 2003. 45 participants representing 22 countries, 4 observers from public and private institutions and accreditation bodies, and 2 technical cooperation organizations, attended the meeting.
During the Assembly, reports from de Executive Committee, Technical Groups and ex officio Secretariat were approved. The evaluation of the survey, INFAL´s information system and the proposal for the new version of the survey were presented. Results of the Interlaboratory Testing Programs were presented too. Changes to the Statutes were approved. Plan of Action 2003-2005 was elaborated; 3 Technical Groups were defined (Microbiology, Quality Management and Chemical Analysis) and their facilitators were elected. 4 Executive Committee members that had to be renewed were also elected being its present members: Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay (President), Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Venezuela, (1st. Vicepresident), Laboratorio Nacional de Salud Pública, México, (2nd. Vicepresident), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Instituto de Salud Pública, Chile, Instituto de Nutrición e Higiene de los Alimentos, Cuba y Laboratorio Nacional de Residuos, Nicaragua.

On 9 and 10 June, 2003, it was carried out the “Workshop for the strengthening of INFAL” where 32 representatives of the member laboratories, 5 observers from accreditation bodies, public institutions and private laboratories, participated.
During the workshop the INFAL´s Strengths itself and from 3 National Laboratory Networks (Bolivia, Brasil and Uruguay) were presented. It was also presented de Interamerican Metrology System (SIM) as well as Laboratory Accreditation and the international context through de Interamerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) and its possible interaction with INFAL. Finally, A2LA (USA), UKAS (United Kingdom) and EMA (Mexico) participated giving orientation with their expertise in the panel devoted to Accreditation Bodies. The workshop made it possible to identify the most important difficulties that laboratories have faced for accrediting, immediate strengthening actions, ways of collaboration among laboratories and possible fonts of funding. It also allowed leveling the perception of the complexity of fulfilling the requisites of ISO Standard 17025 and its costs. Suggestions were presented for the elaboration of the Plan of Action 2003-2005.

The Third Assembly of the Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories (INFAL) was held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, August 15 – 17, 2005. The meeting was attended by 38 participants from 25 countries and 2 officers from PAHO/WHO and FAO.
During Assembly were submitted and approved reports of Executive Committee, Ad hoc Group for the English-speaking Caribbean laboratories, Technical Group (Microbiology, Chemical Analysis Technical Group, Quality Management) and ex officio Secretariat. It was highlighted the high level of compliance with the activities scheduled at Action Plan 2003-05, as well as INFAL key role for the strengthening of food analysis laboratories in the countries; two FAO technical cooperation projects on quality assurance for INFAL laboratories were initiated (South American countries and Central American and speaking Spanish Caribbean countries) y technical cooperation received from INPPAZ-PAHO/WHO, specially maintenance of INFAL web site; updating the laboratories survey, two inter-laboratory tests and four distance learning courses, with the participation of more than 700 professionals.
Assembly approved the modifications to INFAL Bylaws, were presented and approved: model of Letter of Understanding for technical cooperation between INFAL member laboratories; the INFAL Information System and the Criteria for Selecting INFAL Advisors. The Assembly stressed the importance of INFAL Program for interlaboratory testing for the implementation of quality systems and the reliability of results issued by the laboratories and expressed its gratitude to Canadian Inspection Agency (CFIA) and INPPAZ-PAHO/WHO. Assembly unanimously approved INFAL 2005-2007 Plan of Action which includes the sections of the Executive Committee, the Microbiology Technical Group, the Quality Management Technical Group and the Chemical Analysis Technical Group. Assembly renewed four members of the Executive Committee resulting elected: the Laboratorio Nacional Agropecuario (LANAGRO), Brazil; the Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA), Bolivia; the Instituto Especializado de Análisis (IEA), Panama and the Instituto Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición (INAN), Paraguay. The Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay (LATU), Uruguay; the Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP), Chile and the Instituto de Nutrición e Higiene de los Alimentos (INHA), Cuba, remain till next assembly. At once the Assembly elected the following Facilitators of the Technical Groups: (1) Microbiology Technical Group to: Instituto Nacional de Higiene “Rafael Rangel” (INHRR), Venezuela; Laboratorio Nacional Agropecuario (LANAGRO), Brazil; Laboratorio Referencial del Oriente Boliviano (LABROB), Bolivia, and Instituto de Nutrición e Higiene de los Alimentos (INHA), Cuba, (2) Quality Management Technical Group to: Laboratorio Referencial del Oriente Boliviano (LABROB), Bolivia; Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP), Chile; Dirección de Laboratorios y Control Técnico (DILAB-SENASA), Argentina, and Departamento Laboratorios y Estaciones Cuarentenarias Agrícola y Pecuaria (SAG), Chile and (3) Chemical Analysis Technical Group to: Instituto de Nutrición e Higiene de los Alimentos (INHA), Cuba; Centro Nacional de Servicios de Constatación en Salud Animal (SENASICA/SAGARPA), México; Laboratorio Nacional de Salud Pública Dr. Defilló (LNSP), Dominican Republic, and Instituto Especializado de Análisis (IEA), Panama. The Assembly highlighted the usefulness of e-learning trainings and the variety of information technology tools supplied by INPPAZ-PAHO/WHO and the catalytic and awareness-building effect of FAO projects.