The establishment of the Africa Food Safety Agency has come a step closer to reality after a meeting in February.
The approval of the status to set up the agency was taken during the 38th ordinary session of the meeting of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Officials said the decision demonstrates that the continent is committed to protecting consumer health, strengthening food safety management and facilitating the trade in safe food products under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).
The agency will serve as a specialized technical institution of the Africa Union, to coordinate and harmonize the policy, regulations and risk assessments of food safety in various Member States.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union committee, welcomed the approval of the statute and said that the establishment of the agency was a crucial milestone.
No date has yet been set for the agency to become operational. A proposal for setting up an Africa office for food safety was approved by the African Union Council in 2019.
Protect public health and stimulate trade
Freeduling affects 91 million people in Africa and results in 137,000 deaths per year-one third of the global burden, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The agency will set up a Continental Food Safety Data Hub and a quick warning system, thereby supporting Member States in managing risks and emergency situations. It will also coordinate initiatives at the continental level, while it strengthens the coordination function of the food safety of regional economic communities.
The authority is expected to increase the competitiveness of African food and agricultural products by ensuring compliance with international food safety standards. This will help you unlock new market opportunities, reduce trade barriers and improve consumers in African food products.
“With the Africa Food Safety Agency we are taking a decisive step in the direction of transforming our agri-food systems. It will not only help to protect public health, but will also encourage intra-African trade by facilitating the harmonization of food safety standards and supporting our Member States in building robust food control systems, “said Josefa Sacko, departing commissioner and sustainable environment.
The Africa Food Safety Agency will collaborate with AU Member States, regional economic communities, the private sector, research institutions, the ACFTA secretariat and international partners to increase food safety levels to protect public health and reduce the outbreaks of the disease transferred by food.
The African Union committee has been given the task of speeding up the operationalization of the Africa food safety agency, including setting up structures and setting up frameworks that collaborate with member states and partners.
(To register for a free subscription to Food Safety News, Click here.)