The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) gathered on Zoom to discuss food safety standards in Africa on 13 June 2023. The objectives for the webinar, presented by the moderator, John Oppong Otoo of AU-IBAR, were to raise awareness, highlight the benefits, share best practices and discuss challenges and potential solutions to implementing and enforcing food standards in the region’s 55 countries.

This year’s theme for the international day observed on or around 7 June was “Food standards save lives”, which resonated with several of the speakers who associated it with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) now that trading has commenced under the agreement aimed at creating a single continental market, eliminating barriers and boosting intra-Africa trade.

“I note that World Food Safety Day comes at a time when Africa has recently developed guidelines for developing harmonized food safety legislation for the CCAFRICA Region, which we believe will be key in supporting Member States in development and/or updating their food safety legislation in order to strengthen science and risk-based food control systems,” said Hakim Mufumbiro of CCAFRICA, referring to the Codex text adopted in late 2022 to promote harmonized policies and standards consistent with Codex in the region.

Speaking on behalf of Allan Azegele from Kenya, Vice Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, Mufumbiro underscored the central role of Codex standards to international agendas, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and agrifood systems transformation, as well as facilitating trade and enhancing competitiveness and consumer health. All stakeholders must understand and apply standards in producing, processing, storing, transporting and preparing food, he said.

Laetitia Ouedraogo Nikiema of WHO conveyed a message on behalf of her director calling for collaboration to prevent foodborne illness, promote food security, keep food safe, facilitate food trade and strengthen agrifood systems. In doing so, we can save lives, protect consumer health and create a more prosperous society for everyone, she said.

“Whether imported or exported, food needs to be safe for human consumption,” said Ade Freeman of FAO, echoing the call for partnerships. Working together we can build a reality where safe food is available to everyone, he urged, noting the increasing opportunities for the food sector and benefits of widespread of food safety culture.

With an emphasis on the critical role food supply chains play in ‘saving lives and changing lives’, Virginia Siebenrok of WFP told the online audience about how standards are used in humanitarian operations, such as in purchasing and transporting food. To ensure food safety internationally, we need to connect value chains across borders, she explained, calling for collective thinking and data to drive policies.

WHO’s Michael Hinsch and FAO’s Blaise Ouattara then outlined, through presentations and a question-answer session, opportunities for financial support available for the development and promotion of food standards. Key to applying for the Codex Trust Fund, which is about building capacity to set standards in the international realm, Hinsch explained, is conducting a self-assessment that addresses weaknesses. Similarly, Ouattara advised Member Countries to include a situation analysis in their proposals for the Standards and Trade Development Facility, which can help with implementation of standards. The speakers expressed the availability of FAO and WHO offices for consultation on both sources of funding.

A panel discussion - featuring Blaise Ouattara, FAO; Laetitia Ouedraogo Nikiema, WHO; Mary Mureithi, WFP and Kefilwe Moalosi, NEPAD - delved into the development and use of food standards within the African region. Each speaker explained the work their Organization is engaging in to share knowledge and strengthen capacities to improve food safety, in particular, through food standards.

The final session saw the participation of continental and regional institutions represented by Amare Ayalew, Partnership for Aflatoxin Control (PACA), African Union Commission (AUC); Owen Fraser, AOAC Africa; Geoff Visser, Southern African Development Community (SADC); and Hermogene Nsengimana, African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO-ORAN), who shared their perspectives on standards development.

Summing up the conclusions drawn during the 2.5-hour event, Oppong Otoo recalled the need multisectoral collaboration to make swift and steady progress; accountability in order to effectively build capacities and infrastructures; awareness to promote a strong food safety culture; and standards that are based on sound science and evidence.

The event, hosted by the FAO Virtual Learning Centre in Harare, was attended by 125 participants from 31 countries in Africa and 7 countries outside Africa.