This year's edition of the CODEX magazine, titled "60 years of standards", is out now! Read some of our articles online and click on the link below to download the full publication.

This article by Haklim Mufumbiro (Uganda), Regional Coordinator for CCAFRICA
The year 2023 marked the return to normalcy for mostactivities, following two years of uncertainty due to COVID-19 and several virtual engagements in all shapes and sizes. Most of the countries in the region continued, with impressive awareness events during celebrations for World Food Safety Day in June 2023. Key messages were shared with stakeholders, and actors in the region focussed on the threepriority food safety issues for the continent (aflatoxins, pesticide residues and antimicrobial resistance). The same events also were used as an opportunity by the different Members to celebrate 60 years of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Additionally, with thecollaboration of FAO, WHO, the African Union – InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and CCAFRICA, a continental event was organized that further highlighted the benefits andshared best practices, and discussed the challenges and potential solutions to implementing and enforcing food standards in the region in order to effectively reap the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Capacity building efforts were undertaken in 2023,leveraging the ongoing support to Members and sub-regions from the Codex Trust Fund. Tailor-made training of stakeholders in Nigeria on the scientific basis of Codex and food safety risk analysis was undertaken. In Mali, a training session on Codex for the national media was held, which is a key asset in equipping the fourth estate to effectively report food safety and Codex matters. Additionally, under the Codex Trust Fund group project for five participating countries (Burundi, Kenya, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda), a regional training of trainers was undertaken focused on data generation to support standards setting in Codex. Relatedly, 2023 was alsothe year Somalia and Namibia held their first National Codex Committee meetings.

At the strategic level, the Codex Africa think tank comprised of selected Member Countriesand regional economic communities met in March 2023 in Mahe, Seychelles, to reflect on the progress made with regard to the implementation of the CCAFRICA work plan that supports implementation of the Codex Strategic Plan (2020–25), and approaches for improving the quality and quantity of participation of Members Countries in Codex meetings for 2023. It was underscored at the high-level meeting that Codex standardsprovide the tools for Member Countriesto improve the safety of food produced in Africa or imported into the continent and effective participation of Member Countriesin the work of CAC is critical to improving the quality and safety of food consumed, while ensuring that trade flows as predictably as possible.

Finally, 2023 was packed with excellent engagement of the region, which was characterized by increased appetite by Members to effectively contribute and support the work of Codex. This trend is a clear indication that the region is geared towards strongly shaping the future of Codex. 

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