In Mauritius, FAO leads an evaluation of the national food control system
Last week FAO began a project to improve the food control system in Mauritius. A 5-million-euro project funded by the European Union, "Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control,” which began last year, is set to provide technical support and work with Competent Authorities and other leading institutions in 12 Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Member Countries to build up capabilities, strengthen governance and improve strategic planning around two main components: food safety and plant health.
As part of the food safety component, an assessment of the national food control system will be carried out in Mauritius. A team of food safety experts from FAO will work closely with local Competent Authorities for food safety and relevant stakeholders, to assess the effectiveness of the national food control system and to develop strategies to improve the country’s public health and economic development. During the same week, activities began also in Kenya, adding to projects already under way in the other two island nations of Comoros and the Seychelles, and in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
Assessment of the national food control system in Mauritius
The project, co-signed by the Government of Mauritius, falls within the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa developed by the African Union (AU) to spur trade among AU Member States and is implemented in close collaboration with the African Commission Division for Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC DARBE).
Mauritius and FAO have a long-standing partnership, dating back since the first FAO team started its work on agricultural services in 2011. With this project, FAO is introducing to Mauritius the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, a unique instrument whose use is expanding steadily, which is designed to assess the national food control system in a comprehensive manner, by looking at the entire food chain, including production, distribution, the retail market and the consumers.
On Monday, among the many high-level representatives attending the workshop was the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon Kailesh Jagutpal who thanked FAO for introducing the tool to Mauritius and to the audience for their participation and work ahead.
As part of the assessment, a team of FAO experts will assist Mauritius’s Competent Authorities in food safety through various assessment steps, culminating with the development of a set of recommendations and a strategic framework to facilitate their implementation. The project aims to assist Mauritius in adhering to international standards that will allow greater harmonization and trade in the region.
Launch of the project and training of focal points
The training took place in Port Louis at the Caudan Arts Centre, from February 27 to March 3 2023, and included presentations, discussions, and case studies to train focal points of the Competent Authorities on the technical aspects of the Tool and also on their respective responsibilities and activities in the subsequent phases of the project,including data collection across the whole food control system.
Participants expressed their enthusiasm regarding the opportunity to meet colleagues from other ministries and agencies working on the food control system. “We explored avenues of collaboration and this is a very unique opportunity that we don’t get often,” said Daya Goburdhun, Associate Professor Food Science and Technology from the University of Mauritius. Dr Shalini Amber Neeliah, echoed Godburdhun’s comments expressing enthusiasm about learning and at the same time sharing experiences with colleagues during the training. “Finally,” he said, “it will be beneficial for all consumers, and all the people of Mauritius.”
Read more about the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool
Read more about the Republic of Mauritius
Photo: © FAO/Satyen Bhujun