Rwanda: FAO leads an assessment of National Food Control System with European Union support
A 5-million-euro project funded by the European Union, “Strengthening food control and phytosanitary capacities and governance”, 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 Rwanda, the sixth country where the project is being implemented after Mauritius, Kenya, Eswatini and the two island nations of Comoros and Seychelles.
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.
As he launches the national assessment of the Food control system in Rwanda, Prof. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Minister of Trade and Industry said “the work of the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and their subsequent strategy are to bolster the efforts of food safety for consumers, import and export, particularly for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).”
Assessment of the national food control system in Rwanda
The project, co-signed by the Government of Rwanda, 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).
Rwanda and FAO have a long-standing partnership, with FAO having a representation office in Kigali since 1985. This year, FAO will introduce to Rwanda 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.
While delivering her opening remarks, H.E Ambassador of the European Union in Rwanda, Belen Calvo said “food safety governance is an important aspect of the Africa-EU partnerships. She appreciated the strong synergy of the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Trade, MINAGRI and FAO.”
As part of the assessment, a team of FAO experts will assist Rwanda’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 Rwanda in adhering to international standards that will allow greater harmonization and trade in the region.
Launch of the assessment and training of focal points
The training is taking place at Serena Hotel in Rwanda’s capital Kigali from 20 to 24 March 2023, and include 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. The activities include data collection across the whole food control system.
FAO Rwanda Representative Coumba D Sow commended Rwanda’s vision to establish food control institutions and appreciated FAO and WHO collaboration to develop the assessment tool and the European support.