by Rosine Niyonshuti, CCP Rwanda

From 10 to 13 November 2025, the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), in the capacities of Rwanda’s Codex Contact Point, held a training workshop for members of the National Codex Committee (NCC) with support from TradeMark Africa. The NCC, which represents Rwanda’s participation in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, includes members from academia, food industries, regulatory bodies, consumer associations, and the National Standards Bureau.

The training aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s procedures, the process of developing Codex standards, and the advantages of effective national participation. It also sought to improve coordination among stakeholders and enhance the NCC’s role in implementing Codex activities nationally.

Dr. Jean Kamanzi, Advisor at the Ministry of Trade (MINICOM), led sessions on the importance of Codex work for Rwanda and the need for the country’s active engagement. Dr Edewa Andrew, Director of SPS at TradeMark Africa, presented on WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements.

During the opening session, Mr. Clement Uwimana, on behalf of RSB’s National Standards Division Manager, urged participants to focus on areas of national interest and emphasized that the training would empower them to contribute effectively to the development of food standards at national, regional, and international levels.