Zambia, with support from the Codex Trust Fund and African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), held a hands-on training 29-31 July 2025, in Livingstone, Zambia, to equip national key stakeholders and experts with practical knowledge and skills on Codex procedures and the use and application of electronic working tools.

The hybrid session was facilitated by Hakim Mufumbiro, the Coordinator of the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA), John Oppong-Otoo, Food Safety Coordinator at AU-IBAR, Benoit Gnonlonfin from the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI International), Lusubilo Mwamakamba from WHO African Region, and Giuseppe DiChiera from the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat.

The trainees  learnt about the Codex Alimentarius Commission, its standards-setting processes, approaches for effective stakeholder engagement, and the role and importance of science and risk analysis as applied within the Codex system. A significant emphasis was placed on using digital platforms such as the electronic working group (EWG) and online commenting system (OCS) through simulations and hands-on sessions.

The programme also covered regional Codex initiatives, national coordination, and performance evaluation in Codex participation. The stakeholders agreed to enhance engagement at the national level and collaboratively support efforts to enhance Zambia’s effective participation in Codex work throughout the standards development processes.

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Codex Trust Fund website