Djibouti Concludes Validation Mission – Last of 10 Countries to Complete FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment

A FAO mission to validate data on Djibouti’s food control system concluded yesterday, marking the final phase of a $6.4 million European Union-funded project that has already supported assessments in nine other African Union countries. Djibouti is the last of the 10 countries to undergo this comprehensive evaluation.

During the three-week validation mission, FAO technical experts visited various facilities, including oil and milk processing plants, slaughterhouses, warehouses, restaurants, and supermarkets in the city of Djibouti. They also conducted interviews with Competent Authorities and stakeholders from the Chamber of Commerce and various research centers to verify the gathered data and evaluate the effectiveness of the food control system. 

During a visit to Djibouti’s Plant Production and Protection Division, focal point Ms Adala Moussa Hamadou praised the assessment and the progress made so far, saying “we have a better knowledge of the Djiboutian food control system and entities involved, the food safety risks, and the risk-based approach.”

The mission followed a four-month data collection period, led by Djibouti’s food control system focal points who were trained on the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool—a unique instrument developed to comprehensively assess national food control systems. According to Mr Abdi-Rachid Hassan Ismael, focal point of the national food analysis laboratory (LANAA), the assessment will enable Djibouti to harmonize its food control framework and foster greater collaboration among stakeholders. Mr Hassan Ismael said that the assessment has helped identify key areas for improvement, helping to “create a global vision of food control system.”

In the final phase of the assessment, Competent Authorities will review an analytical report based on the collected data. The report, expected to be endorsed during a final workshop in November 2024, will serve as the foundation for a strategic plan to strengthen Djibouti’s food control system.

The completion of assessments across all 10 countries aligns with the African Union’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework, aimed at enhancing food safety and trade across the continent. The project is carried out in collaboration with the African Union Commission’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (AUC DARBE).

Read more about the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool

Read more about FAO’s work in Djibouti

Photo:  © FAO/Omar Was Guedi (FAO)