Enhancing Food Safety and Quality in Africa
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) was founded by FAO and the World Health Organization in 1963, with the mandate to develop international food standards in order to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade. The number of Codex members in the African region has increased considerably since it was first set up. However, it was necessary to further strengthen the participation of African countries in Codex activities, in order to enhance general awareness on the importance of food safety, and its potential negative impact on health, development and trade, especially at the level of policy and decision-makers.
Resultados obtenidos
A total of 259 participants from 47 African countries were trained during the five workshops held during the project. As a result of these workshops, which included a high-level ministerial meeting with the six countries of the East Africa Community, knowledge of Codex rules and procedures was enhanced; and understanding and experience of implementing food control activities within a well managed food control system was increased. In addition, the workshops raised awareness of the need for African countries to participate and contribute to the work of Codex, to ensure that international food standards developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission reflected African realities. They also enhanced collaboration among these countries, and demonstrated to their senior government officials the need to invest in Codex work and activities.Repercusiones
The project contributed to increasing consumer protection and improving export-import trade, as a result of greater food safety and quality enforcement.Actividades
- Workshop 1: Codex Capacity Building Workshop for African Member States, 68 participants trained.
- Workshop 2: 2nd Pan-African Codex Capacity Building Workshop, 67 participants trained.
- Workshop 3: Sub-regional East African Food Safety Capacity Building Workshop, 49 participants from Eastern Africa trained.
- Workshop 4: Workshop for Risk Managers on Microbiological Risk Assessment. 35 participants from five Eastern African countries and ten Central African countries trained.
- Workshop 5: High-level Ministerial meeting, to raise awareness for food safety at a high decision-making level, attended by 19 participants from the six countries of the East African Community.
- Pamphlets produced for the three Safer Food for All initiatives packs, with key messages, including examples and illustrations, case studies and teaching plans to improve food safety and consumer health protection.
- Facilitation support plan for the roll-out of Safer Food for All initiatives at the country level (administrative structures, training mechanisms, information technology requirements) developed.
- Key provisions for inclusion in the preliminary proposals of the Draft Regional Standards identified.
- Preliminary structures of the Draft Regional Standards developed.
- Clear steps of involving and seeking inputs from all interested members of Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa identified.
Código del proyecto: GCP/RAF/486/SWI
Título del proyecto: Codex Capacity Building Workshop for Africa
Contacto: Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa / Jean Kamanzi (Lead Technical Officer)
Correo electrónico: [email protected] / [email protected]
Descargar PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/bt807/BT807.pdf