In Kenya, FAO leads an evaluation of the national food control system

Last week FAO began a project to improve the food control system in Kenya. A 5-million-euro project funded by the European Union, "Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control,” which was launched in November 2022, is set to provide technical support and work with Competent Authorities and other leading institutions in 12 Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Member Countries to build 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 Kenya. 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. During the same week, activities began also in Mauritius, adding to projects already under way in the two island nations of Comoros and the Seychelles, and in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Assessment of the national food control system in Kenya                       

The project, co-signed by the Government of Kenya, 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). 

Kenya and FAO have a long-standing partnership working together towards greater food security and overall improvement of food and agriculture standards since FAO’s Representation in Kenya was established in 1977. With this project, FAO is introducing to Kenya 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. 

On Monday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development State Department for Crop Development, Phillip Kello Harsama thanked FAO and WHO for choosing Kenya as one of the member Countries of the AU targeted to implement the facilitated assessment of the national food control system. He said that the objectives of the project are in line with the government priorities as highlighted in the Kenya Vision 2030 blue print and the Agricultural Sector Transformation & Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019-2029) among other strategy documents. “Efficient food control system is essential to facilitate trade in food products and to ensure consumers have ready and sustained access to safe and nutritious food in Kenya and the African continent, “ said the PS.

As part of the assessment, a team of FAO experts will assist Kenya’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.

FAO Kenya Representative Carla Mucavi expressed gratitude to the European Union for their support towards funding this important project which will contribute to strengthening the implementation of the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area. She also thanked the Government of Kenya for the commitment and leadership demonstrated through the formation of a multi-sectoral and multi-agency food safety working group that has greatly improved the coordination of the food control system in Kenya.

Participants in the training were excited about taking part in the assessment process. “The tool is a great one and will help identify gaps in the whole food safety space and make recommendations for correction and to ensure food from farm to fork is safe,” said Samson G Dadu, Senior Trade Development Officer from the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.

The project is also an opportunity not only for government employees involved in food safety controls to expand their skillset but also to network and share experiences with colleagues in other departments working in the field. “Such forums bring us closer and help us strategize better in dealing with our food safety issues,” said Sahara S. Ali from the Food Safety Division of the Ministry of Health.

The project aims to assist Kenya in adhering to international standards that will allow greater harmonization and trade in the region. 

Launch of the project and training of focal points 

The training took place at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, February 27 to March 3 2023, and included 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 included data collection across the whole food control system.

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

Read more about FAO’s work in Kenya here

Photo: © FAO/Pauline Akolo