FAO and NFSA conclude an evaluation of the national food control system
This week the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with the National Food Safety Agency (NFSA), concluded an eight-month assessment of Egypt’s food control system with a final workshop held in Cairo from 9-12 September 2024.
Stakeholders, experts, and officials from various ministries within Egypt’s food control system convened to review the assessment’s findings. The group endorsed the recommendations, established priorities and developed a roadmap aimed at enhancing the country’s food safety framework.
Speaking at the Strategic Workshop in Cairo, Dr Tarek El Houby, Chairman of the National Food Safety Agency (NFSA), stressed the importance of the assessment, noting “the recommendations resulting from the assessment identify the priorities required to improve the food control system.” He outlined the next steps for implementation and highlighted the benefits, adding, “This assessment helps in improving the food safety measures in Egypt by aligning them with the international safety standards that eventually increase trade between countries.”
The assessment is part of "Strengthening of Capacities and Governance in Food and Phytosanitary Control,” a 6.4-million-euro project funded by the European Union (EU). Launched in 2022, the initiative aims to provide technical support to Competent Authorities and other leading institutions in 12 African Union (AU) Member Countries to build up capabilities, strengthen governance, and improve strategic planning around two main components: food safety and plant health.
Mr Nicolas Zaimis, Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade Sector at the EU Delegation to Egypt highlighted the growth of Egypt’s food export sector and the role of the EU in enhancing food safety measures. “The EU is here to support and we are working with very competent staff in NFSA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation,” he said at the workshop.
The initiative aligns with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa, a framework developed by the African Union (AU) laying the foundations for trade opportunities among AU Member States. The project is implemented in partnership with the African Commission Division for Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC DARBE).
Assessment of the national food control system in Egypt
The assessment in Egypt began with an inception and training workshop in March 2024. Over the following months, a team of food safety stakeholders gathered data across several dimensions of the system. Once the data was analysed, the FAO team conducted field visits and interviews and produced a draft report outlining recommendations for improvement.
Pivotal to the project was the introduction of the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, a unique instrument developed by both United Nations agencies to assess the national food control system in a comprehensive manner, by looking at the entire food chain, including production, distribution, retail market and consumers.
Dr Lotfi Allal, OIC FAO Representation in Egypt praised the tool highlighting its capacity to guide assessments in a structured, transparent and measurable manner throughout the entire food chain, measuring and evaluating progress over time.
Egypt is the 11th country in the region to complete this assessment with Djibouti scheduled for late 2024, marking the conclusion of project activities.
The outcomes of this assessment are expected to significantly enhance Egypt’s adherence to international food safety standards, fostering greater trade harmonization in the region.
Read more about the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool
Read more about FAO’s work in Egypt
photo: © FAO/Soliman Hamada