Advancing Food Safety and Governance: FAO Mission Enhances Capacities in Egypt and Beyond

A recent FAO mission in Egypt concluded last week, marking an important step in a project aimed at strengthening food safety and plant health capacities and governance across 12 African Union countries. The three-week mission involved comprehensive field visits to diverse sites, including national and regional authorities, ports, border points, food laboratories, warehouses, and various establishments along the food supply chain.

As Saber Mansour, FAO Food Safety Officer, noted, "Field visits, meetings, and discussions with all stakeholders along the food chain in Egypt allowed us to better understand how the system is designed and operated, ensuring that the final analysis is based on accurate and verified information."

During the mission, assessors conducted protocol visits to engage with high-level representatives from essential entities such as the National Food Safety Authority, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade. Through in-depth interviews with key authorities within the country's food control system, the goal was to pinpoint data gaps, and to visit competent authorities and national stakeholders to cross-check, validate and complement the data submitted by the national authorities for the finalization of the assessment report.

Marwa Badr, FAO national consultant on the project, emphasized the pivotal role of the Food Control System Assessment Tool, stating, "This tool supports Egypt in adhering to global food safety norms, enhancing market competitiveness, and safeguarding consumer health.” She spoke of the assessment as essential to “not only establish but ensure optimal function of food control mechanisms throughout the supply chain." These reflections underscore the tool's pivotal role in fortifying Egypt's food safety mechanisms and ensuring alignment with global regulatory standards.

Following a three-month data collection phase led by focal points from diverse agencies and the data validation mission the next phase will focus on developing a draft assessment report structured around the tool's dimensions, drawing on the data and evidence gathered. This report will undergo review by Competent Authorities involved in the process and is slated for endorsement at a final workshop early September 2024, culminating in a strategic analysis and plan to strengthen Egypt's food control system.

Part of a 6.4-million-dollar regional initiative funded by the European Union, this project, initiated in November 2022, has seen its inception in Comoros and completion of final assessments in eight additional African Union Member countries. Aligned with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa, developed by the African Union (AU) to enhance trade among AU Member States, the project operates in close collaboration with the African Union Commission 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 Egypt here

Photo credit: ©Saber Mansour (FAO)