E-mail:
Country:
Cabo Verde
Organization/agency name (Full name):
ERIS - Health Regulatory Entity
Contact person name:
Dalila Silva
Website:
Physical full address:
Av. Cidade Lisboa, Várzea – Praia, Cabo Verde
Phone number:
+2382626410
Fax number:
+2382624970
Country introduction
Summary:
Cape Verde is an archipelagic country, which have ten islands and five islets, covering a total area of 4003Km3, with 531,239 inhabitants.
Cape Verde imports most of the goods that we consume, especially food. The food market is fully liberalize, and the volume of supply is adequate.
However, despite the progress regarding in terms of food supply, there are still major obstacles with regard to the health safety and quality of foodstuffs in Cape Verde.
The food safety and quality control at Cape Verde is still weak, both in terms of laws, and in terms of infrastructure, technical, and human resources.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country is in the process in developing a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country does not have a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
In Cape Verde we have several government entities that control the quality of food in the national market, namely:
- ERIS, which is the Health Regulatory Authority, has the power to make proposals to the Government on food quality and safety issues. It also performs market inspections, in the industries and wholesale and retail industries, and even in restaurants.
- INSP, National Institute of Public Health, created in 2014, is a competent authority for indirect administration of the State, which has oversight with the Ministry of Health and Social Security (MSSS), which is responsible for carrying out investigations related to public health in the country.
- DGADR, which is the institution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment that controls production in agriculture and livestock, as well as the control of food imports.
- DGRM, which is the entity of the Ministry of Economy and Employment, which operates in the fish production and processing chain
- DNICE, which is the institution of the Ministry of Economy and Employment, responsible for the licensing of industries
- IGAE, which is the institution of the Ministry of Economy and Employment, which has the power of criminal police to control food and economic fraud.
- Health Offices, which are entities of the Ministry of Health and Social Security, which has the power to verify public health, production and trade of food.
- Municipal Chambers, which make the licensing and inspection of the retail shops (including restaurants) that exist in their local authority.
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country does not conduct safety assessment of GM food but the country has, or the country is in the process of developing national/regional guidelines that are not in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Cape Verde has a risk assessment system, and in ERIS (Health Regulatory Authority) there are two distinct departments that works with risk management and with risk assessment and communication.
The country is part of the RASSF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) and INFOSAN (International Food Safety Authorities Network), where ERIS is the Cape Verde focal point, as well as the focal point of the Codex Alimentarius.
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country produces GM food or feed only for research purposes.
GM food/feed imports:
My country may import GM food or feed and there is no authorization process.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
I do not know if my country has faced any LLP/AP issues in the last 10 years.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country is in the process of developing regulations/policies on GM food labeling.
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
23/10/2023
