Delegates of Codex Member Countries discussing food safety and security issues of the African region

The FAO/WHO Codex Regional Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) held its 22^nd Session in Nairobi from 16 to 20 January 2017 to discuss food safety and food control issues as well as the emerging needs and challenges the region and its countries are facing. Among them is the pivotal role SMEs are playing in raising food standards and delivering safe and quality food. Participants agreed that SMEs as one of the major actors of the African food systems have a great potential to ensure that people, regardless of rich or poor, have safe, nutritious and affordable food on their plates every day.

The event brought together delegates from 25 CAC Member Countries from Africa and outside the region as well as observer organizations and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

In his opening remarks, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Co-operatives, Adan Mohammed, emphasized, “without a doubt, food standards are mandatory for international trade. Currently in Africa, most industries are facing major challenges related to aflatoxin in foods, heavy metals and carbon miles among others that will need to be addressed in order to make our food industries more competitive.”

On his part, FAO Representative in Kenya, Gabriel Rugalema noted that “everybody deserves food that is safe and of good quality. Poor food quality affects people’s health and income and in so doing imposes on us a high economic cost, therefore, food that is safe and of acceptable standard should not be a matter of choice. It should an imperative.”

SMEs - crucial actors in the African food systems

Chris Muyunda, Vice President of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Non State Actors Coalition (CNC), reiterated the urgent need for key stakeholders to partner with SMEs and other SME umbrella institutions in the region. “Zero Hunger required by the Malabo Declaration by 2025 can only be achieved if there is working partnership among the value chain actors within the African agricultural sector. Agricultural transformation that is so much a cornerstone of the Malabo Declaration will not occur unless all key stakeholders in African governments, the development community, UN agencies and the investment arena can effectively partner African SMEs who are the center of the African agro production, processing and distribution sectors”, he said.

SMEs are facing challenges such as weak food control systems, consumer’s purchasing power, lack of harmonized food regulations in the region and poor private-public partnerships, to mention a few. By providing simple, relevant and harmonized food standards, codes of practice and guidelines, Codex can play a crucial role in helping SMEs to access markets and trade be it national, regional or international.

Other topics discussed

The session also reviewed the results of the surveys on critical and emerging food safety issues in the region and on the use of Codex standards as well as the resulting prioritization process to address capacity development needs in the region. The meeting also discussed four regional draft standards on dried meat, fermented cooked cassava based products, shea butter and Gnetum spp leaves.

For more information:

Kenya takes over FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa

Contact:

Martina Torma | Communications Consultant | FAO Representation in Kenya | [email protected]