FAO in Sudan recently lead a 2-day training workshop on the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The workshop was held from 16-17 May 2016 at the Ministry of Animal Resources in Khartoum with over 30 representatives from Ministry of Animal Resources and export slaughterhouses participating in a series of trainings on how to integrate systematic and preventative approaches to food safety for improved competitiveness of Sudan’s livestock and meat export. The workshop included presentations on topical issues and a practical session at Al Kadro slaughterhouse in Khartoum. 

HACCP is a systematic, scientific and preventative approach to food safety that addresses the biological, chemical, and physical hazards in production processes that can cause meat to be unsafe for consumption. Workshop facilitator Dr Francis Ejobi, Professor of Makerere University in Uganda, led a series of trainings on how best to apply HACCP to key livestock production in Sudan, such as slaughterhouse management. Modules included introduction to the HACCP certification processes and the relevance of certification to Sudan’s global competitiveness, hazards and sources of contamination for meat, personal hygiene and sanitation best practices for slaughterhouses, and traceability.HACCP is focused on the prevention of hazards rather than discovering food safety issues at the point of finished product inspection. The system can be used at all stages of the food value chain, from food production and preparation processes including packaging, distribution, etc.

“A key challenge facing primary and secondary livestock traders and pastoralists is there can be a lack of clear and detailed knowledge on food safety and quality requirements from importing countries in the region,” said Dr Ejobi. “And so this training provides an important foundation on food safety and quality requirements necessary for the strengthening of value chains and to improve the competitiveness of Sudan’s livestock and meat trade to the Middle East and Gulf countries.”

The workshop is a part of the project Improving supply of safe and quality livestock and meat exported from the Horn of Africa to Middle East and Gulf Countries, an initiative supported by the Government of Italy and implemented jointly Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and FAO representations across the IGAD region, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and Sudan. Mr Alessandro Valgimigli with the Embassy of Italy in Khartoum has reaffirmed the Government of Italy’s commitment to support Sudan’s livestock sector in order to continue to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists. Launched in January 2015, the project aims to support IGAD member countries to improve competitiveness and increase their share in the Middle East market through improved understanding of quality requirements, supporting value chain actors to meet these standards and increasing countries’ capacity to supply the market with high-quality and eligible livestock and meat products. The project also directly contributes to fulfilling the priority intervention areas of the IGAD Drought and Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI), recently validated and to which Sudan is a signatory.

The livestock export trade from the Horn of Africa is often considered to be one of the largest export movements in the world, and is also one of the oldest and vibrant cross-border livestock trading system in the world. Sudan is among the top producers of livestock in the IGAD region and national and local capacity building initiatives to improve Sudan’s food safety systems and strengthening the country’s livestock and meat value chains are well placed to enable Sudan to meet the demand for high quality livestock and meat on Middle Eastern markets.

“FAO is extremely pleased to be partnering with Italy to enhance the livelihoods and incomes of Sudan’s pastoral and agro-pastoral communities by strengthening their capacity to access to this important livestock and meat market,” said Veronica Quattrola, Deputy Representative of FAO, a.i. “Supporting the creation and upgrading of food value chains is an integral part of FAO's work in Sudan and we consider this an essential approach to improving food and nutrition security in Sudan.”