FAO, WFP supporting the Government of Uganda in establishing a food safety body.

Entebbe—Uganda is set to establish the Food and Agricultural Regulatory Authority, a regulatory body aimed at fortifying food safety standards and quality assurance and bolstering the nation's export capabilities. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the prevalence of unsafe food on the market, with estimates indicating significant human and economic tolls.

The Authority, as highlighted during a three-day consultative conference organised and facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), is poised to revolutionise Uganda's approach to food safety standards, covering both locally consumed food and products destined for regional and international markets.

Among its primary objectives is establishing uniform safety and quality standards across various sectors, including plant based food,fisheries, and animal products, while rigorously regulating the use of agrochemicals, veterinary drugs and inputs to ensure adherence to stringent safety guidelines.

According to Mr Paul Mwambu, the Commissioner for Crop Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), the government's decision to create this authority reflects a commitment to meeting health and market requirements while ensuring the production of safe food for Ugandans and international consumers alike.

Hon. Bright Rwamirama, the State Minister for Animal Industry, emphasised the timeliness of this initiative, mainly as Uganda aims to position itself as a regional food basket amidst its agricultural industrialization efforts. Rwamirama highlighted the dual benefits of ensuring food security for citizens while also boosting GDP and export earnings.

“It is going to help Ugandans access markets and help Ugandans who are trading and receiving goods from outside to ensure there is no standard gap. Equally, we are looking at consumer protection; whenever we make a law, people think it is for the outside, so we need to protect the citizens of this country from what they consume, the veterinary drugs and agricultural chemicals that are coming into the country, because whatever goes into the plants and livestock end up in human beings. This law coming in force of the authority will fundamentally change Uganda's food system and trade.”  Rwamirama noted.

Dr Antonio Querido, the Country Representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), supported Uganda's new regulatory authority.

“Ensuring that the food produced in the country is safe and trustworthy for both local and international markets is critical for Uganda’s economic development. As FAO, we believe that having a regulatory authority to oversee and enforce safety and quality standards is the right way to go. Such an authority would help build trust among consumers and other markets, thus boosting the country's economy,” he said.

This follows a recent eight-month assessment of Uganda's food control system by FAO, MAAIF, and other stakeholders involved in the food chain. A final workshop was held in Kampala, where high-level policymakers endorsed the recommendations of the final assessment report and committed to implementing the country's strategic plan to ensure food safety.

The Food and Agriculture Regulatory Authority aims to regulate and guide various stakeholders involved in the food supply chain, including producers, manufacturers, processors, distributors, and retailers, as well as competent authorities and the general public. Its scope encompasses the entire food production and distribution process, from processing and storage to importation, exportation, and advertisement, with the overarching goal of ensuring the production and sale of safe and quality food for both human and animal consumption.