EU, EAC discuss food safety harmonisation measures

A delegation from the European Union and officials from the East African Community (EAC) under the Joint EU Africa Strategy (JAES) is discussing ways of strengthening harmonisation of the food safety measures and its implementation road map.The four-day meeting that opened in Kigali on Tuesday aims at fine-tuning ideas on food safety harmonisation measures in Africa.Discussions are centred on how to facilitate the harmonisation of food safety measures in Africa, through the application, region-by-region, of Reference Framework and Guidelines for Harmonisation of the Management of the Food Hygiene, enhancing intra and inter-regional trade and integration in Africa.The harmonisation consists of the improvement of the competitiveness and the diversification of African agriculture and industry, notably by strengthening African capacities in the area of rules, standards and quality control.Dr Timothy Wesonga, Senior Livestock officer in EAC Secretariat, said one of the priorities is to enhance the capacity of administrations, producers and exporters at all levels to meet the regulatory requirements of export markets within Africa and the EU.Within the draft of harmonisation of food safety, measures are highlighted for countries to have marketable products for exportation with international requirements to be able to compete on the international level. Rwanda, one the EAC member states finds harmonisation of food safety measures yielding positive impact.Of importance“The harmonisation is very important as it will help in improving the quantity and the quality of products to be able to compete on the international market,” said Beatrice Uwumukiza, Director General of Agriculture and Livestock Inspection and Certification at the Ministry of Agriculture.In order to help developing countries improve their food safety systems for the benefit of their populations and economies, the European Commission launched an initiative – “Better Training for Safer Food in Africa – BTSF - Africa.”The training covers food and feed law, animal health and welfare rules and plant health rules.The BTSF initiative resulted in the preparation of Reference Framework and Guidelines for Harmonisation of the Management of the Food Hygiene in Africa, which was endorsed by AU Summit in January 2011 and is now being domesticated and applied by the Regional Economic Communities.

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EU, EAC discuss food safety harmonisation measures