The East African Community (EAC) has convened at Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) offices in Kampala on Friday, September 1, 2023, to discuss and address issues of food contaminants, pesticides and veterinary drug residues in food across the region.
The meeting aimed at ensuring and creating awareness, advocacy for food safety, improved collaboration and Codex in the region, targeting policy decision markers, politicians and key stakeholders in order to contribute to raising the profile of food safety and Codex in the EAC.
Daniel Nangalama, the Ag.ED-UNBS said that, food safety is everyone’s business right from farm to plate, adding that, every one has a role to play in ensuring food safety.
“Unsafe food kills an estimated 420,000 people every year,” Nangalama said.
He noted that, UNBS as a Codex contact point for Uganda, has established and maintained functional structures to ensure effective operation of Codex activities in Uganda to promote development and implementation of food standards, and advise government on matters of food safety.
“As of June 2023, up to 1,100 Uganda standards had been developed in the area of food and agriculture, including 140 which are directly adopted from Codex,” Nangalama noted.
Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Uganda said that, WHO stands with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to contribute towards facilitating food and safety in the region.
“The EAC has put in place efforts to ensure food and safety. However, there is still a challenge of Aflatoxins,” Woldemariam said.
Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of Trade, Industry & Cooperatives, said that, the ministry is committed to investing in Quality Standards.
“Uganda’s exports for coffee, tea, fish, milk, fats & oils, cereals & pulses, fresh fruits & vegetables, & related goods have significantly increased over the last 20 years as a result of implementation & application of relevant Codex & National Food Safety & Standards,” Mwebesa said.
Stella Apolot, the EAC Secretariat called upon members to reflect and find a solution to deal with the challenge of food safety.
