Regional states meet in Kampala to discuss Strengthening of Food Safety Standards.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Uganda is calling upon East African member states to work towards reducing trade barriers that hamper a health trade in food across the region.

Dr Antonio Querido the FAO country representative in Uganda says Food safety is a critical public health issue in Africa, significantly affecting agricultural competitiveness and trade.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), food borne diseases cause 137,000 deaths and 91 million illnesses annually in Africa, accounting for one-third of the global burden.

This four-year initiative, aimed at improving food safety standards, will be implemented in Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda after being launched in Uganda during a regional workshop for regional strengthening of food safety standards held from September 3-4, 2024, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kampala.

African Development Bank recommended that there was urgent need to improve trade in food by improving food standards to avoid suspicion from member countries. This is according to Milly Chesire the country programme officer at the African Development Bank,Uganda country office

Moreover, Africa's participation in global agri-food markets needs to be higher due to food safety concerns and supply chain disruptions.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in food safety control systems, underscoring the need for enhanced regulations to protect public health and ensure food quality.

Strengthening these systems will boost the competitiveness of agro-based MSMEs, enhance trade and income, and restore consumer confidence in the food supply chain.