Uganda, through the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has officially assumed office as the new coordinator for the Food and Agriculture Organisation / World Health Organisation coordinating committee for Africa, taking over from Kenya.
This follows the appointment for the period 2020 to 2022 by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) during its 43rd meeting held virtually in November 2020.
The Codex Alimentarius, or "Food Code" is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
During the CCAFRICA strategic meeting at Protea Hotel in Entebbe, the UNBS executive director, David Livingstone Ebiru said that UNBS services and activities contribute significantly to fostering food safety in Uganda.
He said food safety is generally structured along five main elements including; food law and legislation, food control management, inspection services, laboratory services and information, education, communication and training.
"To date, 1,082 Uganda standards have been developed in the area of Food and Agriculture and these provide requirements for ensuring quality and safe food. The availability of food standards has enabled Uganda to develop its Quality infrastructure, which has subsequently helped to penetrate key markets in the various food sectors," Ebiru said
He revealed that of these 1,082 standards, 150 are directly adopted from Codex including reference to the Codex online database for Pesticides to support testing of Maximum Residue Limits in different commodities prior to placement on the market.
The under secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives pledged government’s support towards food safety initiatives to ensure public health and fair trade.
Addressing the delegates at the meeting, Awilo Ochieng Pernet, the former chairperson of Codex Alimentarius Commission, urged the CCAFRICA member states to build networks with relevant stakeholders to achieve a lasting impact on food safety, public health, wealth and social welfare of the people.
Uganda has been a member of Codex since 1964 and this is the second time Codex Alimentarius commission is appointing Uganda to coordinate Codex activities in Africa, following its first appointment 20 years ago; from 1999 to 2003.
The appointment will market Uganda’s tourism potential and raise awareness of food safety issues through Codex, such as strengthening the food control system in the Country and improving quality and safety of locally traded food commodities, raising the profile of Codex and food safety issues in Uganda, increased public awareness on standards for food products elaborated by Codex among others.
