FAO/WHO Committee for Africa holds 21st session in Yaounde

The 21st session of the FAO/WHO Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) opened this Tuesday, January 27, 2015 in the Cameroonian capital.

The meeting in Yaoundé which will last for three days, will study Gnetum spp. and cassava stick. Food security in the continent, is vast because many countries are struggling to showcase the Codex standards in their respective legislation.

The safety of food available to consumers and commercial loyalty must be ensured by States. Participants at the 21st session of the CCAFRICA from all African countries, will bring answers to the problem of the regional/international Codex standard.

The 48 members of the FAO/WHO Committee for Africa including Cameroon, focus on improving food safety thanks to the harmonious and effective use of the Codex standards.

For this purpose, we must produce the problems and the needs of the region relating to the control of food and promote contacts within the CCAFRICA for a mutual exchange of information on regulatory initiatives projects. Each Government must develop food quality security systems because the health of the population depends on it.

The 21st session of the CCAFRICA tries to implement the process of risk analysis in African countries. It will also notify the political authorities of Africa on the importance of the Codex Alimentarius in social well-being and its impact on the development of trade. Emphasis will be placed on the extension to other regions, the Technical Cooperation Programme covering Cameroon, Gabon and the Central African Republic.

It must encourage the involvement of the regional economic communities and the African Union to achieve the objectives of the Strategic Plan of CCAFRICA 2014-2019.

Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 under the leadership of FAO and WHO. This decision-making body intends to develop food standards, guidelines and international codes of practice aimed to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. The Codex Alimentarius has become the worldwide reference for consumers, producers and processors of foodstuffs, national food control agencies.