AFRICA – Ten African Union member countries recently completed comprehensive assessments of their national food control systems, producing a report that identifies strengths, gaps, and strategic priorities.
The countries, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Mauritius, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, are also members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
The assessments were conducted under the joint FAO and European Union project, “Strengthening Food Control and Phytosanitary Capacities and Governance—CGP/GLO/949/EC.”
The initiative supports the AU’s efforts to harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures across member states, aligning national policies with international standards through the AU Food Safety Strategy for Africa (FSSA).
Methodology and tools
Authorities in the ten countries used the FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) Food Control System Assessment Tool for the reviews.
Designed to evaluate compliance with internationally recognized food safety standards, the tool assesses systems across four main dimensions with 160 criteria, capturing data on competencies, resources, and operational processes.
Beyond Africa, countries such as Chile, Belize, and the United Arab Emirates have applied the same methodology.
The assessments highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking, harmonized capacity-building, and knowledge exchange.
Recommendations stress regional cooperation, improved coordination among stakeholders, and leveraging assessment results to inform future technical assistance and program design.
Identified priorities
Across the assessed countries, the greatest needs were observed in two areas. The first involves inputs and resources, including policy guidance, legal frameworks, financial and human resources, and infrastructure capacities.
The second concerns control functions, such as implementing risk-based approaches, monitoring plans, emergency response mechanisms, and communication strategies.
The report notes that addressing these priorities aligns with the AU SPS Policy Framework and FSSA objectives. Strategic implementation is expected to strengthen individual national food control systems while contributing to regional food safety and public health outcomes.
Regional insights and additional efforts
The assessment complements other FAO-backed initiatives in Africa and the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region.
A recent technical report mapped the regional food safety landscape, providing a foundation for informed policymaking and future interventions to enhance food system safety, sustainability, and resilience.