By Ibrahim Mohamed
EGYPT hosted yesterday the inaugural meeting of the African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) in the New Administrative Capital.
The forum, which will end tomorrow, is organised in partnership between the National Food Safety Authority of Egypt (NFSA) and the African Union Commission (AUC).
A large number of experts and officials in food safety from various African countries attend the forum, the largest gatherings of food competent authorities in the continent.
The forum, held under the theme ‘the Founding Meeting of the African Forum for Food Regulatory Bodies’ offers a platform for African food regulators to discuss opportunities of collaboration in a manner that enhances the protection of African consumers and contributes to creating a favourable environment for the trade of food and agro-food commodities across Africa, according to an official statement.
This goes in line with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Hosting the forum is in response to directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to enhance the resilience of the food and agri-food production sector, with a diversification of Egypt’s market access opportunities and a strong focus on the African continent”, according to NFSA Chairman Tareq el-Houby, who is also the Egyptian co-chair of the Forum.
In the meantime, NFSA unveiled its new logo to the public and presented an update on the implementation of its recently adopted strategic plan for the period 2023-2026.
The plan, which supports the authority in following best food regulatory practices, has been inspired by NFSA’s ambition to be a leading food regulator regionally and at the global level.
“The new logo is part of food safety awareness and communication campaign that will witness stronger engagement with consumers and producers and that will help identify NFSA as a trusted and reputable source of food safety inform.
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