By Biola Lawal
FLOWERBUDNEWS: The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has
called for stronger regulatory cooperation and coordination among African food regulatory authorities to enhance food safety on the continent.
(Nigeria’s Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye – 6th from right in a group photograph with Heads of other African Regulatory Agencies)
Prof. Adeyeye made the call at the just concluded Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) in Cairo, Egypt, where she spoke on the theme, “From Regional Economic Communities to a Continental Platform.”.
The NAFDAC Director General emphasised
the need for a more coherent continental regulatory approach to address shared food safety challenges, which she noted, arose from interconnected food systems and supply chains, cross-border trade, food fraud, climate change and technological innovation.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that “regulatory convergence should translate into tangible benefits through timely information sharing, stronger analytical capacity, virtual learning and harmonisation of regulatory requirements.”
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its national food control system, while contributing to regional and continental efforts to advance food safety and protect public health.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed the importance of sustained investment in regulatory capacity, laboratory infrastructure, digital technologies, human resources and effective surveillance systems.
The NAFDAC Boss said that Africa must move from regulators, working alongside one another, to working with one another to build safe, resilient and effective food systems. (Flowerbudnews)
