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Group photo of participants from Makerere University Science Division

Regulators call for harmonized interpretation of codex standard on food additives

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By Eunice WAWUDA

The East African Business Council (EABC), in collaboration with the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), hosted a side event titled “Effective Regulation through Harmonization of Food Additive Standards in Africa:

The FAO/WHO Risk Assessment Approach as a Sound Basis for Regulatory and Policy Decisions” On 30th January 2025.

The event took place during the 25th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA25), held in Kampala, Uganda, from January 27-31, 2025.

Over 150 participants attended, including industrialists, more than 40 food science students from Makerere University, and over 60 delegates from across Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa.

Professor Samuel Godefroy (IUFoST) highlighted the ongoing efforts of Codex supported by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to guide food regulators on the adoption of safe and technologically justified food additive applications.

He called for added investments in scientific capacity and data collection in Africa to ensure that the African context is well reflected in international food standards decisions.

Mr. Hakim Mufumbiro, CCAFRICA Coordinator and UNBS Principal Standards Officer emphasized the importance of adhering to Codex standards.

He noted food additives as a priority and highlighted the roles of the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO), the East African Community (EAC), and Codex in promoting harmonization through engagement and policy advocacy.

 Presentations on the importance of harmonizing African food standards/regulations with regional and international standards, and the legislative framework and harmonization procedures in the EAC were delivered by Mr. Reuben Gisore, Technical Director at ARSO, and Mr. Peter Mutua, Manager of the Food Standards Division at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

Speakers emphasized the crucial role of compliance with agricultural practices and food safety standards for both farmers and consumers.  Citing WHO data, they noted that 91 million Africans are affected by foodborne illnesses annually, resulting in 137,000 deaths and that 96% of food markets are supplied by domestic sources.

ARSO, comprised of 42 of the 54 African states, has harmonized 2,171 standards. While the EAC adheres to Codex Standard 192-1995 on food additive harmonization, the use of Codex Notes sometimes leads to ambiguous interpretations among regulators, potentially creating Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).

Dr. Mark Feeley, of the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) and Coordinator of the JECFA Meetings on TiO2, delivered a virtual presentation on discrepancies in food additive scientific assessments, using titanium dioxide as a case study.

Participants called for addressing emerging issues such as food allergens, regulations for organic and artificial additives, and streamlining the approval process for additives, including blends.

The side event provided a platform for African regulators to discuss opportunities and key considerations for food additive standards harmonization, including leveraging JECFA Risk Assessment Frameworks for science-based regulatory and policy decisions.

 

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