NAFDAC DG advocates stronger continental cooperation on food safety

Africa, Food, Health

CAIRO, Egypt (NPA) — The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called for stronger regulatory cooperation and coordination among African food regulatory authorities.

Adeyeye made the call while participating in the Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) in Cairo, Egypt, where she spoke on the theme, “From Regional Economic Communities to a Continental Platform.”

She emphasised the need for a more coherent continental regulatory approach to address shared food safety challenges arising from interconnected food systems and supply chains, cross-border trade, food fraud, climate change and technological innovation.

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The NAFDAC director-general said regulatory convergence should translate into tangible benefits through timely information sharing, stronger analytical capacity, virtual learning and harmonisation of regulatory requirements.

Adeyeye 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.

She highlighted the importance of sustained investment in regulatory capacity, laboratory infrastructure, digital technologies, human resources and effective surveillance systems.

According to her, Africa must move from regulators working alongside one another to working with one another to build safe, resilient and effective food systems.

The Third AFRAF seeks to strengthen collaboration among African food regulatory authorities and promote the development of integrated, science-based and risk-based food control systems across the continent.

The forum brings together regulators, regional organisations, scientific institutions and development partners to exchange knowledge, build technical capacity, improve laboratory and regulatory capabilities, and support food safety innovation.

It also seeks to advance regulatory harmonisation, strengthen cooperation on food trade and public health, promote the use of data and digital tools, and develop practical actions and partnerships to support Africa-wide food regulatory integration and consumer protection.