- The federal government, USDA, and partners establish four Technical Working Groups to enhance Nigeria’s food safety regulatory framework
- Coordinating Minister Mohammed Ali Pate stresses the importance of revising the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality.
The federal government, along with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and various partners, inaugurated four inter-sectoral Technical Working Groups (TWGs) yesterday in Abuja in recognition of the 2024 World Food Safety Day.
The primary objective of these TWGs is to offer specialized insights for effective communication, capacity development, and strategic alliances among stakeholders. This aims to bolster Nigeria’s regulatory framework and risk-based food safety systems, ensuring alignment with global standards and enhancing industry participation in national regulatory processes.
Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the meticulous revision of the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, alongside its Implementation Plan, underscoring the theme of this year’s World Food Safety Day: ‘Food safety: prepare for the unexpected.’ This theme serves as a rallying call to remain vigilant in safeguarding the integrity of our food supply amid unforeseen challenges.
Kelly Scavella, Programme Manager at USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS), highlighted their collaboration with Nigerian stakeholders to develop relevant food safety systems catering to consumers, producers, and regulators.
The event witnessed the participation of key stakeholders from the food and feed industries, alongside donor agencies, reflecting a concerted effort towards bolstering food and feed safety measures.