NAFDAC Advocates for Enhanced African Food Safety Cooperation

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged for stronger cooperation among African food regulators to address cross-border food safety threats and enhance intra-African trade. This call was made by the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, during the Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) held in Cairo, Egypt.

Adeyeye led a five-member Nigerian delegation to the three-day forum, which was hosted by the National Food Safety Authority of Egypt in collaboration with Africa’s Regional Economic Communities, African food competent authorities, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The forum focused on various topics including regional sanitary and phytosanitary coordination, risk-based regulation, and food innovation.

Adeyeye emphasized the need for science-based and transparent regulatory systems, advocating for increased investment in regulatory capacity and digital technologies. NAFDAC presented Nigeria’s approach to food safety regulation, highlighting its shift to risk-based regulation and the use of digital platforms for regulatory intelligence.