WEBINAR of the Codex Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) and the World Food Safety Day

8 June 2021. FAO, WHO, WFP and the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat and the Codex Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) organize a 2-hour webinar for World Food Safety Day, entitled “Acting across national borders in the Region for ensuring safe food for a healthier tomorrow.”

The event concentrated on countries’ need to invest in strengthening national food control systems and sustaining cross-border cooperation in order to guarantee the availability of safe and healthy food across the region. The webinar was aimed at food regulators, authorities responsible for food safety from the different line ministries, nutrition programme managers, agency staff, NGOs, Codex Contact Points in the region and members of the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), as well as academia and research institutions.

“Cooperation across borders and a renewed focus on food safety is needed in order to reap the full benefits and opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement,”

Speakers 

• Dr Awilo Ochieng, former Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, 
• Dr Sarah Cahill, Senior Food Standards Officer for the Codex Secretariat 
• Dr Rachelle El Khoury, Technical Officer at the World Health Organization. 
• Sandra Coulibaly Leroy 
  
• Shahid Minhas 

Related: 

8-9 June 2021. South Africa’s 2nd Food Safety Summit timed to coincide with World Food Safety Day 2021

Delegates were given access to cutting-edge presentations from almost 20 local and international doctors, professors, and food safety professionals from a multitude of sectors and specialties. Moderated by Professor Lucia Anelich with co-host Adele Krogh, the topics included food safety hazards, water safety, foodborne pathogens in fresh produce, Listeria monocytogenes, mycotoxins, allergens, Campylobacter, food safety culture, FSSC22000 v5.1, Global G.A.P, food fraud, environmental monitoring programmes and water reuse in food manufacturing.

Each day featured a round table session, which proved particularly popular with the delegates. Day one included an insightful product verification round table, focusing on testing trends and new technologies, with experts from Anelich Consulting, SA Grain Lab, Mérieux NutriSciences, NMISA, MLS and Anatech. Day two featured a retail round table, targeting the future of food safety systems. This dynamic session included presenters from Massmart, Food Lover’s Market, Woolworths, SPAR and Pick 'n Pay.

The event also included a legal discussion with well-known food lawyers, Janusz Luterek from South Africa, and Bill Marler from Marler Clark USA (also the platinum sponsor for the event). Rounding off the two-day summit was a well-received address from Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for food policy and response at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).