Agriculture: African Union Commission Adopts Resolution to Establish Food Safety Agency.

The African Union has made a historic move to improve food safety across the continent with the adoption of the statute for the establishment of the Africa Food Safety Agency.

This landmark decision, was reached during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This resolution mark a pivotal step in the continent’s commitment to safeguarding public health, advancing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and enhancing food safety governance.

Unsafe food is a major global concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that foodborne diseases affect 91 million people annually, leading to 137,000 deaths worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, the World Bank estimates the economic impact of unsafe food to be a staggering US$110 billion every year, caused by lost productivity and medical costs.

Once established and operational, the Africa Food Safety Agency will serve as a Specialized Technical Institution of the African Union. Its core mission will be to coordinate and harmonize food safety policies, regulations, and risk assessment frameworks across AU Member States. The agency will also play a key role in harmonizing food safety standards, directly supporting AfCFTA objectives and advancing the broader goals of Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the former AUC Chairperson, hailed the adoption of the Statute, describing it as a crucial milestone in Africa’s journey toward greater integration and prosperity. “With the Africa Food Safety Agency, we are taking a decisive step towards transforming our agri-food systems,” Mahamat said.

Josefa Sacko, the outgoing Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, added that the agency would not only protect public health but also facilitate intra-African trade by standardizing food safety measures across the continent.

The new agency will also establish a continental food safety data hub and rapid alert system, providing crucial support to Member States in managing food safety risks and emergencies. By complementing the food safety efforts of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the agency aims to enhance the competitiveness of African agricultural products by ensuring compliance with international food safety standards, thereby opening new markets and improving consumer confidence in African food exports.

Additionally, the Africa Food Safety Agency will collaborate closely with AU Member States, RECs, the private sector, research institutions, and international partners to reduce foodborne disease outbreaks, improve public health, and promote sustainable food production systems across the continent.