The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Mam Ndegene Secka
22 October 2009
Dr. Babagana Ahmadu, the FAO representative in The Gambia, has said that improving the safety of the food produced and consumed in The Gambia will not only reduce the negative health effects of unsafe food, but will also help to increase the supply of available food, as the food that is produced will remain consumable longer and will increase opportunities for export of food and agricultural products.
He made this statement yesterday, at the opening of a two-day training organised by the National Codex/ Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee (NCSPSC) under the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)- funded by bio-security Support Project This was held at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) conference hall in Kanifing.
The training which brought together 50 stakeholders, is aimed at providing training on the role and functions of codex and the sanitary and phytosanitary committees at both national and international levels, to finalise three NCSPSC standard (food labelling, fats and oils and food advertising code) and also to develop a work plan for developing and finalising standards until end 2009.
According to him, the NCSPSC plays an important role in improving food safety, animal and plant health in The Gambia and also helped to facilitate international trade in food and agricultural products by developing national standards and providing a voice for The Gambia in international standards setting fora. He added that FAO is using The Gambia as a good example for other member countries of how the Codex and SPS committees can be combined.
He further noted FAO's unshakable resolve to assist the National Codex, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee in their work to improve food safety, animal and plant health in The Gambia. Deputizing for the World Health Organisation representative in The Gambia, Dr. Thomas Sukwa, Kebba Dibba of the WHO said that since the coming into being of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1963, the WHO has been working towards setting standards to make food safer for the consumers and also ensuring that trading practices are fairer.
He noted that the revitalisation of the National Codex Committee and the expansion of its functions is a step in the right direction. He added that the responsibility bestowed on this committee is huge going by the terms of reference. He said therefore that the training is very timely as it is meant to build the capacity of the committee members to enable then better understand the scope of their mandate and hence carry out their functions.
"We in WHO and the entire UN system will, therefore continue to work closely with the government of The Gambia through the Office of the Vice President, under which NaNA is established, and the Ministry of Health in ensuring that we collectively achieve the task we have set out ourselves to do.
I would like to assure the government and in particular the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that WHO will continue to support the government in its quest to provide safer food to the entire population," he concluded. Sana Jawara, co-chair of the National Codex/Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee delivered the welcoming remarks.
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