May, 3, 2010

EU invests US$17.1 million to boost food safety trade in Africa

The EU will spend EUR13 million (US$17.10 million) this year to train Africans in international food safety standards.

This is in preparation for competitive trade between the continent and the EU. The training is part of the complementary measures taken to strengthen African supply capacity so that it can benefit from market access.

"We want to prepare Africa for the future because it has the potential to trade," said Moustapha Magumu, an advisor with the EU delegation to African Union.

The EU is the largest importer of food in the world yet very minimal quantities from Africa access these markets due to hygiene requirements. Additionally, EU companies certify the few products that access their markets because of limited skills and laboratories in Africa.

The funds will be channelled to the ongoing exercise aimed at building the capacities of inspectors from national bureau of standards and customs officials across 12 countries within East African Community and South African Development Community.

The beneficiaries learn inspection techniques, standards checks, quality assurance, accreditation, metrology and how to check residue levels.  

It is also expected that some of the money will help to strengthen laboratory capacities in some countries through a twining programme - a laboratory technician from any EU country is accredited to work in an African laboratory.

The training code named "Better Training for Safer Foods" was launched in 2005, to provide coach both EU and third world countries' officials responsible for checking that EU rules related to food, animal health and welfare as well as plant health are properly applied.

The inspectors will do product traceability using documents and physical checks as a basis of work.

Last year, the EU spent EUR10 million (US$13.14 million) in five training in West Africa, North Africa and South Africa.