A meeting held to establish a regional food safety technical working group platform

In an effort to improve food safety issues in the region, Bahir Dar University (BDU), in partnership with the Bahir Dar Branch of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) and RAISE-FS project of SWR Ethiopia, organized a one-day meeting to establish a regional food safety technical working group platform. This initiative aims to enhance collaboration and communication among stakeholders in the region, focusing on improving food safety standards and practices.

In his opening remark Prof Netsanet Fantahun, a delegate for vice president for Research and Community Service at Bahir Dar University, highlighted that food safety issues are concerning in Africa and noted that it is critically important to deal with food safety issues in the Amhara region. He commended the project for not only supporting research activities, involving students in food safety issues, but also for supporting the establishment of a coordinated platform to tackle this pressing concern.

The meeting featured discussions on the challenges of implementing EFDA policies and regulations, and the mycotoxin study findings in the Amhara region.

It was highlighted that efforts related to food safety challenges are often hampered by the fragmentation of efforts and mandates among the various actors. There was also a concern about duplication of efforts. These issues highlight the necessity for establishing a sustainable platform where concerned regional stakeholders can collaborate effectively on food safety issues.

Stakeholders discussed the ToR drafted for establishing a regional food safety technical working group platform. They selected the Regional Health Bureau as the chair, the Bureau of Agriculture as co-chair, and the Bahir Dar EFDA branch as secretary. They also agreed on the activities and dates for the next meeting to continue their collaboration.

This meeting, which convened about 30 participants from regional bureaus and partner organizations, marks a step forward towards creating a collaborative approach to food safety in Amhara region, indicating all concerned parties can work together to safeguard public health.