Egypt hosted the second meeting of the African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) on Wednesday, gathering officials from across the continent to harmonise safety standards and support the African Continental Free Trade Area. The two-day meeting, held on the sidelines of the Food Africa 2025 exhibition, aims to strengthen regulatory cooperation and modernise food safety systems.
The second meeting of the African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF) began in Cairo on Wednesday, attended by heads of African food safety authorities and international experts from Canada, Thailand, France, the UK, Italy, and Ireland, both in person and virtually. Tarek El-Houby, Chairperson of Egypt's National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), opened the session, reaffirming Egypt's commitment to improving food control governance across Africa.
"The forum represents a strategic platform for regulators to develop modern food systems based on science and to support the capabilities of national authorities," El-Houby said.
Discussions centre on developing monitoring and early warning systems, evidence-based decision-making, and updating regulatory frameworks to encourage innovation in the food industry. The meeting follows AFRAF's launch in Cairo in 2023 and the adoption of the "Cairo Declaration," which serves as the forum's foundational charter. It outlines key objectives, including harmonising food safety laws to facilitate trade, promoting science-based decision-making, and establishing mechanisms for rapid information exchange on food safety risks.
El-Houby highlighted the forum's significance amid ongoing talks on operationalising the African Food Safety Agency (AFSA), positioning AFRAF as a key platform for coordinating African regulators' efforts. The NFSA acknowledged the support of the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) in bolstering the scientific foundation of food legislation continent-wide. The gathering is set to conclude with recommendations to enhance regulatory governance and coordination among African nations.