farmers |
A critical
stakeholders' meeting was held over the weekend in Monrovia to validate
the proposed draft food law and the national standard act to ensure that
food and other goods released to the public are evaluated properly to
meet international standards of quality and safety.
The proposed food
law and national standard act are aimed at protecting consumers from
food-borne diseases or the risks attached to the use of fake products.
Both draft bills,
when passed into law, will create food safety programs, establish a food
inspection service along with adequate laboratories, and promote food
safety research. The Bills will also set up an effective standards
authority to conduct appropriate tests to ensure companies' compliance
with standard specifications designated for the production of goods and
services.
The proposed
Liberia Food Authority will have the power to undertake appropriate
investigation into the production premises of companies that are engaged
in the production of food to establish a relevant quality assurance
system, including certification of the production sites and the
regulated products.
Likewise, the
national standards authority, when established, will be responsible for
regulating and controlling local factories making sure that they comply
with standard specifications, regulations and guidelines for production,
as well as the inspection of goods imported into the country to protect
consumers' health.
Furthermore, when
these two bills become law, factories will be compelled to produce
quality food and goods that meet international standards to reduce the
technical trade barriers usually imposed on products originating from
Liberia by trading partners, and to promote industrial efficiency and
development.
This means that
before any food or product gets on the Liberian market or is exported,
it has to meet the standards set by both institutions, which include
testing, risk assessment and a certificate of origin indicating that the
product is safe for consumption.
The drafting of
these bills came after the Liberia Agribusiness Development Activities
(LADA) hired two consultants to assess the country's food industry to
identify gaps and determine a way forward.
The experts
concluded that food safety programs in Liberia are either non-existent
or completely ineffective, and that the country has no food laws and
regulations, no food inspection service, and lacks adequate laboratories
to test for harmful chemicals and pathogens in foods. The experts'
report also added that Liberia has very few, if any, personnel trained
in food safety.
This assessment
report came months after the manager of the French-based VS Compagnie, a
major supplier of vegetables on European markets, Jean Louis Gruter,
visited Liberia on LADA'S invitation to purchase from local farmers.
Dan Gies, LADA
Chief of Party, noted that once these two laws are passed by the
legislature, Liberia will be required to meet the standard set by the
World Trade Organization (WTO), ECOWAS and EU that governs trade.
"In addition,
Liberia will comply with the regional and international trade scheme
which provides that before goods leave for export, they should be tested
and certified to ensure they are safe for consumption. This will
include the private sector, as well as their profit intake," Mr. Gies
said.
Marc Abdala, FAO Country Representative, said the Food Law and Standard Authority Act are crucial to Liberia's trade strategy.
"Achieving this
document is very important if Liberia wishes to become a major player
when it comes to trade. However, it is very important that all Liberians
get involved in this validation process in order to make this law
effective," Abdala said.
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