ECOWAS partners discuss food fortification
Ten out of 15-member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have mandatory regulation for the fortification of oil and flour.
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Mali only has a mandatory regulation for the fortification of wheat flour and a voluntary oil fortification regime, while Cape Verde voluntarily fortifies wheat flour, with Liberia accelerating processes to fortify wheat flour.
The progress, however, is with challenges, and partners across the health, industrial food production, child health, regional non-governmental organisations and governmental agencies, on Monday, December 16 began a two-day meeting on the harmonisation and regulation of standards in relation to food fortification in the sub-region.
Progress and challenges
Opening the meeting, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Ms Salimatu Abdul-Salam, mentioned the need for clean water and good food for health.
She conceded that progress had been made in the area of food fortification. However, more work needed to be done in the area of the regulatory framework in relation to food fortification.
Ms Salimatu Abdul-Salam said some countries did not have the capacity for either food production or its fortification, thus, the meeting was relevant in building capacity for all partners to enhance various efforts at the fortification of food.
She said inter-regional trade and access to fortified foods would also be boosted with partners meeting to discuss the harmonisation of regulation and standards in the fortification of food.
Fortified foods and industrial expansion
The Deputy Chief Executive of the Food and Drugs Authority, Mr John Odame-Darkwah, who chaired the meeting, explained that harmonised standards and regulatory frameworks would ensure the free movement of fortified food staples and create economies of scale for all partners within the region.
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He added that in line with treaties, a harmonised regulatory framework and standards would also facilitate trade.
Hellen Keller International, ECOWAS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), among several others from partner agencies, pledged their support.