Food safety experts across Africa are calling for more consistent and harmonized standards for food additives, citing discrepancies that are hindering both public health and trade. While some countries have adopted international guidelines, a lack of uniform interpretation of Codex standards is creating barriers to the free flow of goods and food safety progress across the continent.
“There’s a real need for Africa to ensure that food additive standards are interpreted uniformly,” said Professor Samuel Godefroy, a food safety expert from the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST). “Codex standards, backed by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), offer a science-based approach to food safety. However, inconsistent application in Africa is preventing us from fully benefitting from these global guidelines.”
In particular, regulatory discrepancies around Codex Standard 192-1995, which addresses food additives, have led to confusion among regulators and traders alike. The use of Codex Notes, which provide guidance on specific food additives, has sometimes resulted in ambiguous interpretations. “This lack of clarity is creating non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade and complicating the regulatory landscape,” explained Hakim Mufumbiro, CCAFRICA Coordinator and Principal Standards Officer at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). “Harmonizing the standards will make it easier for African countries to align their regulations with global best practices.”
A pressing issue, experts say, is the gap in scientific capacity and data collection across the continent. Without robust data, African regulators face challenges in making informed, science-based decisions about food additives. “There’s a growing need for more investment in scientific research and data collection in Africa to reflect our unique context in international food safety discussions,” Godefroy added.
Harmonization of food safety standards is also crucial for reducing the burden of foodborne illnesses, which affect millions of Africans annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 91 million people in Africa suffer from foodborne diseases each year, resulting in 137,000 deaths. “For both farmers and consumers, it is vital that food safety regulations are clear, consistent, and easy to follow,” said Peter Mutua, Manager of the Food Standards Division at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). “Standardizing our approach to food additives is a key part of that effort.”
The African Organization for Standardization (ARSO), which includes 42 of the 54 African states, has already made strides in harmonizing regional standards. To date, ARSO has aligned more than 2,170 standards across the continent. Despite this progress, regulatory inconsistencies around food additives remain a significant challenge.
“Compliance with Codex standards is vital for food safety and trade, but the lack of clear guidelines on food additives has led to confusion,” said Reuben Gisore, Technical Director at ARSO. “We need a clearer, harmonized approach to ensure that food additive standards are applied consistently across the continent.”
As the call for harmonization grows louder, the focus is on addressing emerging regulatory issues like food allergens, the growing use of both organic and artificial additives, and streamlining the approval process for food additives.
For now, many African nations are looking to Codex and JECFA’s scientific frameworks as models for how to shape their regulatory policies moving forward. “Our goal is to create a unified, science-based regulatory environment that protects both public health and promotes trade,” said Mufumbiro. “Harmonization is the key to achieving this.”
