Food Safety Risk Analysis in East African Community: A Cornerstone for an Effective Regional Risk-Based Food Safety System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ajfsn.1466Keywords:
Food Safety, Food Safety System, EAC, Risk Analysis Concept.Abstract
Food risk analysis remains a major cornerstone that provides a framework for the risk-based food safety system. This paper aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the food safety system, and the foundational role and opportunities of the risk analysis concept in the East Africa Community (EAC). The study was done through the explorative review of the literature as the best approach to getting broad information on the concept of risk analysis in global food safety and its impact on food safety systems. Through analysis of the relevant literature and previous studies related to global food safety and food safety systems, the approach helped to draw on challenges and opportunities and to reformulate the potential key role of the risk analysis concept in the EAC food safety system. Challenges were identified through the evaluation of the effectiveness of the EAC food safety system with reference to the US- effective food safety model. The role and opportunities of the risk analysis in the EAC food safety system were evaluated against identified challenges, and its implementation feasibility and assets in the EAC food safety system. As results, the EAC food safety system showed many gaps and challenges, and was ineffective. While the risk analysis concept was found a key factor in attributes of the effective food safety system, it could help the EAC food safety system to become effective, and to respond to the current and future food safety needs of both the African continent and the Globe. With many opportunities and potentials in EAC, the risk analysis concept can be integrated into the EAC food safety system. Therefore, a useful and strategic approach as a model of the integration of the risk analysis concept was designed for EAC. It is the establishment of an EAC- Regional Centre of Expertise in Food Risk Analysis (EAC-CREFRA). In addition, the EAC food safety system needs to anchor One Health and multi-factorial food safety management approaches to food safety.
Downloads
References
African Union Commission. (2019). PRIORITIZING FOOD SAFETY IN AFRICA. African Union Commission (AUC). https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/33005-doc-prioritizing_food_safety_in_africa-eng.pdf
Alarcon, P., Dominguez-Salas, P., Fèvre, E. M., & Rushton, J. (2021). The Importance of a Food Systems Approach to Low and Middle Income Countries and Emerging Economies: A Review of Theories and Its Relevance for Disease Control and Malnutrition. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 642635. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.642635
AUC-DREA. (2020). Second Biennial Review Report of the African Union Commission on the Implementation of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Sahared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods (DRAFT for the Third Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment in October 2019, p. 34). African Union.
Auler, D. P., Teixeira, R., & Nardi, V. (2017). Food safety as a field in supply chain management studies: A systematic literature review. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 20(1), 99–112. https://doi.org/10.22434/IFAMR2016.0003
Barlow, S. M., Boobis, A. R., Bridges, J., Cockburn, A., Dekant, W., Hepburn, P., Houben, G. F., König, J., Nauta, M. J., Schuermans, J., & Bánáti, D. (2015). The role of hazard- and risk-based approaches in ensuring food safety. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 46(2), 176–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2015.10.007
Boto, I. (2018). Food safety: A critical part of the food system in Africa (Briefing No. 52; Brussels Rural Development Briefings, p. 48). CTA.
Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International. (2020). Increasing Safe and Efficient Trade of Agriculture in East Africa (p. 3) [Project Summary]. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI). https://www.cabi.org/create-project-pdf?project_id=984733 (Accessed on 16 December 2021)
Dudeja, P., Gupta, R. K., & Minhas, A. S. (Eds.). (2017). Food safety in the 21st century: Public health perspective. Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier.
EAC. (2018). Food and Nutrition Security Strategy 2018 –2022. East African Community. https://health.eac.int/file-download/download/public/321
EAC. (2019). Food and Nutrition Security Strategy 2019 –2023 (p. 74). East African Community. http://repository.eac.int/bitstream/handle/11671/24124/EAC%20Food%20and%20Nutrition%20Security%20Strategy%202019-2023_FINAL%20approved%20January%202019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y (Accessed on 22 March 2022)
FAO. (2005). Food Safety Risk Analysis—Part I - An Overview and Framework Manual—Provisional Edition (Provisional Edition). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fsc.go.jp/sonota/foodsafety_riskanalysis.pdf
FAO. (2017). FOOD SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT- Evidence Informed Policies and Decisions, Considering Multiple Factors. FAO GUIDANCE MATERIALS. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
FAO. (2019). THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY: There is no food security without food safety. FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/ca4289en/CA4289EN.pdf
FAO. (2020). Climate change: Unpacking the burden on food safety. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
FAO. (2022). Food safety and quality. Risk-Based Approaches and Tools - Risk Analysis. fao.org/food-safety/food-control-systems/risk-and-evidence-base/risk-based-approaches-and-tools/en/#:~:text=It%20consists%20of%20three%20interactive,risks%20and%20the%20measures%20applied (Accessed 9 December, 2021)
FAO, & WHO. (2003). Assuring Food Safety and Quality: Guidelines for strengthening national food control systems (No. 76; FAO Food and Nutrition Paper, p. 80). FAO/WHO.
FAO, & WHO. (2005). Food Safety Risk Analysis—Part I - An Overview and Framework Manual—Provisional Edition (p. 86). FAO. http://www.fao.org/es/ESN/index_en.stm
FAO, & WHO. (2011). FAO/WHO guide for application of risk analysis principles and procedures during food safety emergencies. FAO.
FAO, & WHO. (2002, April). FAO/WHO GLOBAL FORUM OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATORS- Marrakesh, Morocco, 28 – 30 January 2002. Improving Efficiency and Transparency in Food Safety Systems Sharing Experiences. FAO/WHO GLOBAL FORUM OF FOOD SAFETY REGULATORS, Rome.
Fouladkhah, A. (2017). The Need for Evidence-Based Outreach in the Current Food Safety Regulatory Landscape. Journal of Extension, 55(2). https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol55/iss2/20
Frederiksen, L., Phelps, F. S., & Kimmons, R. (n.d.). Introduction to Literature Reviews. https://edtechbooks.org/rapidwriting/lit_rev_intro (Accessed on 15 May 2023)
García-Cela, E., Ramos, A. J., Sanchis, V., & Marin, S. (2012). Emerging risk management metrics in food safety: FSO, PO. How do they apply to the mycotoxin hazard? Food Control, 25(2), 797–808. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2011.12.009
Godefroy, S. B., Al Arfaj, R. A., Tabarani, A., & Mansour, H. (2019). Investments in Food Safety Risk Assessment and Risk Analysis as a Requirement for Robust Food Control Systems: Calling for Regional Centers of Expertise. Food and Drug Regulatory Science Journal, 2(1 (2019)), 1–7.
Grace, D. (2015). Food Safety in Low and Middle Income Countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(9), 10490–10507. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120910490
Grace, D., Alonso, S., Dominguez-Salas, P., Fahrion, A., Hasler, B., Hoffmann, V., Kang’ethe, E., & Roesel, K. (2018). Food safety metrics relevant to low and middle income countries [Working paper]. Agriculture, Nutrition & Health Academy (ANH).
Grace, D., Makita, K., Kang’ethe, E. K., & Bonfoh, B. (2010). Safe Food, Fair Food: Participatory Risk Analysis for improving the safety of informally produced and marketed food in sub Saharan Africa. Revue Africaine de Santé et de Productions Animales, 8(S), 1–9.
Gross, L. (2020, June 20). Advancing Food Safety in Africa: Opportunities and Action Areas. https://agrilinks.org/post/advancing-food-safety-africa-opportunities-and-action-areas (Accessed on 9 December 2021)
Henson, S., & Caswell, J. (1999). Food safety regulation: An overview of contemporary issues. Food Policy, 24(6), 589–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-9192(99)00072-X
Humphrey, J. (2017). Food safety, trade, standards and the integration of smallholders into value chains- A review of the literature. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Institute of Medicine (U.S.) (Ed.). (2001). Food safety policy, science, and risk assessment: Strengthening the connection, workshop proceedings. National Academy Press.
Institute of Medicine/National Research Council. (1998). Ensuring Safe Food: From Production to Consumption. National Academies Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10055190
Jackson, L. A., & Jansen, M. (2009). Risk assessment in the international food safety policy arena- Can the multilateral institutions encourage unbiased outcomes? (Staff Working Paper ERSD-2009-01; p. 25). World Trade Organization.
Jaffee, S., Henson, S., Grace, D., Ambrosio, M., & Berthe, F. (2020). Why food safety matters to Africa: Making the case for policy action (0 ed.). International Food Policy Research Institute. https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896293946_10
Jaffee, S., Henson, S., Unnevehr, L., Grace, D., & Cassou, E. (2019). The Safe Food Imperative: Accelerating Progress in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. World Bank. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1345-0
Kang’ethe, E. K., Mutua, F., Roesel, K., Ntawubizi, M., Kankya, C., Niragira, S., Kilima, B., Gathura, P., Kuorwel, K. K., Kiri, A., & Grace, D. (2021). A review of the food safety architecture in the East African Community: Animal-source foods, fruits and vegetables. ILRI.
King, T., Cole, M., Farber, J. M., Eisenbrand, G., Zabaras, D., Fox, E. M., & Hill, J. P. (2017). Food safety for food security: Relationship between global megatrends and developments in food safety. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 68, 160–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2017.08.014
Land O’Lakes Venture37. (2021a). Assessment of SPS Legal/ Regulatory Frameworks in the EAC Partner States (p. 72). Land O’Lakes Venture37.
Land O’Lakes Venture37. (2021b). Assessment of SPS Systems in the EAC Partner States (p. 72). Land O’Lakes Venture37. https://storcpdkenticomedia.blob.core.windows.net/media/idd/media/lolorg/publications/assessment-of-sps-systems-in-eac-partner-states-18th-march-2021-print-file-4th-june-2021.pdf
Mahmoud, B. (2019, July). Improving Capacity-Building for Food Safety Risk Assessment in Developing Countries. Food Safety Magazine. https://www.food-safety.com/articles/6273-improving-capacity-building-for-food-safety-risk-assessment-in-developing-countries
Molnar, G., & Godefroy, S. B. (2020). Review of mechanisms for food safety-related SPS measures within African regional Economic Communities (RECs): Paving the way for a continent-wide food safety coordination effort. Food Control, 115, 107206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107206
Mutua, F., Grace, D., & Watts, C. (2021). Food Safety Investments in East Africa. Purdue University. https://ag.purdue.edu/food-safety-innovation-lab/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/FSIL-Food-Safety-Investments-in-East-Africa.pdf
Mutua, F., Masanja, H., Chacha, J., Kange’the, E., Kuboka, M., & Grace, D. (2021). A rapid review of foodborne disease hazards in East Africa (IRLI Discussion Paper No. 42; p. 35). International Livestock Research Institute. https://cgspace.cgiar.org/rest/bitstreams/b862cb5c-eabb-4112-8014-93276dda57cd/retrieve
Nguyen-Viet, H., Tuyet-Hanh, T. T., Unger, F., Dang-Xuan, S., & Grace, D. (2017). Food safety in Vietnam: Where we are at and what we can learn from international experiences. Infectious Diseases of Poverty, 6(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-017-0249-7
Oloo, B., Daisy, L., & Oniang’o, R. (2018). Food Safety Legislation in Some Developing Countries. In Y. El-Samragy (Ed.), Food Safety—Some Global Trends. InTech. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75587
Rasanga, N. L. (2013). Harmonization of Standards in the East African Community: Challenges and Opportunities (200-2012) [Thesis submited in partial fulfillment of the degree of Masters of Arts in international studies]. University of Nairobi.
Roesel, K., & Grace, D. (Eds.). (2015). Food safety and informal markets: Animal products in Sub-Saharan Africa. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Rutsaert, P., Pieniak, Z., Regan, Á., McConnon, Á., Kuttschreuter, M., Lores, M., Lozano, N., Guzzon, A., Santare, D., & Verbeke, W. (2014). Social media as a useful tool in food risk and benefit communication? A strategic orientation approach. Food Policy, 46, 84–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.02.003
Schuetzenmeister, F. (2010). University Research Management: An Exploratory Literature Review (p. 32). University of California, Berkeley: Institute of European Studies. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/77p3j2hr#author (Accessed on 15 May 2023)
Thompson, K. (2021, June 11). Food Safety at Three Levels for One Purpose. Agrilinks Team. https://agrilinks.org/post/food-safety-three-levels-one-purpose
University of Ghent. (2019, January 30). International training program in food safety, quality assurance and risk analysis. http://www.itpfoodsafety.ugent.be/index.asp?p=2576&a=2576 (Accessed on 20 March 2022)
Whitworth, J. (2021, November 26). African food safety event hailed as ‘just the beginning.’ Food Safety News. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/11/african-food-safety-event-hailed-as-just-the-beginning/
WHO, & FAO (Eds.). (2006). Food safety risk analysis: A guide for national food safety authorities. World Health Organization : Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
World Health Organization. (2015). WHO estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases: Foodborne disease burden epidemiology reference group 2007-2015. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/199350
World Health Organization. (2021a). DRAFT WHO GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR FOOD SAFETY 2022-2030. Towards stronger food safety systems and global cooperation. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-who-global-strategy-for-food-safety-2022-2030
World Health Organization. (2021b). Report of the first meeting of the Technical advisory group on food safety: Safer food for better health, virtual meeting, 8–10 February 2021. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348235
World Health Organization. (2021c). Report of the second meeting of the Technical advisory group on food safety: Safer food for better health, virtual meeting, 19 and 22–23 April 2021. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348237
World Health Organization. (2022, May 19). Food safety. Newsroom/Fact Sheets/Detail/Food Safety. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety (Accessed on 29 December 2021)
WTO (2021). Report SPS Committee Workshop on Risk Analysis: Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Risk Communication. Monday, 12 July – Tuesday, 13 July 2021 (G/SPS/R/103 No. 21–7765; Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, p. 8). World Trade Organisation (WTO). https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?Language=ENGLISH&SourcePage=FE_B_009&Context=Script&DataSource=Cat&Query=%40Symbol%3D%22G%2FSPS%2F*%22+AND+%40Title%3D%22workshop*%22&DisplayContext=popup&languageUIChanged=true# (Accessed December 05, 2021)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Theoneste Hagenimana, Jean Paul Hategekimana, George Ooko Abong, Olivier Kamana, Matemu Oswald Athanasia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.
