The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to validate the revised National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan 2023.
This was announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, at a food and feed safety expertise coordination workshop organized by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture in Abuja on Tuesday.
Pate, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Operations, Emmanuel Odu said that the revised policy will look at new and emerging areas that will improve the regulatory, enforcement, and data-gathering system to ensure it is more effective, efficient, and robust.
He also disclosed that the ministry is about to launch the first National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response.
“This event comes as the ministry is about to validate the revised National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its Implementation Plan 2023, as well as the launching of the first National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response.
“The revised policy will look at new and emerging areas that will improve the regulatory, enforcement and data-gathering system to ensure it is more effective, efficient, and robust.
“The guidelines will set the roadmap for the integrated surveillance of foodborne diseases and establish the protocols for the response to food safety emergencies in the country,” he stated.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer-Designate, NESG, Tayo Aduloju, said that Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the highest food safety standards is paramount to the nation’s well-being and progress. He added that by collaborating and pooling collective expertise, the country can strengthen regulatory frameworks and enhance the overall quality of food and feed in the country.
Aduloju also announced that the NESG will be holding its Gender and Inclusion Summit in Abuja this month, with the theme ‘Building Bridges: Advancing Gender and Inclusion through the Intersection of Trade and Health.’
He said that the landmark event will serve as a catalyst for positive change, uniting voices, inspiring commitments, and mobilizing stakeholders to advance gender equality.
