Proposed food law to emphasise risk analysis

Haruna Jibril, the acting Deputy Permanent Secretary for MoH said in the review, there is a proposal for the establishment of a food safety authority to address harmonisation of food control systems, with a new emphasis on risk analysis. Speaking during the commemoration of World Health Day on Food Safety, he explained that the MoH wants to develop better knowledge on the incidence and causes of food poisoning, effective policies to minimise associated risks to health and to determine the microbiological, chemical and physical quality and safety of the food.

Jibril stated that despite the concerted efforts by governments to improve the safety of food supply, food borne disease outbreaks remain a significant health risk. “Food borne diseases are widespread and represent a significant threat to health and economies of countries. Food borne diseases are estimated to affect 30 percent of the population in industrialised countries at some time in a given year,” he explained.