He recalled that The Gambia joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1971 and has since progressively strengthened its national food control system through the establishment of a Codex Contact Point, a National Codex Committee, the enactment of the Food Safety and Quality Act, and the creation of the Food Safety and Quality Authority as the national focal institution for food safety and quality.
According to the Vice President, The Gambia has adopted several Codex standards as national benchmarks and actively participates in regional and international Codex work.
He noted that assuming the role of CCAFRICA coordinator is both an honour and a responsibility that reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to consumer protection, public health, and science-based standards.
Vice President Jallow expressed appreciation to African member states for unanimously electing The Gambia and paid tribute to Uganda, the outgoing coordinator, for its leadership and contribution to strengthening Africa’s voice within the Codex system.
Outlining priorities for The Gambia’s tenure, he said the country will focus on strengthening effective participation in Codex work, building national and regional capacity, mobilising resources, advocating for harmonised food standards, and supporting regulatory convergence across Africa to ensure that no country is left behind.
He emphasised that food safety is a core pillar of The Gambia’s national development agenda, noting that the government is working to empower the Food Safety and Quality Authority to ensure that food consumed locally and exported abroad is safe, nutritious, and of high quality.
The Vice President also announced plans to establish the country’s first dedicated national food and drug quality control laboratory in Brusubi, a move aimed at enhancing local testing capacity and reducing reliance on foreign laboratories.
He said the initiative will be coordinated with the Gambia Standards Bureau and the Ministry of Health.
Highlighting the importance of regional integration, Vice President Jallow said the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area depends on robust, credible, and harmonised food safety systems.
He stressed that strengthening food safety governance is essential not only for trade facilitation but also for safeguarding public health.
He concluded by underscoring that food safety is a shared responsibility involving farmers, processors, scientists, regulators, traders, and consumers, and called for collective action to ensure that Africa’s food systems are safe, trusted, and competitive.
