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None of the 49 member states that have submitted their respective reports on their sanitary and phytosanitary (SF) systems are on track to reach the 100 percent target, according to the biennial report of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
However, the document points out that 15 of these countries, representing thirty-one percent (31%) of the total, obtained a “commendable score” of seven or more, which indicates substantial progress in their systems.
In this respect, Kenya scored (8.8), Mali (8.1), Morocco (8.8), Rwanda (8.3), South Africa (8.3), Tunisia (8.7), Nigeria (7.7), Benin (7.2), and Burkina Faso (7.4), respectively.
Burundi (7.5), Gambia (7.1), Ghana (7.3), Madagascar (7.4), Tanzania (7.1) and Zimbabwe (7.4).
According to the report, concerning the progress made on the health indicator, eight states have reached the reference value of nine, namely Burundi, Gambia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo, and Zimbabwe, which are on track to reduce food-borne diarrhoeal diseases and associated mortality by fifty percent (50%), which demonstrates positive progress in improving public health.
Actions and Recommendations
Member states should therefore prioritise the comprehensive implementation of policies, laws and programmes related to sanitary and phytosanitary systems, which includes investing in the development of robust governance structures to ensure the consumer health protection and safe trade in agricultural products.
It also recommends that countries strengthen their institutional and human capacities to effectively manage the risks arising from food safety, plant health, and animal health. To this end, they should invest in training and resources to improve their capacity to respond to the challenges related to food safety, plant health, and animal health.
The report that we have been quoting states that prioritising measures to improve health, intending to reduce food-borne illnesses and associated deaths by 50% by 2025, strengthening food safety standards, improving surveillance systems, and promoting public awareness campaigns to reduce the incidence of foodborne illnesses are unavoidable challenges.
The report emphasises that functional SPS systems could reduce trade rejections and improve health outcomes, aligning with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ending hunger, as well as safer trade for food security and intra-African trade in the agricultural sector.
“At the same time, specific health initiatives, collaboration, and data sharing will contribute to a healthier and more prosperous Africa, reducing food-borne diseases and associated deaths,” the report emphasises.
In this fourth cycle of the biennial report, the experts emphasise that functional sanitary and phytosanitary systems must have robust governance structures, including quality policies with effective inter-agency coordination for implementation and compliance.
