EAC members have been experimenting on the system since April 1. Photo/FILE
An
East African Community Stakeholders Workshop on Communication for
Aflatoxin Control is set to take place tomorrow and Tuesday at the Melia
Zanzibar Hotel.
EAC spokesperson Owora Richard Othieno said that the two-day workshop aims at identifying major stakeholder interests and issues relating to aflatoxins in the EAC Partner States, along with formulating strategies to deal with cultural sensitivities and other issues relating to aflatoxins.
The forum is also expected identify essential conduct in communications, policy, research, health and agriculture in each Partner State for fieldwork to support the targeting of the communications strategy.
“The Stakeholders Workshop on Communication is part and parcel of the process to develop a five-year communication strategy whose aim is to ensure an aflatoxins safe EAC.
Understanding of the health risks of aflatoxins plus currently and soon-to-be available technologies to reduce contamination and encouraging their use in communication efforts,” Owora said.
He further stated that the programme underpins advocacy for food-safety policies, regulations, guidance and practice as well as emphasizing the importance of putting in place a regional policy framework for aflatoxins control, including registration of abatement technologies.
The workshop will be attended by experts from the ministries of Health, Agriculture, Environment, Trade and Industry, national agriculture research organizations, the EAC Secretariat and officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The EAC secretariat is implementing a five-year, region-wide effort to control aflatoxins, a group of toxins produced by naturally occurring soil fungi.
While not widely known among the public, aflatoxins contaminate a significant portion of East African food and feed, affecting health, agriculture and trade.
The Multi-Regional Aflatoxin Abatement Project (MRAAP) initiative set up to alleviate the problem is being implemented by EAC member states and supported by USAID/East Africa.
MRAAP objectives include raising awareness about aflatoxins and how to control it in foods and feed in East Africa, plus producing an EAC Regional Policy on aflatoxins reduction.
“A regional policy will allow for transboundary efforts, including registering products that reduce aflatoxins in the field and other points in the value chain from production and harvest through storage, processing, transport and trade,” the EAC official underlined.
EAC spokesperson Owora Richard Othieno said that the two-day workshop aims at identifying major stakeholder interests and issues relating to aflatoxins in the EAC Partner States, along with formulating strategies to deal with cultural sensitivities and other issues relating to aflatoxins.
The forum is also expected identify essential conduct in communications, policy, research, health and agriculture in each Partner State for fieldwork to support the targeting of the communications strategy.
“The Stakeholders Workshop on Communication is part and parcel of the process to develop a five-year communication strategy whose aim is to ensure an aflatoxins safe EAC.
Understanding of the health risks of aflatoxins plus currently and soon-to-be available technologies to reduce contamination and encouraging their use in communication efforts,” Owora said.
He further stated that the programme underpins advocacy for food-safety policies, regulations, guidance and practice as well as emphasizing the importance of putting in place a regional policy framework for aflatoxins control, including registration of abatement technologies.
The workshop will be attended by experts from the ministries of Health, Agriculture, Environment, Trade and Industry, national agriculture research organizations, the EAC Secretariat and officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The EAC secretariat is implementing a five-year, region-wide effort to control aflatoxins, a group of toxins produced by naturally occurring soil fungi.
While not widely known among the public, aflatoxins contaminate a significant portion of East African food and feed, affecting health, agriculture and trade.
The Multi-Regional Aflatoxin Abatement Project (MRAAP) initiative set up to alleviate the problem is being implemented by EAC member states and supported by USAID/East Africa.
MRAAP objectives include raising awareness about aflatoxins and how to control it in foods and feed in East Africa, plus producing an EAC Regional Policy on aflatoxins reduction.
“A regional policy will allow for transboundary efforts, including registering products that reduce aflatoxins in the field and other points in the value chain from production and harvest through storage, processing, transport and trade,” the EAC official underlined.
SOURCE:
GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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