The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has joined African food regulators and development partners in Cairo, Egypt, to advance cooperation on food safety and regulatory systems across the continent.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, FAS, led a five-member delegation to the Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum (AFRAF), held from September 30 to October 2, 2026.
Hosted by Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority in partnership with Africa’s Regional Economic Communities, food competent authorities and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the forum was organised by the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS).
Themed “Advancing Africa’s Integrated Food Regulatory Future,” the forum brought together food regulators, Regional Economic Communities, Codex contact points, development partners and private-sector representatives.
Discussions focused on risk-based regulation, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) coordination, food innovation, laboratory capacity, risk analysis and Codex engagement.
The meeting also sought to develop regulator-led recommendations to support the Food Safety Strategy for Africa and the operationalisation of the Africa Food Safety Agency.
Speaking at the opening, Adeyeye said food safety challenges required stronger collaboration among African regulators, given interconnected food systems, food fraud, climate change, technological innovation and rising intra-African trade.
“Regulators must move beyond working alongside one another to working with one another,” she said.
She called for science- and risk-based regulatory systems supported by stronger laboratories, surveillance, digital technologies and human resources.
Adeyeye also advocated greater regulatory convergence through information sharing, mutual learning, stronger analytical capacity and harmonised requirements.
At the forum, NAFDAC presented Nigeria’s approach to food safety regulation, highlighting its shift from routine controls to risk-based oversight and greater emphasis on prevention through Good Hygiene Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
The Agency also highlighted its use of laboratory, surveillance and complaint data as regulatory intelligence, as well as traceability, product recalls, enforcement and digital platforms including NAPAMS, PIDCARMS and LIMS.
NAFDAC said Nigeria was also strengthening preparedness for emerging risks such as climate variability, food fraud and antimicrobial resistance.
Adeyeye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sharing its regulatory experience and technical expertise with African counterparts and working with the African Union Commission and development partners to strengthen food safety systems across the continent.
The initiative aligns with NAFDAC’s vision of “Safe Food. Resilient Food Systems. Healthier Nigerians.”
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