Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa (CCAFRICA) officially handed over its coordinating role from Uganda to The Gambia on 26 January 2026, marking a significant milestone for food standards governance on the continent.
The historic ceremony brought together senior government officials, international partners, and members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission from across Africa.
The Vice-President of The Gambia attended the event alongside other high-ranking officials, highlighting the country’s commitment to food safety, quality standards, and regional cooperation.
During the handover, Uganda presented key achievements recorded during its tenure as coordinator. These included stronger regional collaboration, increased participation of African countries in Codex activities, and progress toward harmonizing food standards across the continent.
The FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa is a subsidiary body of the Codex Alimentarius Commission established in 1972 to coordinate food standards and safety across Africa. It acts as a regional, collaborative forum (48+ members) promoting the adoption of food safety regulations, strengthening sanitary measures for trade, and developing regional standards for local products, with meetings typically held every two years.
In accepting the coordinating role, The Gambia reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the objectives of CCAFRICA. Gambian officials pledged to work closely with member states to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade.
Codex members and international delegates welcomed the transition, expressing confidence in The Gambia’s leadership and stressing the importance of continuity, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility.
The ceremony also provided an opportunity to reflect on Africa’s growing influence within the global Codex system and the need for sustained cooperation among member states, development partners, and international institutions.
The handover marks a new chapter for CCAFRICA, with The Gambia expected to build on past gains while strengthening regional integration and impact in food standards setting.
The event was organised by The Gambia’s Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) in collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), with support from the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
Delegates attended from Cabo Verde, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia, as well as representatives of the Codex Secretariat.
On the margins of the 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, interviews were conducted with Hakim Mufumbiro of Uganda and Mamodou Bah of The Gambia, who both underscored the importance of smooth leadership transition and continued cooperation to advance Africa’s food safety agenda.
