COMESA members prodded to meet International Standards for Food Safety
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) says there is need for member states to meet the International Standards for Food Safety and Hygiene in order to advance the export potential of agricultural products.
COMESA Assistant Secretary General Stephen Karangizi said COMESA has agreed on about 300 harmonised standards of which one third are based on standards provided by the International Standards Organisation.
Mr. Karangizi added that member states have provided, in the COMESA Treaty, for the use of International Standards in the harmonization of standards except where they do not exist.
He said this in Lusaka today during the official opening of a three-day regional training workshop on ISO 22000 food safety management.
Mr. Karangizi said there is concern in the region about the growing tendency of developing private standards which are becoming de facto standards used in determining market acceptance of products in some countries.
He called on ISO to work with the World Trade Organisation to resolve the matter.
And International Standards Organisation Secretary General Dr. Allan Bryden called for the harmonization of food safety and hygiene standards in order to avoid standards that are detrimental to trade in agricultural produce.