Uganda to host conference on food safety

HEALTH | NUTRITION

Uganda is set to host a four-day international conference on food safety, focusing on standards for some of the country's most important horticultural exports.

The Codex International Meeting will attract over 200 delegates to Kampala to discuss standards for fresh fruits and vegetables including garlic, egg plants, kiwi and fresh dates.

Uganda is a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international food standards body formed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO).

Codex standards ensure that food is safe and can be traded.

Its members negotiate on aspects of food safety and quality including food hygiene, limits for food additives, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, and prevention of chemical and microbiological contamination.

The meeting that starts on October 2 is jointly organized by Uganda and the government of Mexico, in partnership with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

The minister of trade and industry, Amelia Kyambadde says the meeting will boost Uganda's negotiations in the lucrative horticulture exports market.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are part of the agricultural chain which contributes about 26% of Uganda's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).