Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on trade, the Right to Food, Health, land, investment, and agriculture-related issues have implored Government to decentralize food safety laboratories to ease conformity of standards.

Speaking ahead of this year’s World Food Safety Day slated for 7th June 2023, they argued that extending testing services nearer to producers and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that are involved in processing and value addition in the agricultural value chain will play a big role in enforcing standards.

According to Peninnah Mbabazi, Trade and Investment Policy Analyst at SEATINI, most producers incur costs trying to access testing services which in most cases leaves them with no option but to forgo them.

“We recognize and applaud the various stakeholders, especially the Government of Uganda, for their renewed commitment towards the achievement of utmost compliance to the standards that guarantee food safety and the right to adequate food and nutrition.

The CSOs commended the government for the steps and strategies deployed to prioritize compliance with standards along the food chain while addressing the various issues related to agricultural trade, environmental justice, children's rights, farmers' rights, and fiscal and human rights-related issues.

The CSOS however asked the government to intensify the efforts to ensure citizens eat food that meets the required standards.

Food safety is a critical concern that affects the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and nations.

In Africa, about 91 million people fall ill each year from foodborne illnesses which account for one-third of the global death toll for foodborne diseases.

According to the World Bank, (2019), an estimated USD 94.2 billion is lost each year in labor productivity while medical costs resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries amount to $15b.

This year’s World Food Safety Day will be celebrated under the theme of Food Standards Save Lives which underscores the importance of applying standards in every aspect of food production - from the source to the table.