The National Technical Working Group (TWG) on Codex and Food safety resumes its meetings for 2023
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry hosted the first meeting of the National Technical Working Group on Codex and Food safety on Thursday, 26th of January 2023. In his opening statement, the Assistant Minister, Honorable Morris K. Morris, on behalf of the Minister of Commerce and Industry, welcomed members of the TWG and wished them a happy new year. He was delighted that the TWG meetings has resumed with to goal increasing the work of Codex and addressing critical issues of food Safety in Liberia through effective engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders. For his part, Mr. Francis Tamba, the national food safety coordinator and focus point of INFOSAN, who proxy for the technical Chair for the TWG, introduced the meeting. The Codex Contact Point Mr. Stephen Y Mambu, director of the National Standards Laboratory, updated the TWG members on the current activities of Codex especially the upcoming Codex committees meetings and the CCAfrica scoreboard on countries participation. He pointed out that from the report Liberia had 25% performance rating, with the attendance of two major events (CCAfrica and CAC45). He said that the report also indicated that did not participate in any odd the Codex committees’ meetings last year.
The meeting reviewed the work plan with targeted activities for 2013 amongst which are the hosting of national food safety conference, establishing diode borne diseases monitoring program, increasing participation in Codex committees meetings and creating more awareness of Codex and food safety.
The meeting concluded with major actions which included increasing private sector participation in Codex, the appointment of technical experts for immediate participation in the prioritized Codex Committees i.e. Codex committees on food hygiene, food contaminants, food labeling and pesticide residues.
The TWG on Codex and Food safety is the technical mutlisectorial committee, which is composed of technical experts and focus points from stakeholders from both the private and public sectors. It is part of the three (3) level structures of the Codex at the national level apart from CCP and National Codex Committee. It major function is to discuss on major issues on Codex and food safety and thereafter recommend its conclusions to the NCC for approval.