Burkina Faso launches its Codex Trust Fund 2 project

Burkina Faso launched its Codex Trust Fund 2 project in a workshop held on 12 October 2018 with the participation of different sectors involved in food safety and nutrition representing governmental and non-governmental structures, civil society as well as technical and financial partners. The country is now among the eight African countries to benefit from the Codex Trust Fund 2, following a call for applications. The project that will be implemented for three years, from 2018 to 2021, is intended to enhance the capacity of the National Codex Committee to effectively contribute to the standard-setting work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Burkina Faso, a member of Codex since 2004, plans to use the funding from the Codex Trust Fund 2 to:

-          increase the awareness of national authorities as well as technical and financial partners in support of Codex activities within the country; 

-          improve the functioning of its National Codex Committee;

-          improve the visibility of Codex and its activities at the national level;

-          strengthen the capacity to use Codex Alimentarius standards at the national level; and

-          improve the scientific contribution of Burkina Faso to the standard-setting work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Burkina Faso, the representative of the Ministry of Health underscored that the Codex Alimentarius "is a vital element for the assurance of public health as well as economic and commercial development of any country and especially for our country".

The WHO Representative to Burkina Faso, Dr Alimata J. Diarra-Nama, speaking on behalf of WHO and FAO, reaffirmed the commitment of WHO and FAO alongside the national Codex Committee Burkina Faso to promote the strengthening of the national food control system to reduce health risks throughout the food chain.

Read more about the Codex Trust Fund