Liberia holds 4th National Codex Committee Meeting

by the Codex Contact Point of Liberia

The fourth meeting of the National Codex Committee (NCC) of Liberia was held on the 25 July 2022 at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). The NCC meeting, which is held quarterly, brings together key national actors from both the private and public sector to discuss and take action on Codex work and food safety.

The meeting opened with several statements from stakeholders. In his opening remarks Walter Sayor, President of the National Consumer Association of Liberia and Vice Chairperson of the NCC, underscored the need to protect consumers against fraud and unsafe food as a major objective of the NCC. He commented on the vulnerability of consumers as a result of limited national food control mechanisms.

The deputy programme officer of the FAO Country Office in Liberia, Octavius Quarbo, provided opening remarks. He expressed appreciation and pledged his organization's continual effort to address food safety issues in Liberia. He informed the meeting of the current Technical Cooperation Programme signed with the Ministry of Agriculture of Liberia, which focuses on the abattoir system of Liberia. He urged those present to consider the significance of the meeting and put in their best efforts.

In his opening statement the Chairperson of the NCC, represented by the Director of Environmental and Occupational Health Department, NPHIL, Amos Gborie, reminded NCC members of their obligations to ensure the improvement of the food safety system in Liberia by playing an effective advisory role to the government. He then declared the meeting open.

The main issues deliberated by the NCC included the validation of four proposed regulations for the implementation of the National Food Law presented by the FAO legal consultant, and proposed recommendations of a report from the Codex Contact Point. Action points of the meeting were presented and endorsed by the NCC members.

In his closing remarks, Quincy T. Goll, WHO food safety officer, thanked the participants and tasked the NCC members with ensuring that food safety is included in the national development agenda. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by the Chairperson.