By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
RESEARCH scientists have come up with draft Aflatoxin sampling procedures to facilitate effective regional trade for unprocessed maize and groundnuts in the region.
The move aimed at combating the spread of Aflatoxin, a poisonous strain of the fungus species transmitted through the consumption of grain.
Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda and Madagascar, were the most affected countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) region as a result of the grain fungus.
Aflatoxin is a naturally produced poisonous strain of the fungus species that is invisible to the naked eye and whose consumption, even of very minute quantities is sufficient to cause illness or death.
The proposed sampling protocol addresses the optimum sample size, the conditions and frequency of sampling grain destined for regional markets.
This contained in statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, by COMESA public relations officer Mwangi Gakunga.
Mr Gakunga said the protocol would minimize the risks of misclassifying commodities, while enhancing the effective removal of contaminated commodities from supply chains in East and Southern Africa.
The development of the draft Aflatoxin protocols was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture -Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA-FAS) in consultation with COMESA and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (IITA) and the Research Scientists working on Aflatoxin.
Aflatoxin contamination commonly occurred on pre-harvest and post-harvest maize, groundnut, and other crops of regional importance in Eastern and Southern Africa such as sorghum and millet.
“Aware of the rising threat to consumer health and intra trade, COMESA has entered into strategic partnerships to harmonize Aflatoxin control measures and improve the regulatory environment for Aflatoxin control in its Member States,” COMESA Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) coordinator Martha Byanyima said.
Ms Byanyima told more than 40 delegates attending a two-day Sampling and Testing Aflatoxin workshop in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Monday.
The main objectives of the forum were to review the proposed sampling protocols and build consensus on the national regional maximum tolerance limits for Aflatoxin in maize and groundnuts.
This would enable ease of movement of products from one country to another and ensure domestic food safety given that 60 to 80 per cent of the affected commodities was used the informal trade and on farm consumption.
Aflatoxin contamination cuts across the value-chain, affecting farmers, millers, traders, markets and finally and consumers.
“The key outcomes of the workshop are a well-defined commodity sampling protocol to be used by testing laboratories operating across COMESA countries whose ultimate objective is to increase safe intra COMESA trade in maize and groundnuts,” Ms Byanyima said.
According to World Bank studies, 25 per cent of world food crops were affected by Aflatoxin contamination.