Hertta-Maria Amutenja
To improve food safety and protect consumers, Namibia has launched a new project to strengthen import controls for fishery products and canned meat.
The initiative, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will establish a more robust inspection system to address existing gaps in traceability and regulatory compliance.
Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) chief executive officer, Eino Mvula, explained the importance of the project during the inauguration on 19 November at the NSI Testing and Inspection Centre.
“This project marks a significant step forward in enhancing food safety, improving agricultural productivity, and safeguarding public health,” Mvula said.
He said that the initiative would focus on developing a risk-based import inspection system to fill gaps in the existing regulatory frameworks, which have not been sufficient to ensure the safety and quality of imported fish and canned meat products.
Mvula pointed out that the project would further this objective, with the NSI playing a key role in overseeing its implementation.
NSI General Manager for Testing and Inspection, Paloma Ellitson, acknowledged the importance of this collaboration with FAO.
“We are immensely grateful for FAO’s support in bringing this project to life. This partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for Namibia as we continue our pursuit of excellence in food standards,” Ellitson said.
The project aims to assess the current import inspection systems and develop a framework to ensure that imported goods meet Namibia’s quality standards.
The new import control system will ensure compliance with safety regulations, protect consumers from substandard products, and foster fair trade practices.
The project is aligned with Namibia’s Revised National Quality Policy (NQP) 2020-2025, launched by Mvula in April 2021.
The policy focuses on strengthening the country’s National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) to improve market access and support the development of industry in line with international standards.
Qingyun Diao, FAO country representative, expressed her organisation’s support for the initiative.
“FAO has been working in Namibia for over three decades, and we are excited to continue our collaboration with the Namibian government to enhance food safety. This project is a crucial step towards improving the nation’s food safety and the overall health of its citizens,” said Diao.
The collaboration between NSI and FAO is expected to contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).
The project will also focus on capacity building and ensuring gender equality during implementation, with plans for inclusive training and workshops for stakeholders.
