Ministry of Agriculture CS Hon Mithika Linturi yesterday presided over the welcoming of over 300 global delegates to Nairobi for the 54th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH54).

The session, which Kenya is hosting for the second time is taking place from March 11th to 15th. Kenya is hosting the event alongside the United States.

The Agriculture CS was accompanied by Trade Ministry CS Hon. Rebecca Miano, and the Ministry of Health CS, Hon. Susan Nakhumicha.

The government aims to double Milk production by 2027 through increased production and adherence to hygienic practices.

Despite the progress made, challenges persist in ensuring food safety across Africa. Adherence to Codex standards is key to preventing foodborne illnesses and building global trust in the country’s products.

CCFH54 is a forum to discuss key areas including food hygiene control measures and safety in food production.

“Without food safety, the Sustainable Development Goals will not be met,” CS Linturi said.

“There is therefore a need for sustained investment in regulatory frameworks, laboratory capabilities, and monitoring systems. Codex standards must continue to be the bedrock of food safety in a changing world, supporting our collective efforts to end hunger and malnutrition by 2030.”

The CS urged the stakeholders to work together to boost the competitiveness of their agricultural products globally.

He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by FAO Kenya and the World Health Organization (WHO) in advancing food safety initiatives through Codex.