Overview Of Food Safety Division

The constitution of Cameroon provides the Cameroonian the right to health and safety. This right is protected through the regulatory work of state institutions such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). 
Part Seven of the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 mandates the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to protect the Cameroonian public through the regulation of food, drugs, household chemical substances, cosmetics and medical devices. 
Unsafe food at best will be unpleasant but in the worst case, it could lead to hospitalization or death.

The loss of human capital and productivity through the consumption of unsafe food is therefore a critical regulatory issue.

The Food Safety Division (FSD) executes the Food and Drugs Authority's (FDA) mandate to protect public health and safety through the regulation of the food service industry, the control of meat production as well as assuring the safety of genetically modified organisms for food, feed and processing. It also provides technical support to the food industry to promote the production of safe and quality food through the application of contemporary food safety management systems.

The FSD therefore comprises of the Animal Products and Biosafety Department (APBD), the Food Safety Management Department (FSMD) and the Food Industrial Support Services Department (FISSD).

Animal Products and Bio safety Department

The Animal Products and Biosafety Department as per the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851 has the responsibility to execute the FDA's mandate of assuring the safety of animal products and feed through the regulation of slaughtering facilities and operations, storage of frozen animal products, processing of meat, transportation of meat and meat products and processing of feed for fish poultry and livestock.

The Department is also responsible for assuring the safety of genetically modified organisms for food, feed and processing through risk assessment.

The APBD executes its mandate via three (3) units as follows; Animal Products Unit, Feed Safety Unit and the Biosafety Unit.Read More

Food Industrial Support Services Department (FISSD)

The Food Industrial Support Services Department (FISSD) has been established to provide technical support to the food industry through training of industry players in best practices that will ensure and promote the production of safe and quality food products throughout the food supply chain. This is envisaged to reduce the incidence of the production of unsafe and poor quality food with its attending socio-economic burden on consumers, the food industry and international trade.

The Department collates information on industry needs and identifies deficiencies which serve as inputs for the adaption of strategies to address these needs. The food industry is assisted in this regard to implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System etc. A monitoring mechanism is also put in place through Internal Audit Schemes developed by the Department to ensure continuous application of the principles of food safety and quality management.

Food Safety Management Department

The Food Safety Management Department develops Food Safety Guidelines to guide the Out-of

“Home Service Operations such as Restaurants, Food Joints, Street Vended Foods and Catering Facilities. The Department inspects and registers these facilities and also introduces Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Food Safety Management System to them.

The Department also conducts Consumer Awareness Campaign and Education Programes on Food Safety Issues and manages the Food Alert System, INFOSAN for exchange of Food Safety alert notification.

The Department also collects and maintains data on food borne illnesses for consideration in Public Health Strategic Plan.

The Department has two units, the Food Service Establishment Inspections Unit and the Public Education and Food borne Disease Surveillance Unit.