Policy Brief: The Tanzania Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act of 2003: Enhancing Food Safety and Addressing Gaps
DOWNLOADDecember 9, 2024 - Dr. Alex Wenaty, Sokoine University of Agriculture
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EmailThe Tanzania Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act (FDCA) of 2003 provides a legal framework for ensuring food safety in Tanzania, regulating food handling, processing, and distribution. Despite its comprehensive structure, the Act has critical gaps that hinder its full effectiveness.
Key Issues Identified:
- Fragmented Oversight: Multiple overlapping Acts, including the Finance Act and Standards Act, complicate enforcement and create inefficiencies.
- Food Adulteration: Practices like diluting milk and misbranding flour persist due to weak enforcement.
- Unfit Food Sales: Reports of contaminated or chemically treated fish and milk from diseased animals highlight enforcement gaps.
- Gender Exclusion: Women, central to food processing, are overlooked in policy discussions, limiting their contributions to food safety.
- Climate Change: The Act fails to address climate-induced challenges like increased pests, reduced yields, and risks to fish stocks.
Recommendations:
- Simplify and integrate food safety legislation for streamlined enforcement.
- Strengthen penalties and monitoring mechanisms to curb adulteration and unsafe practices.
- Incorporate gender inclusivity in food safety measures, recognizing women’s pivotal roles in value chains.
- Address climate resilience through strategies like crop diversification and infrastructure improvements.
- Foster public awareness campaigns to educate stakeholders on food safety standards.
Conclusion:
Enhancing the FDCA with a focus on inclusivity, climate resilience, and robust enforcement can significantly improve Tanzania’s food safety landscape. Such reforms are vital for protecting public health and supporting sustainable food systems.
