MRLs Training – Egypt
The GFoRSS and CropLife AME formalize a five‑year partnership to strengthen food safety and sustainable agriculture across Africa and the Middle East
Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco – 6 May 2025 – The Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) and CropLife Africa Middle East formalize a five‑year partnership to strengthen food safety and sustainable agriculture across Africa and the Middle East.
Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), we aim to:
• Exchange critical information on regulatory approval processes for phytosanitary applications and the derivation of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in crops and food products tailored to the needs of hashtag#Africa and the hashtag#Middle_East Markets.
• Develop and deliver hashtag#capacity‑building programs, including joint webinars, e‑learning modules, and hands‑on training for regional regulators in hashtag#risk_analysis and best practices for managing food safety measures.
• Support the harmonization of regulatory frameworks, aligning national provisions with hashtag#Codex_Alimentarius standards relying on risk‑analysis as a decision-making framework, with the ultimate goal to streamline approvals and ensure consistent, science‑based food regulatory decision‑making related to phytosanitary applications.
Together, we aim to enhance the safe use of phytosanitary solutions, foster regulatory coherence, and ultimately improve food safety for consumers across the region.
CL AME at the Oman 7th International Conference on Food Safety and Quality, held on April 21-23, 2025
CropLife Africa Middle East was represented by our colleagues Stella and Bakr at the recently concluded Oman 7th International Conference on Food Safety and Quality, held on April 21-23, 2025, at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat, Oman.
This year’s conference, under the theme “Toward Resilient and Dynamic Food Systems,” unpacked the drivers of change impacting food systems and the efforts of different stakeholders to address challenges and build on arising opportunities for enabling dynamic and more resilient food systems.
The conference was inaugurated by His Highness Dr. Kamil Fahd Al Said, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, and Dr. Hussein Al-Masrouri, the Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Center in Oman.
Stella presented on “Innovation in Phytosanitary Products,” highlighting the potential contribution of biopesticides. She also participated in a panel on “Managing Innovation—Regulatory Oversight,” where she highlighted the challenges innovators face in the context of climate change and increasingly restrictive environments.
Amidst other dialogues, Stella and Bakr interacted with various stakeholders during sessions on the role of new technologies, artificial intelligence, food fraud, analytical solutions, and risk assessment in supporting regulatory decisions, all contributing to the creation of resilient and dynamic food systems.
The closing ceremony was held in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, and the undersecretaries of the ministries in the Sultanate, along with Dr. Hussein Al-Masrouri, the Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Center in Oman.
LBW S27Ep11 CropLife The EU Green Deal
Productive container management workshop with CropLife Zimbabwe
On 21 March 2025, our colleagues Evelyn and Fasil participated in a highly productive container management workshop with CropLife Zimbabwe! Evelyn, CL AME Stewardship Director, presented on global and regional container management practices, highlighting best practices from the Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework in Kenya.
A key highlight of the workshop was the presentation by regulators from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment, who provided insights into the legal framework and shared a study report on the current status of empty containers in Zimbabwe.
Additionally, CropLife Zimbabwe proposed a container management project aimed at building upon existing efforts. The industry has pledged support for this initiative, and the Ministry of Environment has committed to assisting by licensing collection points.