A strategic turning point for consumer protection and the national economy
Food safety has become a major issue of national sovereignty and public health. Recent food crises, such as those in 2023 and 2025, which devastated families through the loss of young lives, are a stark reminder of the urgent need to overhaul our control framework. Furthermore, in the face of major macroeconomic challenges, illustrated by the importation of several billion CFA francs’ worth of essential foodstuffs (rice, meat and fish) and by international trade barriers (such as the 2026 embargo on mango exports), the status quo is no longer an option. In this context, the Projet de Développement des Chaines de Valeur Vivrières (PDC2V), co-financed by the World Bank, is helping to address this gap by proposing a National Food Safety Policy (PNSSA).
Towards a unified response and shared leadership
The assessment finds that, for far too long, the management of health risks has suffered from a fragmented, sector-based approach among the ministries responsible for agriculture, livestock, health and trade. To put an end to this fragmentation, the national validation workshop marks a historic shift by entrusting the coordination of the process to establish the national food safety policy to the Laboratoire National d’Appui au Développement Agricole (LANADA). This technical centralisation ensures greater scientific responsiveness, rigorous traceability, and the harmonisation of policies and standards across the entire value chain, in collaboration with all food safety stakeholders.
A comprehensive framework, from the strategic study to the draft law
The result of an in-depth and inclusive assessment conducted with all stakeholders, and facilitated by the consultancy firm ENVAL-Group with the support of the Afrique One consortium of the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), this initiative rests on four inseparable pillars:
1. A strategic study and assessment of the system. Mapping the strengths, potential and vulnerabilities of the food safety system; identifying critical points of contamination; and analysing policy and technical bottlenecks at borders and in domestic markets.
2. A national policy, shared coordination and an overarching vision. A strong commitment by the Ivorian State to ensuring that every citizen has access to safe and nutritious food, while positioning food safety quality as a driver of exports.
3. An operational action plan. Concrete, budgeted measures to strengthen control infrastructure were discussed. These measures are intended to support the continuous training of value-chain stakeholders and the modernisation of technical facilities. The plan is designed to be justified by a proven return on investment.
4. A unified legal framework. A binding framework law establishing intersectoral coordination, clarifying responsibilities and equipping the country with modern enforcement and incentive mechanisms. Five models of coordination and governance have been proposed, and the choice will be…
Protecting health and boosting the value-chain economy
Beyond the health imperative of protecting consumers, particularly the most vulnerable groups such as children and women, this reform represents a major driver of health and economic development. By safeguarding the intrinsic quality of its flagship products (mangoes, cocoa, horticultural and fishery products, etc.), Côte d’Ivoire will be better equipped to remove non-tariff barriers to exports, regain the confidence of international markets and enhance the value of “Made in Côte d’Ivoire” products in the face of massive imports. Food safety is no longer merely a regulatory constraint; it is the foundation of the country’s future competitiveness and public health. The financial commitment made to the Plan National de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments (PNSSA) is a public investment lever whose social, health and economic returns are beyond doubt. An analysis of avoided costs shows that every franc invested generates substantial benefits for the nation.
