Monrovia, April 21, 2026 — Liberia has taken a major step toward strengthening its food safety system with the establishment of a National Food Safety Coordination Committee, aimed at improving collaboration, policy alignment, and regulatory effectiveness across the sector.
The committee concluded its inaugural meeting in Monrovia on Tuesday, adopting its Terms of Reference and formalizing its leadership structure.
Madam Fatima Conneh-Farah, Chief Executive Officer of Joyce Frozen Food, was elected Co-Chair, representing the private sector. She will serve alongside the Director General of the Food Authority of Liberia, Madam Precellia Cherue, who chairs the committee.
The Food Safety Coordination Committee is designed as a national platform to unify stakeholders across government, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Its core mandate is to enhance the coherence, efficiency, and impact of food safety initiatives nationwide.
Among its key responsibilities, the committee will:
- Promote structured dialogue and policy alignment
- Guide the development and implementation of annual national food safety action plans
- Establish clear coordination mechanisms to prevent duplication of efforts
- Support evidence-based decision-making
- Provide a forum for strategic decisions on food safety priorities and investments
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Chairperson Precellia Cherue emphasized that the committee’s success will be measured by tangible outcomes rather than the frequency of meetings.
“Food safety is not only a public health issue—it is also about consumer protection, economic development, and national confidence,” she said. “The Food Authority of Liberia is committed to ensuring this platform delivers real results.”
She also acknowledged the critical role of development partners in supporting Liberia’s transition from planning to implementation in food safety reforms.
Providing an overview of the initiative, Committee Secretary Mr. Thomas K. Nagbe highlighted longstanding challenges within Liberia’s food safety system, including fragmented institutional responsibilities, weak surveillance, and limited enforcement mechanisms.
He noted that increasing risks—driven by urbanization, informal food markets, and expanding trade—have underscored the urgency for a more coordinated national approach.
“The establishment of this committee is a decisive move to address coordination gaps, align institutional actions, and build a more coherent system that ensures safe food from market to table,” Nagbe said.
He added that the committee aims to strengthen regulatory coherence, improve accountability and transparency, and foster stronger collaboration among all stakeholders.
By the end of the inaugural meeting, members successfully endorsed the committee’s Terms of Reference, confirmed its structure, elected the private sector Co-Chair, and agreed on an operational roadmap for future activities.
The committee comprises institutions including government ministries (e.g., Health, Agriculture, and Commerce) and regulatory agencies such as the Food Authority of Liberia and the Liberia Standards Authority, among others.
Other members include private sector food producers and processors, consumer protection groups, and development partners (e.g., the EU and UNIDO).
The formation of the Food Safety Coordination Committee marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s efforts to modernize its food safety governance and protect public health.
