Mr. Pa Modou Phall, Executive Director of the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), said that CODEX has been established to ensure that certain food standard measures are met and conformed to the Codex committee's standards.

He added that the National Codex Committee recently concluded a two day strategic planning meeting which would help to direct the activities within the next five years. "These activities are geared towards strengthening the food control system in The

Gambia," he assured. Mr. Phall further recalled that Codex was established in 2000 and it has it's secretariat in Rome, Italy and that since then, more stakeholders are joining the wagon. Quizzed on their achievements, Mr. Phall replied that one of their major achievements was the institutionalization of the National Codex Committee with legal backing under the Food Act. "Other achievements that we have registered over the years are the establishment of technical committees, holding of periodical meetings etc and people have recognised that food safety is a collective responsibility, therefore more sectors are becoming interested," he outlined.

The NaNA boss reiterated that Codex has been accorded a legal backing under section 12, subsection (3), of the food Act 2005, which states that the National Codex Committee shall, on the coming into force of this Act, be deemed to be a Committee of the Agency. In this respect, he adds, NaNA is playing a coordinating role, as the food law mandated the agency to coordinate all food safety related activities in this country. "Let Gambians know that something is being done and to regulate a system needs time, but let the public be assured that we are doing our best to address the probem," he said.

Mr. Phall concluded by assuring that the Food Advisory Board and the Compliance Committee will work to implement the strategies put in place. "Also we need to build capacities around the lab by training people to effectively man the laboratory," he added.