Standards Authority Approves New Rules for Fortified Foods to Protect Consumers and the Economy

Khartoum – Sudanhorizon

The Director General of the Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organization, Rahba Saeed, affirmed that consumer health and safety, as well as addressing deficiencies in essential nutrients required by the human body, remain among the authority’s top priorities.

Saeed revealed ongoing efforts to enhance performance levels and achieve the authority’s objectives in developing technical regulations and unifying conformity assessment procedures in line with international guidelines and standards.

Speaking at the conclusion of an awareness workshop on technical regulations for micronutrient-fortified foods, held virtually and hosted at the authority’s headquarters, she explained that such scientific and educational programs are part of broader efforts to strengthen confidence among importers, producers, and regulatory bodies.

She noted that the initiative aims to improve product quality while safeguarding public health, safety, and the environment, emphasizing that the authority is intensifying its efforts to provide a safe and reliable environment for both consumers and producers and to ensure the quality and competitiveness of goods in the marketplace.

For her part, Maha Abdullah, Director of the Standards Department, stressed the importance of cooperation and integration between the public and private sectors in achieving shared objectives.

She also expressed the authority’s welcome for all strategic partnerships that can effectively contribute to strengthening industrial and economic development in the country.

The workshop featured presentations of three specialized scientific papers focusing on food products and food safety.

It concluded with a package of key recommendations, including enhancing the role of the media and disseminating technical regulations through all communication channels and local languages to ensure the message reaches the widest possible audience.

Other recommendations included activating technical secretariats in weaker states and encouraging companies, factories, and producers to expand the production of foods fortified with micronutrients.

The workshop also called for the establishment of strict regulatory and enforcement bodies to ensure the implementation of technical and legal regulations, as well as the immediate launch of a comprehensive national survey to identify nutrient deficiency gaps and develop appropriate solutions.

Participants unanimously emphasized the critical importance and urgency of these measures, describing the workshop as a timely and essential step toward protecting consumers and supporting Sudan’s national economy.

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