Regulatory professionals, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders from across Africa have renewed calls for stronger collaboration, harmonised regulatory systems and increased investment in quality infrastructure to enhance consumer protection and facilitate trade across the continent.
The call was made at the successful conclusion of the 3rd African Regulatory, Quality and Safety Conference, organised by the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Network (RAPNET) under the theme, “Advancing Regulatory, Quality and Safety Frameworks in Africa: Collaborating for a Safer and Healthier Future.”
The three-day conference brought together regulators, manufacturers, importers, exporters, academia and development partners to deliberate on emerging regulatory issues affecting the food, cosmetics, medical devices and household chemicals sectors.
Throughout the conference, speakers stressed that Africa’s economic transformation and industrial competitiveness depend on robust regulatory systems that protect public health while supporting innovation and facilitating trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Delivering a keynote presentation, Prof. Alex Dodoo, former Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, challenged African institutions to move beyond compliance and position regulation as a strategic tool for economic growth.
“Regulation should not merely be seen as enforcement. When supported by science, innovation and collaboration, it becomes a catalyst for industrial development, consumer confidence and global competitiveness,” he said.
Speaking on emerging public health and nutrition issues, Mr. Kofi Ebenezer Essel, Director of Industrial Support Services at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), underscored the need for evidence-based policies that address changing consumer trends while safeguarding public health.
“The future of food regulation lies in balancing innovation with consumer protection. Regulators, industry and researchers must work together to ensure that products placed on the market are safe, nutritious and compliant,” he noted.
Addressing participants on regulating advertisements in the digital era, Dr. Cheetham Mingle, Head of Nutrition and Research at the Food and Drugs Authority, highlighted the growing influence of social media on consumer behaviour and the need for stronger oversight of digital marketing.
“Technology has transformed how consumers receive information. Our regulatory systems must evolve just as rapidly to ensure that advertisements are truthful, responsible and do not undermine public health,” he stated.
Technical sessions also examined food safety systems, food fraud and economically motivated adulteration, quality management systems, product registration, nutrition labelling, regulatory harmonisation, medical devices regulation, cosmetics compliance and cross-border trade within Africa.
Participants agreed that closer cooperation among regulators, standards bodies, industry and academia is essential to reducing technical barriers to trade while ensuring the safety and quality of products circulating across African markets.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dennis Dorbu-Amezeame, Convener of RAPNET, described the conference as another significant milestone in strengthening Africa’s regulatory profession.
“This conference has demonstrated that Africa possesses exceptional regulatory expertise. The challenge before us is to translate the knowledge shared into practical actions that strengthen institutions, improve compliance and build consumer confidence across the continent. RAPNET will continue to provide a platform that connects regulators, industry and academia to drive regulatory excellence in Africa,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the speakers, delegates, sponsors and partner institutions for their commitment to advancing regulatory science and professional development across the continent.
Delegates described the conference as highly practical and impactful, noting that the technical sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities provided valuable insights that will strengthen regulatory compliance and quality management within their organisations.
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to deepen regional cooperation, promote regulatory convergence, strengthen capacity building and support initiatives that enhance consumer protection while positioning African products to compete more effectively on regional and global markets.
With another successful edition completed, RAPNET reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regulatory excellence through professional training, technical webinars, research collaborations and future conferences that will continue to shape the future of regulation, quality and safety in Africa.
The conference was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors, namely Nutrifoods Ghana Limited, Softcare Manufacturing, DKT International, and Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, whose commitment to advancing regulatory compliance, product quality and consumer safety contributed significantly to the success of the event.
