EABC Calls for Smarter Digital Solutions to Improve Food Safety and Regional Trade

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania | 22–23 October 2026. The East African Business Council (EABC) has called for stronger regional coordination, streamlined food safety procedures and interoperable digital systems to reduce trade barriers and improve market access for businesses across the East African Community (EAC).

The call was made during the regional launch and consultative workshop of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Technical Cooperation Project TCP/SFE/4101, titled Enhancing Food Safety in the East African Community and Strengthening Access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The workshop was held in Zanzibar on 22–23 October 2026 in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat.

The two-year project aims to strengthen food safety coordination, address priority non-tariff measures affecting agricultural trade and improve small and medium-sized enterprises’ compliance with food safety and export requirements.

Discussions highlighted challenges affecting agri-food trade within the region, including duplicated inspections and certification, inconsistent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, overlapping regulatory procedures and limited mutual recognition of standards and laboratory results.

Representing the regional private sector, EABC emphasised that digitalisation should make trade safer, faster and less costly for businesses. The Council called for existing food safety, standards, customs and single-window systems to be connected and improved before investing in new platforms.

EABC also stressed the need for practical, affordable and accessible digital tools, alongside capacity-building support to help SMEs and women traders comply with food safety requirements and access regional and continental markets.

As a proposed way forward, EABC recommended exploring a pilot for interoperable digital food safety certification and traceability along a selected cross-border food value chain. The proposal would be subject to further consultation and agreement among the relevant institutions, with the aim of reducing duplicate submissions, accelerating verification and lowering compliance costs.

The project also envisages the development of a regional food safety coordination framework, national coordination mechanisms in selected Partner States, mitigation measures for priority non-tariff measures and export-readiness support for 150 SMEs.

EABC will continue engaging with the EAC Secretariat, FAO, national business associations and other stakeholders to strengthen private-sector participation in food safety coordination, standards harmonisation and the resolution of trade barriers.

These efforts are intended to improve business competitiveness, strengthen consumer protection and facilitate greater participation of EAC enterprises in regional and AfCFTA markets