Review of Day 1

1. Review of Day 1 • Two reports on aflatoxin prevalence in Tanzania • Country and economic assessment report was shared that shows prevalence and impacts to agriculture and food security, public health, and trade. Notes that the largest impact is on public health and food security.

2. Review of Day 1 (continued) • Panelists discussed Tanzanian institutions addressing aflatoxin or with potential mandate to address aflatoxin, current standards based on Codex recommendations, and strategies for aflatoxin prevention and control

3. Key Points from Discussion • Need for better coordination across ministries • Aflatoxin control needs an integrated approach • Recognition that regulating unpackaged food, SME is a challenge • MoAFSCasked for ideas on how to engage the private sector • Some agreement that Tanzania should set its own standards • Agreement that more needs to be done in all areas for aflatoxin control…

4. Key Points from Discussion • Prior preparation before attending stakeholder meetings. • Raising awareness particularly in rural areas, along with solutions –both immediate and new (short-medium-long). • Develop detailed institutional action plans.

5. Day 1 - Solutions • Good Agricultural Practices • Research (testing strategies; new solutions) • Biological control • Community-based regulation • Drying, sorting, washing, dehulling • Storage – above-ground storage, use of natural fiber storage bags • Rapid Diagnostic tools • Dietary diversification

6. Opportunities for Aflatoxin Control in Africa Institutional, Policy and Regulatory Environment • Setting and publicizing clear division of roles and responsibilities may yield greater regulatory efficiencies. • Leverage existing opportunities in newly formed strategies (e.g. agriculture, nutrition) and develop guidance that incorporates mycotoxins. • Each agency should also agree on a coordinated, risk-based surveillance strategy to communicate and isolate threats to the food system. • Changing the mandates of TBS, TFDA, and other specialized agencies to regulate unpackaged commodities destined for domestic consumption. • Set procedures for withdrawal of contaminated samples and explore alternative uses for contaminated products. • Strengthen the institutional mandate for cross-ministerial collaboration in shifting production and consumer demand for food quality.

7. Opportunities for Aflatoxin Control in Africa • Scale public and private sector initiatives to increase access to and adoption of aflatoxin-reducing Good Agricultural Practices e.g. scaling up targeted input voucher programs for the poorest farmers. • Capitalize on mobile technologies and banking services to design business models for agricultural inputs that serve the poor. • Use bio-controls such as the IITA-developed Aflasafeapproach or natural fungicides to reduce aflatoxin levels in soil and among treated crops, even after poor storage. • Introduce simple yet effective post-harvest techniques such as drying above ground or using economical solar driers to reduce adverse conditions that favor growth • Introduce improved storage methods and materials such as hermetic storage toarrest development of the responsible Aspergillus species • Use national data on agricultural stressors to target market-based solutions to address localized threats. • Use the global research agenda on aflatoxin to inform and complement domestic research, and vice versa • Agriculture

8. Opportunities for Aflatoxin Control in Africa • Trade • Raise awareness of tolerances and associated SPS practices in foreign markets of interest, and improve the capacity of grower/shippers and exporters to assure compliance • Spearhead harmonized SPS policies within East Africa that tend to reduce the mycotoxin problem (both aflatoxins and fumonisins) while facilitating cross border trade • Explore alternative uses for contaminated crops that make sense for Tanzania, and adjust official standards accordingly • Use economic incentives to shift behaviors in the supply chain while simultaneously expanding access by farmers to the best aflatoxin control solutions • Encourage the use of improved storage systems at all levels that reduce deterioration and loss, coupled with warehouse receipts programs that facilitate usage of commercial or community-managed storage as well as actions by the commodities exchange board and marketing boards (if revived) to preserve the quality, condition, and safety of agrifood products destined for human consumption • Leverage the formation of marketing boards for Cereals and other products that includes maize and groundnuts.

9. Opportunities for Aflatoxin Control in Africa • Encourage dietary diversity based on non-susceptible plant and animal products • Carry out joint campaigns between the Ministries of Health and Agriculture to raise consumer demand for GAP that lead to safer food • Improve awareness of human nutritional requirements, especially for pregnant and lactating women and during the first 1,000 days of life • Foster changes in household feeding/weaning and food use/preparation practices through behavioral change communications • Upgrade the food safety control system. particularly as it affects human health/welfare. i.e. policies and standards for mycotoxins/aflatoxins that take into account average daily intake, surveillance and testing methods, withdrawal/compensation procedures, penalties for infringements • Stay current on global research on the linkages between aflatoxins and health/nutrition while exploring avenues for further research of particular relevance to Nigeria • Pursue universal access to the HBV vaccine. • Health