Liberia Launches Food Authority -Commemorates World Food Safety Day 2025
The Director-General of the Food Authority of Liberia, Precelia Cherue, has pledged to strengthen Liberia’s food safety systems using science, innovation, and multi-sector collaboration.
Madam Cherue spoke at the institution’s debut event held in Congo Town in observance of World Food Safety Day 2025, where Liberia officially launched the Food Authority of Liberia (FAL), a newly established regulatory body dedicated to ensuring food safety nationwide.
The launch brought together a broad range of national and international stakeholders and served as both a celebration and a call to action.
It comes at a time when global public health challenges—including climate change, pandemics, and economic instability—underscore the urgent need for resilient food systems.
The program under the national theme, “Using Science to Promote Safe Food Practices and Healthy Living,” Cherue emphasized the importance of science-based policies and actions to protect public health.
“Food safety is not guesswork, it’s grounded in evidence, research, and innovation. With strong leadership and effective coordination, Liberia is poised to build a modern, science-driven food control system that protects lives and boosts trade,” she said.
“This moment is also personally meaningful. Being appointed to lead this vital institution is not just an individual achievement but a collective victory for women and girls in Liberia. It affirms that our voices and leadership are indispensable to national progress,” said Madam Cherue.
Commemorating World Food Safety Day under the global theme “Food Safety: Science in Action,” DG Cherue underscored the critical role of scientific knowledge in hazard detection, disease prevention, and regulatory enforcement.
She also acknowledged the pivotal support from international partners, especially the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the EU-funded Liberia Food Safety Initiative (LiFSI).
“Our partnership with UNIDO is helping us build capacity for laboratory accreditation, promote HACCP implementation, digitize regulatory processes, and strengthen public-private collaboration. These efforts are integral to establishing a risk-based national food safety system,” she noted.
She disclosed that FAL has already begun implementing its vision by focusing on:enhancing laboratory infrastructure and national surveillance systems; training food inspectors and handlers across the supply chain; advancing evidence-based policy and regulatory reform and coordinating efforts among government agencies, development partners, and the private sector.
Madam Cherue reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to working with global institutions such as FAO, WHO, Codex, and INFOSAN to adopt international best practices and contribute to the global food safety agenda.
“Safe food is not a privilege but a human right; Ensuring that right is a collective responsibility involving farmers, vendors, regulators, policymakers, and consumers. By putting science into action, we’re not just protecting health, we’re building trust, supporting livelihoods, and empowering communities,” she said.
According to WHO, an estimated 600 million people fall ill from foodborne diseases each year, with 420,000 deaths, including 125,000 children under five. These alarming figures, Cherue noted, highlight the critical importance of robust national food safety frameworks.
Also speaking at the event, the Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health Cuallau Jabbeh-Howe, stressed the role of hygiene in food preparation and handling.
“Food safety is about more than just availability;it’s about quality and hygiene. Many foodborne illnesses, from typhoid to listeria, can be prevented with better handling practices,” she said.
Madam Jabbeh-Howe highlighted the “One Health” platforman inter-ministerial initiative involving the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, and the Environmental Protection Agencywhich aims to ensure food system safety from farm to fork.
The Acting Deputy Director for Environmental and Occupational Health at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL),Leahown Tokpah, commended FAL’s efforts and outlined NPHIL’s contributions. “
She stated, “We’ve established a robust foodborne disease detection and surveillance framework. Our system integrates lab diagnostics and epidemiology and connects to global networks like the World Health Platform to enable swift outbreak responses.”
She echoed support for the One Health approach, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health stakeholders.
Representing consumer voices, Sayor Wahtoson, Chairperson of the Liberia Consumers Protection Association (LCPA), welcomed FAL’s creation and pledged the association’s full support.
As an advocate for consumer rights, we view the Food Authority as a vital partner. Together, we can ensure safer food and a better-informed public,” he said.
The launch of FAL comes amid growing global calls for stronger food control systems. By placing science, regulation, and collaboration at the heart of its operations, Liberia is positioning itself to meet its development goals and better protect its citizens.
FAL was established under the Food and Feed Quality and Safety Act of 2019 and is mandated to coordinate multisectoral actors, enforce food regulations, and align Liberia’s food policies with global standards, including the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety (2022–2030), Codex Alimentarius, and the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement.
Earlier in March, Liberia celebrated a major milestone with the formal inauguration of FAL, marking a decisive step toward improved food safety governance and consumer health protection.
The establishment of FAL signals a national response to rising food safety concerns and reflects Liberia’s broader commitment to building a safer, healthier, and more resilient society.