Togo is preparing to adopt 42 priority standards for its agri-food sector. A five-day workshop began on Tuesday in Lomé to move the process forward.
The workshop brings together experts from the Togolese Standardisation Agency (ATN), the High Authority for Quality and the Environment, specialised partners, NGOs and research institutes.
The standards cover four key areas: rice, soy, poultry and related products, and horticulture. Technical committees will review and finalise the 42 standards, which have already undergone public consultation and external assessment.
Essot’na Héyou Bodjona, director general of the ATN, said the aim is to incorporate the feedback received and ensure the standards are grounded in science. “Three technical committees are involved: one on cereals and legumes, another on meat products, and a third dedicated to horticulture,” he said.
The standards are designed to structure value chains and strengthen the competitiveness of local products.
International standardisation expert Ndeye Maguette Diop said they help secure market access. “They define quality requirements for rice, soy, meat and horticultural products. They also protect consumers, since producers remain responsible for ensuring that products placed on the market comply with the standards,” she said.
Once validated, the standards will be integrated into the national system and serve as benchmarks for industry stakeholders. They are intended to support quality improvements across agricultural value chains and help regulate the domestic market.
