Food Safety and Quality Act, 2011 Country/Territory Gambia Document type Legislation Date 2011 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Livestock, Food & nutrition Keyword Authorization/permit Certification Consumer protection Fraud Hazards Early warning system Food quality control/food safety Governance Hygiene/sanitary procedures Inspection Institution Internal trade International trade Packaging/labelling Offences/penalties Research Risk assessment/management Standards Animal feed/feedstuffs Geographical area Africa, Least Developed Countries, North Atlantic, Sahel, Western Africa Abstract This Act establishes a food safety and quality regime by instituting structures and control mechanisms to ensure the safety and quality of food and feed at the national level and for connected matters. There is established by this Act the Food Safety and Quality Authority of The Gambia. The Authority shall be responsible for (a) the overall official control of food safety and quality; (b) ensuring that food and feed comply with legal requirements, or where appropriate with approved codes of good practice; (c) carrying out inspection, sampling, and certification of food and feed for import and export when so required; (d) inspecting establishments, processes and products throughout the production and distribution chain; (e) assessing laboratory services in terms of technical capacity to carry out food and feed analysis for official control; (f) delegating food and feed safety and quality responsibilities to Competent Bodies and Persons where appropriate; (g) participating in activities relating to standards and technical regulations for food and feed at the national, regional and international levels; (h) promoting the development of frameworks of mutual recognition with foreign food safety authorities; (i) ensuring that the adopted inspection procedures are based on risk assessment; (j) developing and enforcing a code of conduct for Competent Bodies and Persons; and (k) maintaining well trained and competent staff within the Authority. Full text English