A partnership agreement was signed yesterday between the Official Laboratory for Chemical Analysis and Research in Casablanca and the Gabonese Agency for Food Safety in Meknes. This agreement aims to enhance food safety health standards.
The three-year agreement, signed by Nabil Chouki, Director General of the Official Laboratory, and Jean Delor Biog Bi Ntougou, Director General of the Gabonese Agency for Food Safety, took place on the sidelines of the 17th International Exhibition of Agriculture in Morocco. It seeks to improve the health safety of food as a priority challenge in public health, through technical and scientific cooperation between the two institutions.
It also embodies the shared commitment of the Moroccan laboratory and the Gabonese agency to protect populations from health risks, relying on recognized expertise and advanced technological means.
In this context, the laboratory commits to conducting physical-chemical analyses of food products and agricultural inputs for the Gabonese agency, in accordance with international standards.
Chouki stressed that this partnership will enable the laboratory to perform a series of analyses on food products imported by the Gabonese agency.
He highlighted the necessity of these analyses to ensure that consumer-directed products meet health standards, noting that “these food products are subject to monitoring by the agency to ensure their safety before being marketed in the Gabonese market,” emphasizing the accuracy required in the verification process.
He also indicated that “the necessary laboratory analyses will be conducted to ensure compliance with approved health standards and international standards,” reaffirming the shared goal of ensuring the health safety of marketed food products.
The Gabonese official confirmed that this agreement reflects the strong ties between the two countries, adding that it represents a tangible opportunity to establish a technical and scientific partnership that will enhance bilateral cooperation.
He stated, “For us, this is a significant step forward, and it will allow the Official Laboratory for Chemical Analysis and Research to fill the gap we face in food safety.”
The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, Ahmed Bouari, and the Gabonese Ambassador to Morocco, Brannly Martial Opolo.
The International Exhibition of Agriculture in Morocco 2025, organized under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, features 1,500 exhibitors from 70 countries, serving as a significant event for agricultural policies, a crucial platform to enhance exchanges, strengthen international partnerships, and highlight practical responses to the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
