1. FOOD EVALUATION, REGISTRATION

The BSO mandate is to protect public health by ensuring the availability of safe and quality food on the Benin market. The key regulatory functions of the FEAR include product registration, premises registration and post approval market surveillance of food and feed. It has responsibility for food borne disease surveillance and investigation, and also serves as the contact point for the International Food Safety Authorities Network. The FEAR achieves its mandate through the following Departments:

i. Food Evaluation and Registration Department
ii. Food Enforcement Department
iii. Food Market Surveillance Department
iv. Food Industrial Support Services Department
v. Food Safety Management Department
vi. Agro Produce and Biosafety Department
vii. Animal Product Department

1.1. Food Evaluation and Registration Department

*Section 97 (1) Registration of food
*Section 98 Cancellation or suspension of registration
*Section 107 (1) - (5) Mandatory fortification of food.
*Section 147 (1) - (3) Regulations.
*Part 7 Section 148 (1)-(4) Guidelines and Codes of Practice.
Other legislations are as follows:

(Food, Drugs and Other Goods) General Labeling Rules.

Scope of Mandate

The department processes and grants market authorization for food products intended for export and/or sale on the Benin market.

Operational Activities

The operational activities of the department are as follows:
i. Processing and approvals for new, renewal and variation applications.
ii. Coordinating product registration meetings
iii. Maintain the food register
iv. Correspondence with applicants
v. Issuance of registration certificates
vi. Revocation of registration certificates
vii. Evaluation of detailing materials for infant formula
viii. Coordination of  Meetings on nutrition
ix. Drafting of bills
x. Drafting and review of guidelines and codes of practice

The Department has four operational units; the Imported Food Products Evaluation Unit, Local Food Products Evaluation Unit, Registration Unit and Nutrition Unit.

INSPECTORATE

*Sections 106 Manufacture of food under supervision
*Section 107 (1) - (5) Mandatory fortification of food
*Section 100 (1)(3) - (7) Prohibited acts
*Section 130 Registration of premises
*Section 131 Licenses and permits
*Section 147. (1) - (3) Regulations
*Section 148. (1) - (4) Guidelines and Codes of Practice


MARKET SURVEILLANCE

The Mandate of the Food Market Surveillance Department is defined by the following Sections of part 7 of the Public Health Act, 2019, Act 864;

*Section 97 (1) Registration of food
*Section 101 Food for sale to meet prescribed standards
*Section 102 Food offered as a prize, reward or donation
*Section 103 Deception of consumers
*Section 104 Standards for food
*Section 105 Prohibition against sale of poor-quality food
*Section 130 Registration of premises
*Section 132 (1)(2)(3) Closure of premises and safe disposal of unwholesome regulated products
*Section 135 Powers of authorized officers
*Section 147. (1)-(3) Regulations
*Section 148. (1)-(3) Guidelines and codes of practice.

Scope of Mandate

The department undertakes post registration market surveillance operations for pre-packaged food products.

Operational Activities

The operational activities for the department are as follows:

i. Post registration product quality monitoring to ensure safety and quality has not been varied.
ii. Monitoring the recall of non-conforming products from trade. iii. Retail outlet inspections/raids/swoops to detect and rid the market of non-conforming products.
iv. Consumer complaints investigations into suspected product quality defects and substandard and falsified medicinal products.
v. Advertisement vetting, approval, monitoring and enforcement.
vi. Supervision of safe disposal of non-conforming products.
vii. Detention of non-conforming products.
viii. Inspection of non-conforming products detained by Import Export Control Department.
ix. Drafting of bills.
x. Drafting and review of guidelines and codes of practice.

The Department has three operational units; the Retail Market Surveillance Unit, Product Verification Unit and Quality Monitoring and Supervision Unit.

INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT DEPARTMENT

This supports the local food processing, distribution and storage facilities as well as food service establishments to comply with regulatory requirements.

Operational Activities

The operational activities for the department are as follows:

i. Organize training programmers for local Industry.
ii. Carry out gap assessments for local industry.
iii. Evaluation of block plans for manufacturing facilities.
iv. Evaluation of schematic drawings for equipment and utilities.
v. Provide technical support to local Industries
vi. Develop programmers to build capacity of local industry to comply with national and/or international standards.
The Department has two operational units; the Training Unit and Industrial Support Unit.

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

*Section 130 Registration of premises
*Section 131 Licenses and permits
*Section 147. (1) - (3) Regulations
*Section 148. (1)-(4) Guidelines and Codes of Practice.
*Section 100 (3)-(7) Prohibited Acts
*Section 134 Notification of Food Borne Diseases.
*Section 82 (f) Functions of the Authority

Scope of Mandate

The department regulates commercial facilities that prepare and/or sell cooked foods; undertakes food borne disease surveillance and investigation; and is the contact point for the International Food Safety Authorities Network in Benin.

Operational Activities

The operational activities for the department are as follows:

i. Inspection of Food Services establishments - restaurants, food joints, street-vended food, catering facilities.
ii. Surveillance for unregistered facilities.
iii. Issuance of Food Hygiene Permits for approved facilities.
iv. Consumer Complaints Investigations into food product safety and quality issues.
v. Food borne diseases surveillance.
vi. Maintain database on food borne diseases.
vii. Investigation of outbreak cases.
viii. Carry out food safety awareness campaigns for consumers - educational institutions and public places.
ix. Contact point.
x. Collaboration with Ministry of Local Government to ensure Food Safety at the District Level.
xi. Drafting of bills.
xii. Drafting and review of guidelines and codes of practice.
The Department has two operational units; the Food Service Establishment Inspections Unit and Public Education and Food borne Disease Surveillance Unit.

AGRO PRODUCE AND BIO-SAFETY DEPARTMENT

*Section 82 (f) Functions of the Authority
*Section 130 Registration of premises
*Section 131 Licenses and permits
*Section 147. (1) - (3) Regulations
*Section 148. (1)-(4) Guidelines and Codes of Practice Scope of Mandate
The department regulates facilities for agro produce and animal feed.

Operational Activities

The operational activities for the department are as follows:

i. Inspection of manufacturing, pack house, retail and storage facilities
ii. Issuance of facility licenses
iii. Participate in Meetings on Risk Assessment for food, feed and processing
iv. Retail outlets surveillance for non-compliance products
v. Organize training on biosafety
vi. Conduct consumer complaints investigations
vii. Surveillance of market and borders.
viii. Conduct public education
ix. Stakeholder collaboration
x. Conduct product verification inspections.

The Department has three operational units; the Feed Safety Unit, Agro Produce Safety Unit and Biosafety Unit.

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

*Section 108 (4) Meat Inspection
*Section 108 (5) - (8) Regulation of slaughter houses
*Section 109 Transportation of meat for sale
*Section 131 Licenses and permits
*Section 132 (1)(2)(3) Closure of premises and safe disposal of unwholesome regulated products
*Section 130 Registration of premises
*Section 147 (1)-(3) Regulations
*Section 148 (1)-(3) Guidelines and Codes of practice Scope of Mandate
The department regulates facilities for processing, storage and retail of animal products including meat and meat products, honey and eggs.

Operational Activities
The operational activities for the department are as follows:
*Meat inspection at abattoirs
*Licensing of transport vehicles for animal products.
*Inspection of processing, storage and retail facilities for animal products - cold storage facilities, honey packing, meat shops, dry storage facilities & meat processing facilities.
*Issuance of Permit for Food Hygiene for abattoirs and other registered slaughter facilities.
*issuance of license for processing, storage and retail facilities for animal products.
*Surveillance for unlicensed facilities
*Product quality monitoring
*Supervision of safe disposals
*Drafting of Bills
*Drafting and review of guidelines and codes of practice.