(JUBA) – Senior government officials gathered in Juba on 23 September 2025 for a Food Safety and Codex Advocacy Workshop organised by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS). The event held at the Pyramid Continental Hotel focused on strengthening food safety standards and aligning South Sudan’s regulatory framework with international Codex guidelines.
The workshop was designed to raise awareness among senior officials on the importance of enforcing food safety rules to protect public health and to boost consumer confidence in the market.
Participants also discussed how improved food standards could support South Sudanese producers to access regional and international markets, where strict quality requirements often determine competitiveness.
According to the SSNBS, better food safety systems are expected to create an enabling environment for both small and large businesses in South Sudan’s growing food industry.
For traders, producers, and importers, compliance with recognised standards reduces the risk of goods being rejected in cross border trade, particularly with neighbouring East African Community (EAC) countries.
The Executive Director of the Bureau, Gloria Nyoka Joseph, said the institution was committed to building strong regulatory systems that can balance public safety with trade facilitation.
She recently met Members of Parliament from the Kajo Keji Caucus in Central Equatoria State, describing the engagement as constructive and part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between national institutions and state representatives.
Bureau of Standards Links Food Safety to Market Growth
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Main Event | Food Safety and Codex Advocacy Workshop |
| Date | 23 September 2025 |
| Location | Pyramid Continental Hotel, Juba County |
| Organiser | South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) |
| Focus | Food safety rules, Codex standards, public health, and trade competitiveness |
| Key Official | Gloria Nyoka Joseph, Executive Director, SSNBS |
| Outcome | Raised awareness on food safety, encouraged stronger regulation to support trade |
| Related Engagement | Meeting with Kajo Keji Caucus MPs (Central Equatoria State) |
| Linked Operation | Joint inter-agency inspection of Juba–Nesitu route on 17 September 2025 |
| Operation Leaders | Simon Akuei Deng (SSRA Commissioner General), Paulino Lukudo (Deputy Governor CES), Uztaz Yel Luol Koor (Undersecretary, Trade & Industry) |
| Purpose of Operation | Removal of illegal checkpoints to reduce trade and transport costs |
| Economic Context | $1 = 7,100 SSP (September 2025 market rate) |
| Expected Impact | Safer food systems, better regional market access, reduced costs for traders, stronger consumer confidence |
In a related development on 17 September 2025, the SSNBS joined a joint inter agency operation targeting illegal checkpoints along the Juba-Nesitu route. The initiative was led by the Commissioner General of the South Sudan Revenue Authority, Simon Akuei Deng, and supported by the Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State, Paulino Lukudo, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Uztaz Yel Luol Koor. Security organs and county officials also participated.
The aim of the operation was to dismantle unauthorised barriers that increase the cost of transport and trade. Truck drivers and traders have long complained about frequent checkpoints that add to delays and raise expenses for goods moving in and out of Juba. With the South Sudanese Pound currently trading at around 7,100 SSP per US dollar, the high cost of doing business remains a challenge, especially for import dependent sectors such as food, construction and consumer goods.