INITIATIVES ON INITIATIVES ON AFLATOXIN CONTROL AFLATOXIN CONTROL

/RWANDA/RWANDA

PRESENTED BYPRESENTED BY

Mr. MUKUNZI Antoine, Director Mr. MUKUNZI Antoine, Director Testing Labs/RBSTesting Labs/RBS

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Agriculture employs over 80% of the Agriculture employs over 80% of the population, contributes 34% to the population, contributes 34% to the GDP, and is the main earner of foreign GDP, and is the main earner of foreign exchange in Rwanda. exchange in Rwanda.

Because of this important economic Because of this important economic role, the agriculture sector holds a role, the agriculture sector holds a strategic position within the strategic position within the Government of Rwanda’s (GOR)Government of Rwanda’s (GOR)

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Medium and long-term goals as Medium and long-term goals as

outlined in the Vision 2020 and EDPRS outlined in the Vision 2020 and EDPRS Due to that the Government of Rwanda Due to that the Government of Rwanda

(GOR) has clearly prioritized the (GOR) has clearly prioritized the development of the agriculture sector as development of the agriculture sector as a means of reducing poverty, which is a means of reducing poverty, which is predominantly focused in the rural predominantly focused in the rural areas, and of driving economic growth. areas, and of driving economic growth.

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION With the success of the Crop With the success of the Crop

Intensification Program (CIP) that was Intensification Program (CIP) that was implemented in 2007, increases in crop implemented in 2007, increases in crop yields resulted in unanticipated yields resulted in unanticipated surpluses in key staple grains and surpluses in key staple grains and cereals. To better address the issues of cereals. To better address the issues of post-harvest loss resulting from the lack post-harvest loss resulting from the lack of capacity in post-harvest handling and of capacity in post-harvest handling and storage, storage,

INITIATIVES INITIATIVES

The Post-Harvest Task Force was The Post-Harvest Task Force was established in 2009. established in 2009.

The Post-Harvest Task Force aims to The Post-Harvest Task Force aims to maximize net profits for smallholder maximize net profits for smallholder farmers and reduce food insecurity by farmers and reduce food insecurity by strengthening staple crop value chains strengthening staple crop value chains and reducing post-harvest losses.and reducing post-harvest losses.

INITIATIVES INITIATIVES Reduce staple crop post-harvest losses Reduce staple crop post-harvest losses

at producer and first aggregator level at producer and first aggregator level

I.I. Build RAB Post-Harvest Team Build RAB Post-Harvest Team capacity, capacity,

II.II. Identify and prioritize economically Identify and prioritize economically relevant post-harvest technology, relevant post-harvest technology,

III.III.Disseminate and promote the uptake of Disseminate and promote the uptake of technology, Reduce post-harvest lossestechnology, Reduce post-harvest losses

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES

Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) was established in 2002 as the only was established in 2002 as the only body with powers to define and body with powers to define and possess national standards and possess national standards and

Most of food Standards were declared Most of food Standards were declared and as mandatory. and as mandatory.

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES

The Government of Rwanda is The Government of Rwanda is currently reforming RBS; to make it currently reforming RBS; to make it more efficient, RBS will focus on non-more efficient, RBS will focus on non-regulatory functions regulatory functions

Inspections will go to a separate Inspections will go to a separate Agency; National Inspectorate and Agency; National Inspectorate and Competition Authority (NICA)Competition Authority (NICA)

INITIATIVESINITIATIVESRBS has the following responsibilitiesRBS has the following responsibilities::Development and publication of Development and publication of

national food standardsnational food standardsHarmonization of Rwanda standards Harmonization of Rwanda standards

with regional and international with regional and international standards, standards,

Dissemination of information on Dissemination of information on standards and technical regulationsstandards and technical regulations

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES Import inspection, market Import inspection, market

surveillance and industrial surveillance and industrial inspection inspection

Testing and Metrology services Testing and Metrology services Certification servicesCertification services Aflatoxins testing is mandatory for Aflatoxins testing is mandatory for

all industries applying for all industries applying for certification certification

INITIATIVESINITIATIVESRwanda uses the EAC harmonized Rwanda uses the EAC harmonized

standards for cereals and cereal standards for cereals and cereal products is: products is:

I.I. 5ppb for Aflatoxins B1, 10 ppb for 5ppb for Aflatoxins B1, 10 ppb for total Aflatoxins, total Aflatoxins,

II.II.2 ppm for fumonisin 2 ppm for fumonisin

III.III.And moisture content at 13.5 to 14%And moisture content at 13.5 to 14%

INITIATIVESINITIATIVESRBS has the necessary testing RBS has the necessary testing

equipment for wide range of equipment for wide range of mycotoxins:mycotoxins:

I.I. HPTLC (TLC Scanner 3) automated HPTLC (TLC Scanner 3) automated developing chamber developing chamber

II.II.HPLC with fluorescent detector HPLC with fluorescent detector

III.III.LC-QQQ for testing of more LC-QQQ for testing of more mycotoxin at low detection limit and mycotoxin at low detection limit and metabolites metabolites

HPTLC IN RBS LABSHPTLC IN RBS LABS

Rwanda participates in FAPAS; UKAS accredited Proficiency Testing Scheme Provider

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES In partisanship with International Institute of In partisanship with International Institute of

Tropical Agriculture (IITA), supported by Tropical Agriculture (IITA), supported by USAID, USAID,

We are undertaking the project on quantifying We are undertaking the project on quantifying the problem in maize and cassava in households the problem in maize and cassava in households and markets, and sensitization of targeted and markets, and sensitization of targeted stakeholders based on a cost-benefit analysis”stakeholders based on a cost-benefit analysis”

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES Objectives:Objectives: Quantify key mycotoxin in maize Quantify key mycotoxin in maize

and cassava in rural households and and cassava in rural households and marketsmarkets

Sensitize stakeholders in Rwanda Sensitize stakeholders in Rwanda about occurrence of key mycotoxins about occurrence of key mycotoxins mechanismsmechanisms

INITIATIVESINITIATIVES

Objectives (Cont):Objectives (Cont): Establish a prevalence database that Establish a prevalence database that

can guide mycotoxin risk assessment can guide mycotoxin risk assessment and risk mapping activities in the and risk mapping activities in the country and hence strengthen standards country and hence strengthen standards and regulationand regulation

INITIATIVESINITIATIVESThe first batch of samples have been The first batch of samples have been

collected and submitted to BOKU-IFA collected and submitted to BOKU-IFA for analysis by applying an for analysis by applying an LC-MS/MS based multi-analyte LC-MS/MS based multi-analyte methodmethod

The results of the analysis of multiple The results of the analysis of multiple mycotoxins and fungal metabolites in mycotoxins and fungal metabolites in 109 cassava and 117 maize samples 109 cassava and 117 maize samples were received were received

INITIATIVESINITIATIVESAnother duty within this project is the Another duty within this project is the

transfer of know-how on LC-MS-based transfer of know-how on LC-MS-based mycotoxin analysis to the RBS. mycotoxin analysis to the RBS.

I.I. Laboratory analyst went to BOKU-IFA Laboratory analyst went to BOKU-IFA and got trained on LCQQQ method and got trained on LCQQQ method

II.II.Currently the BOKU-IFA expert is in Currently the BOKU-IFA expert is in RBS to assist in LCQQQ method RBS to assist in LCQQQ method development development

GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED More support to complement the IITA More support to complement the IITA

USAID project , 500 samples taken are USAID project , 500 samples taken are very few for whole country and cover very few for whole country and cover other commodities. other commodities.

Need for more research to establish Need for more research to establish standards levels based on country and standards levels based on country and regional problems regional problems

GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED GAPS TO BE ADDRESSED Set up of regional intercomparisons Set up of regional intercomparisons

schemes because FAPAS is expensiveschemes because FAPAS is expensive

Development of Maximum Limits Development of Maximum Limits (MLs) for other mycotoxins(MLs) for other mycotoxins

Support in equipment maintenance, Support in equipment maintenance, troubleshooting and waste disposal troubleshooting and waste disposal

Thank You for your Thank You for your kind attention!kind attention!