Local products: HAUQE raises awareness of food standards among stakeholders

In Lomé, the ministry responsible for trade and the High Authority for Quality and the Environment (HAUQE) raised awareness among producers, processors and consumers about food standards at a meeting on October 20. Togo has approved 46 food and agricultural standards developed since 2024, and a conformity assessment mechanism for locally made and imported products took effect in July 2026. HAUQE president Arzouma Laré Botre said that buying local should not mean accepting lower standards. Nearly 40 products have been certified in two years, and small businesses still need support to navigate testing and certification.