Overview of Mycotoxins and Regulations in Cameroon

Cameroon faces the serious challenge of postharvest losses which is partially due to mycotoxins contamination. In Cameroon, maize is one of the most vulnerable foods to mold contamination, whereas cocoa and coffee are food commodities with high impact on the economy when contaminated. Due to their potential negative impact on health (Mutagenic, hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, haematotoxic, immunosuppressive, neurotoxic…), norms on the level of mycotoxins in marketed and consumed foods have been established worldwide. Currently, Cameroon does not have national standards or regulatory limits for mycotoxins in food and feed. However, in the absence of national law on mycotoxins, national regulations and initiatives (National Committee of Codex Alimentarius and Food Safety, Legal and regulatory framework of food quality control, Framework Law on Food Safety in Cameroon…) are taken by the government to protect the population. The food safety system in Cameroon involves several institutions and decentralized local authorities, thereby creating other jurisdictional conflicts (legal and organizational component.), which could negatively impact expected results. However, application texts and other specific texts are still awaited for better efficiency of the food safety system in Cameroon.