In August 2025, FAEA sponsored a workshop on "Risk-Based Food Safety Practices", successfully forging a crucial link between the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the nation's food industry, particularly its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Hosted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the event moved beyond theory to address the practical, day-to-day application of food safety standards.

The workshop's primary success was creating a neutral, science-based forum for open dialogue. It provided a rare opportunity for Kenyan industry members to give candid feedback directly to regulators. Participants voiced their concerns and explored the scientific basis for challenging requirements with JKUAT lecturers, microbiology lab technicians, and FAEA consultant Dr. Janie Dubois.

This exchange was invaluable for KEBS. Mr. Wycliffe Rachuonyo, a Standards Development Officer and Technical Committees Coordinator at KEBS, highlighted the event as a "vital opportunity" to engage directly with small-scale food operators. He gained a firsthand appreciation for the real-world hurdles they face in implementing standards.

This new understanding is set to have a direct impact on policy. According to Mr. Rachuonyo, the insights gained will "contribute to the overall performance for the Technical Committees (TCs) by ensuring that the voices of smaller businesses are actively heard and considered." This emphasis on inclusion is key to developing standards that are not only scientifically sound but also practical and achievable for the entire food sector.

Ultimately, the workshop shifted the dynamic from simply identifying problems to co-creating solutions. Facilitator Dr. Janie Dubois challenged both regulators and industry to bring innovative ideas back to the TCs. This approach empowers the food industry to become proactive partners in shaping regulatory policy, leading to more robust, widely adopted food safety practices that benefit consumers and strengthen Kenya's position in the global market.