Cape Verde Crackdown: New Food Safety & Hygiene Rules
Cape Verde’s Inspectorate General of Economic Activities (IGAE) is launching a major crackdown on the food sector following a series of alarming discoveries regarding hygiene, safety, and food preservation. The announcement came today from Inspector General Elisângelo Monteiro as he was sworn in for a second term.
Tackling Public Health Risks
During his first term, Monteiro reported witnessing widespread violations that directly threatened public health. “I encountered situations such as a lack of hygienic conditions and poor food preservation,” Monteiro said. “These are the infractions that stand out and to which IGAE will give special attention in the near future.”
The agency plans to intensify inspections nationwide, prioritizing the monitoring of how food is stored, handled, and displayed to consumers. The announcement follows a recent raid in the capital, Praia, where three establishments were shuttered due to severe sanitary failures. Inspectors at those sites uncovered a litany of hazards, including pest infestations, poor ventilation, trash accumulation, and expired products.
Cracking Down on Pricing and Fraud
Beyond cleanliness, the IGAE is targeting financial transparency. Monteiro highlighted a growing issue with pricing practices, specifically cases where price tags are missing or where customers are charged more at the register than the price displayed on the shelf.
“We want consumers to actually have security in their consumption activities,” Monteiro stated, noting that pricing accuracy will be a top priority alongside health safety.
Recent enforcement actions have also identified illegal activity beyond hygiene, including the sale of alcoholic beverages without tax stamps, the distribution of illegally produced spirits, and businesses operating without valid licenses.
A Modernized, Data-Driven Approach
To support this expanded oversight, Monteiro revealed plans to grow the agency’s workforce from its current 17 inspectors to approximately 30. He also intends to modernize the inspectorate by shifting toward a data-driven, risk-assessment model that uses technology to identify high-risk operators more efficiently.
Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry, and Digital Transition, António Batista, echoed the need for a more proactive agency. During the swearing-in ceremony, Batista called for an IGAE that is “preventive, modern, and risk-oriented.”
While the Minister emphasized the importance of educating business owners to prevent accidental non-compliance, he maintained a zero-tolerance policy for criminal negligence. “When the infraction is deliberate and harms society, the agency must act firmly,” Batista said.
The IGAE is currently working to establish a national inspection network, strengthening its partnerships with both the National Police and the Judicial Police to ensure comprehensive enforcement across the archipelago.
Image: Pexels – Thomas Schwaak
