Mozambique’s main business association CTA on the proposed General Inspectorate for Food and Economic Safety

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Mozambique’s main business association CTA on the proposed General Inspectorate for Food and Economic Safety

1:20 CAT | 26 Aug 2025

Photo: CTA

The Presidency of the Republic has officially launched the consultation process on the creation of the General State Inspectorate and the General Inspectorate for Food and Economic Safety, with the aim of gathering input on their founding rules, nature, scope of action, oversight bodies, core responsibilities, structure, and senior management.

Representing the Confederation of Business Associations of Mozambique (CTA), the President of the Trade and Services Department at the CTA, Imraan Gulam Husein, participated in the opening panel.

Imraan Gulam Husein highlighted the importance of centralizing inspections, not only to simplify processes, but also to create a fairer, more predictable system geared toward voluntary compliance by economic agents.

Current Inspection Status

According to the overview presented, the main challenges faced by business owners are:

Multiple entities: INAE, Health, Labor, Agriculture, Migration (SENAMI), Fire Department (SENSAP), SERNIC, Customs, AT, Municipalities, among others;

Overlapping and duplication: Multiple visits to the same economic agent for related matters, resulting in redundant efforts and documentation;

Lack of clarity: Lack of transparent information on legal requirements and procedures;

High costs: Significant waste of time and resources for companies and the government;

Risks of corruption: Fragmented and lack of transparency processes increase vulnerability to improper practices.

Economic Impact

In Mozambique, a business owner can receive up to five different inspections in the same month, often requesting the same documents. A company can lose up to 15 days per year simply responding to duplicate inspections, increasing operational costs and reducing productivity.

Furthermore, the lack of coordination creates regulatory uncertainty, discouraging investment and hindering the survival of SMEs.

Proposals presented

Creation of a digital platform to provide information on violations, laws, and authorized agents;

Implementation of a Digital One-Stop Shop for Economic Inspections, simplifying contact between companies and authorities;

Inspiration from successful international examples: Rwanda, Portugal, and Botswana, which demonstrate gains in efficiency, transparency, and increased trust in the business environment;