In March 2026, Burkina Faso’s Council of Ministers officially enacted the creation of the Faso Food and Drug Administration (Faso FDA), resulting from the merger of the Agence Nationale de Régulation Pharmaceutique (ANRP) and the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire, Environnementale et de l’Alimentation (ANSSEAT). This reform brings under a single authority functions that had previously been spread across several ministries (Health, Agriculture, Commerce, and Environment): drug control, food product analysis, cosmetics, and pesticides. Beyond enforcement, the stated goal is to support the industrialization of the pharmaceutical and agri-food sectors and to strengthen cooperation with the African Medicines Agency.
Five months later, the concrete implementation of this restructuring is translating into operational adjustments. In an information notice dated August 28, 2026, the ANRP announced a rescheduling of the upcoming sessions of several technical commissions and committees:
- Technical Commission for the Registration of Health Products
- Technical Commission for the Control of Advertising and Proper Use of Medicines
- Technical Committee for the Identification of Pharmacy Establishment Sites
- Technical Committee for the Review of Clinical Trial Authorization Requests
According to the Directorate General, these delays are directly linked to the ongoing merger process and the harmonization of procedures between the two former entities. Submitted files continue to be tracked, and an updated schedule will be communicated shortly through official channels.
Key takeaway for industry operators: the transition to the Faso FDA, though announced back in March, is now causing transitional delays in ongoing regulatory procedures in Burkina Faso. Companies with pending files for product registration, advertising control, or clinical trial authorization should factor these delays into their planning.