The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) raises crucial questions regarding food safety, particularly concerning antibiotic residues in animal-source products. During the 5th Ordinary Session of the AfCFTA Council of Trade Ministers, held in Accra in April 2026, an additional protocol on sanitary standards for antimicrobial residues was unanimously adopted. This protocol establishes harmonized Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for 15 classes of antibiotics in meat, milk, eggs, and honey traded between member countries. The adopted MRLs are aligned with Codex Alimentarius standards, with specific adaptations for African production systems. A continental reference laboratory, based in Kampala, will be responsible for arbitration in trade disputes related to residues. AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene emphasized that "intra-African trade can only thrive if consumers trust the safety of the products they buy. This protocol is an investment in the credibility of our free trade area." He also announced a capacity-building program for national quality control laboratories. Analysts estimate that this protocol could affect up to $12 billion in annual intra-African food trade. Exporting countries will need to adapt their production chains to comply with the new standards, representing both a challenge and an opportunity for modernizing the continental agri-food sector.