COMESA SPS capacity
strengthening Programme
“The Status”
Brian Nsofu
COMESA Secretariat
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Specific Objective
Enhance the SPS capacity of the public and
private sector of member states in order to
gain and maintain regional and
international market access for food and
agricultural products.
• Objectives of the COMESA SPS interventions are
based in large part on the objectives and the
implementation of the CAADP Pillar II:“Rural
Infrastructure and Trade-Related Capacities for
improved market access”.
4/13/2015
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Expected results
1. Regional leadership, coordination and
collaboration on SPS issues.
2. Private-sector-driven common certification
schemes/protocols and standards in use
3. Monitoring, surveillance, diagnostic and
emergency response systems established for
priority SPS risks
4. Improved decision making using accurate and
up-to-date SPS information
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Council Decisions
• Enhance programs for mutual recognition and
harmonization of SPS measures to facilitate
intra regional trade
• Develop and implement the Green Pass
Certification Scheme
• Harmonize regulatory aspects related to natural
remedies such as bio control & biopesticides
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Background – MTSP(2011-2015)
MTSP priorities: (a) removing barriers to trade to
consolidate the internal market/FTA (b) building
productive capacity to enhance global
competitiveness and build regional capacity
MTSP indicators: (a) SPS measures harmonized
in at least 14 countries (b) 19 countries
implementing mutual recognition agreements on
SPS measures and certificates
• The MTSP guides the outcomes, the LF guides
intervention logic (what & how)
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Enhance programs for mutual
recognition and harmonization of SPS
measures
A key challenge to intra regional trade has been
the lack of mechanisms for the mutual recognition
of SPS measures based on equivalence rather
than sameness.
Training (a) Regional training on the application
of the principle of “equivalence” to facilitate trade
(b) Regional training on sampling and testing
protocols for aflatoxin control (c ) MCDA
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Projects
(a)horticulture trade facilitation project
o
Support COMESA horticulture exporters to access
the SA market (Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar,
Zimbabwe)
(b) biopesticides registration guidelines
o
Work plan for development of harmonized
biopesticides registration guidelines developed
(c) aflatoxin sampling and testing
protocols
o
Regional action plan for harmonized sampling and
testing protocols developed and funding secured
from USDA
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
(d) fruit fly surveillance
o Support Swaziland and Zambia to mitigate the fruit fly
problem (with TMSA funding)
(e) The Green Pass
o the “Green Pass” is a mechanism for mutual
recognition based on accreditation, and would allow
for equivalence at commodity or system level.
o Current status:
- Funds secured from the STDF for the feasibility study
- Legal analysis completed
- Feasibility study under preparation to establish Green
Pass modalities
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
(f) Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)
• MCDA enables capacity building options to be
prioritized based on a wide range of decision criteria
- Provides evidence on economic returns from SPS
capacity building options to mobilize necessary
investments
• Five COMESA member states trained and
conducted the MCDA analysis (Malawi, Zambia,
Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda)
• Software has been provided by the STDF [5 MS +
COMESA]
• One COMESA staff trained as trainer on application
of MCDA
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
PANSPSO TRAINING OF TRAINERS WORKSHOP
• Date: 23-25 July 2012
• 30 participants (Animal health, Plant Health
and Food safety)
• MSs: DRC, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi,
Seychelles, Zambia (except Mauritius)
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA
Activities 2013
• Regional workshop on food safety/HACCP for SMEs
• Review guidelines for regional biopesticides
registration & laboratory testing/sampling
procedures
• Regional training to apply science based decision
making in prioritizing COMESA SPS priorities
• Stakeholders workshop to discuss components of a
potential trade facilitation project (role for Green
Pass)
• Support the 5th COMESA SPS Subcommittee
meeting
VETGOV/PANSPSO STEERING COMMITTEE
MEETING 21-22 NOV 2012, LUSAKA