ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA) TECHNICAL WORKSHOP: 10-11 MARCH 2011

The world is a global village!!!!

To provide the right balance between the right of governments to protect food safety, plant and animal health

To prevent SPS measures from being unjustified trade barriers

Established by the WTO & responsible for overseeing implementation of the SPS Agreement

Meets 3 times annually thus offering an opportunity for WTO members to raise specific trade concerns regarding SPS requirements of trading partners

Has developed guidelines to assist governments in ensuring a consistent approach in determining their acceptable risk levels and in selecting the measures to achieve these.

All countries maintain measures to ensure that food is safe for consumers & to prevent spread of pests and disease among plants and animals (i.e., SPS Measures). Examples are: Acquire goods from disease-free areas only Inspection of products Specific treatment or processing of products Maximum levels of pesticide residues Allowing only certain additives in food

Measures must apply to both domestic and imported products

Justification of measures must be accurately & scientifically based

Measures are based on international standards (CODEX, OIE, IPPC)

Equivalent, where necessary (i.e., use of alternative measures to achieve same end)

Regionalization & recognition of pest free areas Risk assessment is encouraged Transparency (notification of Parties re:

new/changed measures taken) – NNA/EP

Antigua and Barbuda are signatory to the: WTO Agreement (1995)

IPPC (2005)

CODEX (1988)

OIE (not members: annual subscription prohibitive!!)

SOURCE: http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/antigua-and-barbuda/export-import.html

Legislation STATUS

Pesticides & Toxic Chemicals Control Act (sanitary) • pesticides imports- registration, management, etc. • manages illegal importation of unregistered & banned pesticides •Certifies pest control operators

•New act enacted in (June) 2010 •Regulations currently being worked on

Food Safety Act (sanitary) •Addresses matters of food safety

•No legislation exists •draft act to be brought before upcoming Parliamentary session

Plant Protection Act (phytosanitary) •Regulates import & export of plant materials •Manages plant pest problems nationally

•Current: Plant Protection Act (1941) •draft act to be brought before upcoming Parliamentary session

Animal Health Act (sanitary) •Regulates import & export of animals and animal products •Manages animal diseases nationally

•Animals (International Movement & Disease, 1987 + Diseases & Importation, 1953) Act •Draft act currently under review by A.G.’s chambers

National Notification Authority (NNA) Ministry of Agriculture (2005, Cabinet Decision)

Enquiry Point Plant Protection Officer – Dept. of Agriculture

E-mail: sps.enquiries@antigua.gov.ag Notifications to SPS Committee to date

(2005): Draft Plant Protection Act, draft Food Safety Act,

draft Animal Health Act, Pesticides & Toxic Chemicals Control Act

TORs developed for nSPSC Last met mid-2010 Comprises personnel from agriculture,

analytical services, health, trade, Bureau of Standards & IICA

Budget submission for 2010 & 2011 submitted to Ministry of Agriculture but not approved

Institution represented No. of meetings attended

Trade 1

Plant Protection 4

Veterinary & Livestock 4

Antigua & Barbuda Bureau of Standards 3

Central Board of Health 4

Agriculture Extension 1

Central Marketing Corporation 1

NOTE: Attendance of these meetings was facilitated largely by the IICA Initiative for the Americas to improve representation at the SPS Committee meetings

Passage of outstanding draft legislation Capacity building for HR (collection of scientific

data, building & management of scientific databases, conduct of risk analyses, training in negotiation skills, etc)

Development of systems for data collection & management

Acquisition of required laboratory & other infrastructure)

Financial & other commitment of government to the work of the nSPS Committee