Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)
Study on National SPS Coordination Mechanisms in Africa – preliminary
recommendations
WTO Workshop on SPS Coordination at National and Regional Levels
17 October 2011, Geneva
Background Background
• SPS management capacity and compliance depend on
coordinated action by wide range of public, private and
other stakeholders (PPP)
• National SPS coordination mechanisms (“committees”)
(being) established in Africa - often driven by projects
(e.g. PAN-SPSO), regional SPS frameworks (RECs)
Objectives Objectives
i. Analyse existing national SPS committees (survey,
e-mail communication, interviews, desk research)
ii. Identify practical recommendations to enhance
development, performance and sustainability of SPS
committees
NB: Draft study prepared in collaboration with UK Natural
Resources Institute (NRI) and to be finalized in 2011
taking into account discussions at WTO workshop
Outcomes (1)Outcomes (1)
• Only one country (out of 17) rates SPS committee as
“satisfactory”
Unclear organizational mandates
Out-dated legislation
Limited SPS awareness at all levels
Inadequate resources
Lack of trust, transparency
Difficulties in involving private sector (and academia, consumer
organizations, etc.)
Outcomes (2)Outcomes (2)
• High diversity in objectives, functions, scope, members,
legal status, frequency of meetings, communication
methods, funding, etc.
• No “one size/type fits all” solution
• Six preliminary recommendations
1. Raise SPS awareness1. Raise SPS awareness
• Organize high-level SPS stakeholder event (in
collaboration with WTO, REC, other development
partners, etc.) to define objectives and scope
• Show economic impact of potential measures on trade
and wider economy
2. Clarify organizational mandates2. Clarify organizational mandates
• Integrate SPS coordination in SPS policy and review/
update legislation
• “Formalize” SPS committees (where necessary and
appropriate)
NB: Lengthy process, should not be an excuse for putting
coordination on hold
3. Build on existing mechanisms3. Build on existing mechanisms
• Resource limitations
• Committees, working groups, taskforces on food safety, animal/plant health, specific sectors or commodities
National Codex Committees
Kenya Horticulture Taskforce
Mango Taskforce in Mali
• Existing mechanisms facilitate private sector participation
4. Follow “good meeting practices”4. Follow “good meeting practices”
• Appoint Secretariat / Chair
• Establish terms of reference / operational procedures
• Prepare agenda, circulate documents before and after meetings, allow time for comments, prepare minutes, etc.
5. Establish clear and effective communication strategy5. Establish clear and effective communication strategy
• Use media and other existing tools (including SPS-IMS, STDF)
• Consider creation of web-based SPS information network/ portal connecting wide variety of stakeholders (NNA, NEP, Codex/IPPC/OIE contact points, private sector associations, etc.) (STDF/PG/19)
• Consider broadening scope to all standards affecting trade in agricultural products (including TBT / private standards)
6. Promote sustainability6. Promote sustainability
• Ownership and commitment
• Formalization of “SPS committee”
• Practical and workable design and structure
• Resources (government budget vs. external funds)
• Training / capacity building
For more information:For more information:
Standards and Trade
Development Facility (STDF)
World Trade Organization
Centre William Rappard
Rue de Lausanne 154
CH-1211 Geneva
Switzerland
www.standardsfacility.org