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

STDFSecretariat@wto.org

melvin.spreij@wto.org

www.standardsfacility.org