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INTER-AFRICAN PHYTOSANITARY COUNCIL’S PROJECT
Background and justification:
While international trade in agricultural commodities has increased since the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established, it appears that African countries have not benefited to the same extent as developed economies. The situation is attributed to the inability of the developing economies to meet International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) requirements of the developed, high value markets, particularly in the West, that often remain closed on quarantine grounds. More specifically, the problem for many developing economies is that they do not have the necessary understanding and skills on the complete spectrum of activities that make up Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), to allow them to competently make market access bids. Strengthening compliance of African countries with ISPMs will facilitate the marketing of their commodities since a standard is needed to facilitate trade and increase transparency. This requires a clearer understanding of the basis for determining operational activities, in particular the need to use technically sound judgements as a basis of approved legislation, the production of operational manuals and procedures. The expansion of trade in food and agricultural commodities and improvements in quarantine systems demand the pre-emptive research and development on identified pests’ threats. A reduction in the movement of plant pests into new environments and areas of production requires a good organization and networking of all stakeholders involved in crop production and quarantine. In order to reinforce and supplement other plant health capacity building in the continent, there is a need for IAPSC to improve the coordination by putting emphasis on plant health information exchange network for African countries.
Moreover, weeds are becoming severe constraints in Africa. Major crops are affected and the efficacy of available means to control them is minimal. Damage caused by noxious weeds on major crops is economically very important. Typical losses vary from 15-25% in some countries, but are much more severe in others and sometime result in a total crop failure. Control strategies have centered on agronomic practices and the use of herbicides; although success has been marginal. There is thus an urgent need to re-evaluate control methods and place them within a framework that is compatible with current agricultural practices. Having expressed concern at the alarming rate of spread and distribution of noxious weeds, the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of African Union (AU-IAPSC in collaboration with National Plant Protection Organization (NPPOs) of Africa is designed to prevent the introduction into the continent of non indigenous invasive plants and prevent the spread of newly introduced invasive plants within Africa. The establishment of a panel for making a list of Invasive Alien Plants is imperative. IAPSC needs to assess countries and recommend those endangered by these species to consider measures to prevent their introduction and spread or to manage unwanted populations. The global trade is expanding rapidly and significantly due to increase in consumer demands linked to growing education and awareness of consumers, internationalization of tastes and habits, developments in science and technology, and improvement in communications and transportation. Coupled with the breaking down of tariff barriers and quantitative restrictions, quality and safety have become very important in international trade. Not only have consumers all over the world become conscious of quality, but at the same time governments have realized their role in protecting the health and safety of their populations by imposing stringent regulations based on health, safety and environmental considerations
In recognizing that quality and safety can be assured through application of proper or well designed food control systems (exports and imports) African countries still find it difficult to comply with SPS measures. Most governments have emphasized on development and strengthening of import control systems with a view to protecting their populations and to prevent dumping of inferior quality products into their countries. However, the situation in Africa has been somewhat different, with export inspection and certification being compulsory in certain food items but not properly done. There is an urgent need to address these issues. The initial change came in relation to trade in endangered species, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to which many African countries are still to be signatory. This Convention covers both endangered plants and is just now becoming deeply embedded in the consciousness of customs inspectors. Concern in this continent about bio-safety issues has historically related to the introduction of noxious agricultural and horticultural weeds and diseases; and has been regulated by National Plant Protection Organizations and the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of African Union as the African Plant Protection Organization.
Overall objective
The Purpose of the project is to ensure the effective control system against harmful organisms on plants and plant products based on standard procedures and work (quality management system) through the whole phytosanitary sector of African countries such as to enhance crop production and trade. Moreover it aims at strengthening the procedures and standardizes the work at the Phytosanitary Administration of African countries, enhancing phytosanitary capacity evaluation, promoting pest surveillance, risk analysis, laboratories for diagnostics and phytosanitary inspection at borders entry points that apply to general phytosanitary actions by bringing them to comply with SPS issues and ISPMs, undertaking training, in order to achieve in NPPOs more effective control system in relation to pests and diseases.
Specific objectives:
While international trade in agricultural commodities has increased since the World Trade Organization (WTO) was established, it appears that African countries have not benefited to the same extent as developed economies. The situation is attributed to the inability of the developing economies to meet International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) requirements of the developed, high value markets, particularly in the West, that often remain closed on quarantine grounds. More specifically, the problem for many developing economies is that they do not have the necessary understanding and skills on the complete spectrum of activities that make up Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), to allow them to competently make market access bids. Strengthening compliance of African countries with ISPMs will facilitate the marketing of their commodities since a standard is needed to facilitate trade and increase transparency. This requires a clearer understanding of the basis for determining operational activities, in particular the need to use technically sound judgements as a basis of approved legislation, the production of operational manuals and procedures. The expansion of trade in food and agricultural commodities and improvements in quarantine systems demand the pre-emptive research and development on identified pests’ threats. A reduction in the movement of plant pests into new environments and areas of production requires a good organization and networking of all stakeholders involved in crop production and quarantine. In order to reinforce and supplement other plant health capacity building in the continent, there is a need for IAPSC to improve the coordination by putting emphasis on plant health information exchange network for African countries.
Moreover, weeds are becoming severe constraints in Africa. Major crops are affected and the efficacy of available means to control them is minimal. Damage caused by noxious weeds on major crops is economically very important. Typical losses vary from 15-25% in some countries, but are much more severe in others and sometime result in a total crop failure. Control strategies have centered on agronomic practices and the use of herbicides; although success has been marginal. There is thus an urgent need to re-evaluate control methods and place them within a framework that is compatible with current agricultural practices. Having expressed concern at the alarming rate of spread and distribution of noxious weeds, the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of African Union (AU-IAPSC in collaboration with National Plant Protection Organization (NPPOs) of Africa is designed to prevent the introduction into the continent of non indigenous invasive plants and prevent the spread of newly introduced invasive plants within Africa. The establishment of a panel for making a list of Invasive Alien Plants is imperative. IAPSC needs to assess countries and recommend those endangered by these species to consider measures to prevent their introduction and spread or to manage unwanted populations. The global trade is expanding rapidly and significantly due to increase in consumer demands linked to growing education and awareness of consumers, internationalization of tastes and habits, developments in science and technology, and improvement in communications and transportation. Coupled with the breaking down of tariff barriers and quantitative restrictions, quality and safety have become very important in international trade. Not only have consumers all over the world become conscious of quality, but at the same time governments have realized their role in protecting the health and safety of their populations by imposing stringent regulations based on health, safety and environmental considerations
In recognizing that quality and safety can be assured through application of proper or well designed food control systems (exports and imports) African countries still find it difficult to comply with SPS measures. Most governments have emphasized on development and strengthening of import control systems with a view to protecting their populations and to prevent dumping of inferior quality products into their countries. However, the situation in Africa has been somewhat different, with export inspection and certification being compulsory in certain food items but not properly done. There is an urgent need to address these issues. The initial change came in relation to trade in endangered species, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, to which many African countries are still to be signatory. This Convention covers both endangered plants and is just now becoming deeply embedded in the consciousness of customs inspectors. Concern in this continent about bio-safety issues has historically related to the introduction of noxious agricultural and horticultural weeds and diseases; and has been regulated by National Plant Protection Organizations and the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of African Union as the African Plant Protection Organization.
Overall objective
The Purpose of the project is to ensure the effective control system against harmful organisms on plants and plant products based on standard procedures and work (quality management system) through the whole phytosanitary sector of African countries such as to enhance crop production and trade. Moreover it aims at strengthening the procedures and standardizes the work at the Phytosanitary Administration of African countries, enhancing phytosanitary capacity evaluation, promoting pest surveillance, risk analysis, laboratories for diagnostics and phytosanitary inspection at borders entry points that apply to general phytosanitary actions by bringing them to comply with SPS issues and ISPMs, undertaking training, in order to achieve in NPPOs more effective control system in relation to pests and diseases.
Specific objectives:
- Consult with African countries’ Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine officers and relevant government officials, particularly those involved in Pest Risk Analysis and market access negotiations to establish pest list database and holding expert meeting to review plant and plant products pest list;
- Raise the awareness of NPPO officers on the opportunities available to them to apply risk mitigation measures to address pest risk assessment conclusions by prospective importing economies of the likelihood of measurable risks from importation and/ or exportation;
- Build the capacity required for African countries to comply with the International Standards Phytosanitary Measures activities;
- Organize Regional workshop for African countries to review and/or develop regional standards to strengthen their capacity to offer risk management measures in response to concerns that arise from pest risk assessments, based on the principles of scientific justification, consistency, minimal impact, equivalence, regionalisation, etc, including concepts of quality assurance and Hazards Analysis at Critical Control Point (HACCP), and to the extent that market access can be realised;
- Reinforce a contact and partnership prior for the capacity building of NPPO`s officials in weeds risk assessment and control / management;
- Develop and communicate information to promote noxious weed awareness and action in Africa;
- Assess the impact of weed in agriculture income for selected countries in specific Regional Economic Communities;
- Recommend measures to prevent their introduction and spread; to mitigate, suppress and contain invasive species already introduced;
- Strengthen different national infrastructure needed for risk assessment and monitoring of Living Modified Organism (LMOs) as well as plant germplasm and building capacity on biosafety issues, especially in the areas of :
- Pest Risk Analysis,
- Testing and monitoring,
- Legislation issues and Administrative arrangements.
Expected outputs:
- Updated spatial and temporal analysis of Pests in Africa
- Enforcement of compliance of all African countries member of AUC with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Standards and with challenges for African countries agricultural produce and trade;
- Contribution of African countries in noxious weeds identification and prevention for food security and plant health in Africa;
- Capacity building of National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPO`s) for supporting to the implementation of African countries` biosafey and plant material germplasm exchange framework;
- Harmonization of homologation of chemical pesticides in Africa ;
- Meetings and trainings workshops for reclassification and improving integrated pest management (IPM) for fruit flies in Africa ;
- Strengthening the capacities for Grasshopper control in Africa.
ADDRESS:
Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC)
Conseil Phytosanitaire interafricain (CPI)
P.O. Box 4170,
Yaoundé, Cameroun
Fax : (237) 2221 1967
(237) 2220 2108 (Finance)
Téléphone :(237) 221 1969
E-mail: au-cpi@au-appo.org