MCDA Final Report Malawi - Standards and Trade Development ...

Application of the atoxigenic strain will also reduce mycotoxin levels in maize and cassava crops grown
in nearby fields, with benefits in terms of reduced local dietary intake. The death rate from liver cancer
(hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)) in Malawi is one of the highest rates in the world. 41 Levels of HCC in
countries with a similar climate but good mycotoxin management systems, for example South Africa and
Brazil, are much lower. It is estimated that the use of the atoxigenic strain could result in a significant
decline in the HCC rate in Malawi. A possibly more significant public health problem in Malawi is
oesophageal cancer which is associated with fumonisins that are metabolites of Fusarium spp. This
issue will also be partly addressed by the use of GAPs in maize production.
4.3. Mycotoxin testing capacity
Currently, exporters cannot obtain certified tests of export consignments of groundnuts or maize for
mycotoxin residues inside Malawi. Whilst a number of laboratories can conduct semi-quantitative tests
for aflatoxin (although not for mycotoxins more generally) residues prior to shipment, they cannot
provide internationally-recognised quantitative results at the consignment level. Thus, exporters run
the risk that local test results are inaccurate and/or that aflatoxin levels increase during transit, leading
to rejection of the consignment.
Although there are accredited laboratories in the region, particularly in South Africa, there is limited
sharing of and access to such resources within and between countries. Thus, this option would fund the
establishment of internationally-recognised quantitative testing capacity for mycotoxin residues in
Malawi. Credible controls and testing must be in place for exporters to ensure compliance with
destination market standards, notably those of the EU. At the current time, consignments are retested
in Europe; this cost would be avoided if internationally-recognised testing capacity existed in Malawi. At
the same time, there are serious domestic public health considerations relating to the presence of
dietary mycotoxins. The establishment of laboratory testing capacity in Malawi is necessary in order to
ensure monitoring and assessment of the levels and occurrence of these contaminants in the local diet.
4.4. Compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for honey exports
For any product of animal origin to be imported into the European Union, including honey, the exporting
country has to have a residue plan in place which outlines how pesticides and other residues will be
controlled and prevented from exceeding maximum levels. Malawi is not on the list of EU-approved
countries for the importation of honey. Some other countries in the region, for example Uganda and
Zambia have obtained such approval.
The initial investment involved in obtaining official EU approval for exports of honey is significant.
Maintaining this approval is less costly, but does requires an annual update of the residue analyses. The
required expertise and finance required to obtain initial approval is not available at the level of
individual producers. Thus, the Competent Authority, perhaps in this case the DALD in MoAFS, would
need to take the lead in preparing and submitting the application for Third Country listing.
Major steps involved in achieving approval for the importation of honey into the EU are as follows:
A sampling schedule for Malawian honey exporters needs to be prepared based on specified
maximum exportable quantities. Honey is then sampled during the harvesting season with the
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