National SpS Coordination Mechanisms - Standards and Trade ...

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Box 9: Uganda – Considering scope and legal statusIn Uganda, a number of regulatory agencies and ministries are responsible for theadministration and implementation of the TBT and SPS Agreements. Until 2004, there was nomechanism in place to coordinate the responsible ministries and agencies, and to consult andinclude the private sector - on which implementation of the provisions of the Agreements has abig impact. The need to coordinate SPS and TBT matters was recognised and led to thecreation of a forum where representatives from ministries, agencies and the private sector couldmeet and discuss SPS and TBT issues and formulate national positions.As a result, Uganda established a National TBT/SPS Committee in 2004. This was an initiativeled by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) which also holds the Secretariat andthe Chair of the Committee. The Committee currently meets three times per year, at least twoweeks prior to meetings of the WTO TBT and SPS Committees. However, thoughts arebeginning to emerge to separate TBT and SPS issues because the administration andimplementation of the TBT and SPS Agreements is increasingly becoming demanding for theSecretariat of the Committee, who – despite efforts to source funds, have no additionalfinancial resources to dedicate themselves to both fields.Major international projects are being implemented in Uganda to strengthen trade capacity,with an emphasis on SPS matters. It is expected that these projects will improve existinginitiatives to enhance SPS coordination, especially regarding the budgetary constraints whichcurrently restrict the Secretariat of the Committee in their operations. At the same time it isrecognised that although international projects may bring a temporary solution, a moresustainable approach should be found.The effectiveness of the Committee could be further enhanced if stakeholders increase theirparticipation by providing feedback on notifications. The use of appropriate means ofcommunication (such as IT infrastructure) and an awareness strategy has been identified as away of enhancing transparency and communication.Although there are intentions to formalize the TBT/SPS Committee by law to ensure thatdecisions made by the Committee are legally binding, to date it has no legal status.Source: Mr George Opiyo (2011)28 30
Annex 4: Overview of Regional Economic CommunitiesExistence orplanned SPSpolicyframeworkKey strategy/action planelementsProjects/InitiativesRegionalcommitteesCOMESA EAC IGAD SADC WAEMU ECOWAS CEN-SAD ECCASYesYesYes"Umbrella"type frameworkGreen PassCertificationsystemAgriculturalMarketingPromotion andRegionalIntegrationProjectPreparations forFree Trade Area(FTA) involvingSADC,COMESA, andEACYes"Umbrella" typeframework, plusdevelopment ofseparatestandardsfor the regionDevelopment ofharmonised SPSstandards forthe regionUNIDO Tradecapacitybuilding projectRegionalSteeringCommittee onTransboundaryAnimalDiseases; alsoprep. for FTASPS frameworkto be developedwithin five yearsRegional PolicyFramework onAnimal Healthin the Contextof Trade andVulnerabilityLivestockInformationPortal (LIP)IGAD PartnersForum (IPF), incl.developedcountries andinternationalorganizations"Umbrella" typeframeworkStrengtheningharmonizationwith objectiveof facilitatingtrade andpromoting foodsafety in regionSeveral capacitybuildingactivities ( e.g.FSCBRC project)Preparations forFree Trade Area(FTA) involvingSADC,COMESA, andEACYes, Similar to"Umbrella" typeframework withrelativelydetailedtechnicalitiesand proceduresRegional SPSharmonization.Cooperationwith ECOWASand CILSS.EU / UNIDOWest AfricaQualityProgramme;capacitybuildingRegionalcommittee forinternationaltradenegotiationsLargely basedon WAEMU’sframeworkHarmonizationof SPSregulations ofthe 8 FrenchspeakingECOWAS MSwith other MSEU / UNIDOWest AfricaQualityProgramme;capacitybuildingRegionalVeterinaryCommitteeSPS frameworkto be developedafter adoptionof the region’sfree trade zoneNo specificstrategy on SPSmatters. It dealswith SPS issueson an ad-hocbasisRegionalProgramme forthe Control ofTransboundaryAnimal DiseasesREC’s observer status in the WTO SPS Committee and International Standard-Setting Bodies (ISSBs)WTO No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes NoCodex No No No Yes ? Yes Yes NoOIE Yes No No Yes ? Yes No NoIPPC No No No Yes ? Yes No NoCommonphytosanitaryregulations tobe developedfor the region aspart of tradefacilitation workRegional FoodSecurityProgramme(FAO) includesdevelopment ofSPS regulationsSource: Regional SPS Frameworks and Strategies in Africa. Report prepared by J. Magalhães for the STDF at the request of the African Union Commission (AUC), July2010.29
Page 1: Standards and TradeDevelopment Faci
Page 4 and 5: DisclaimerThe findings, interpretat
Page 6 and 7: ACRONYMSACFSAUCBRCCEN-SADCOMESADAFF
Page 9 and 10: 1. INTRODUCTION1. Sanitary and phyt
Page 11 and 12: 2. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF NATIONAL
Page 15 and 16: countries with a cross-cutting nati
Page 17 and 18: espondents indicated that their com
Page 19 and 20: collaboration with a REC or as part
Page 21 and 22: official documents (such as governm
Page 23 and 24: ANNEXESAnnex 1: Checklist to Assist
Page 25 and 26: • Agreement should be reached on:
Page 27 and 28: The SPS-PVS tool: Performance Visio
Page 29 and 30: Box 2: Burkina Faso - Getting stake
Page 31 and 32: Box 4: Malawi - Gradually upgrading
Page 33 and 34: Box 6: Namibia - Gradually upgradin
Page 35: Box 8: Thailand - The importance of

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