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Explore Mauritius' journey in implementing the SPS Agreement of the WTO and the challenges faced in ensuring food safety standards in a globalized market. Discover the needs for technical assistance and capacity building to overcome regulatory hurdles and expand trade opportunities. Learn about current initiatives and the call for increased awareness to drive sustainable progress.
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Mauritius Experience with the Practical Implementation of the SPS Agreement: Problems and Needs
Background • Accession of Mauritius to the WTO • Increasing food safety priority • Equivalence of treatments • Transparency • Local SPS Committee and SPS Enquiry Point
Introduction • Net food importer • Issues of plant/animal/human health important policy • Globilisation process present new • challenges to our importers/exporters
globalization process/trade liberalization = trade expected to expand = Our importers and exporters confronted with new challenges arising from new markets
Regulatory framework • Plants Act 1976 • Animal Diseases Act 1975 (in process of update) • Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998 • Food Act 1998 • GMO Bill
Technical Assistance • Visit of USAID/FANR of SADC • Animal Diseases Act 1975 (in process of update) • Commonwealth Secretariat and InternationalTrade Center team • Representative from SPS Secretariat
Measures by Mauritian Authority • Amendments to Plant Bill • GMO Bill • Regional Crop Protection Program • Co-operation at SADC level • PIP initiative of COLEACP • Setting up a Quality system for export sector
Problems • Limited participation • Difficult and costly process for exporters • High level standard by importing countries • Scarcity of competent human resource • Audit of our framework is imperative
Problems • Need for more awareness and understanding of SPS • ALOP difficult – vulnerability of Mauritius • Equivalence based on IOE, IPPC, etc. • Concern regarding safety assessment • Implementation of SPS Agreement - costly
Need for Technical Assistance • Development and strengthening of infrastructures • Capacity building at National level • Identification/implementation of equivalent measures • Development of Pest Risk Analysis guidelines • Accreditation of our laboratories • Creation of framework for quality assurance/ Certification/ Indexation of agricultural produce
Conclusion • Successful establishment of institutional framework • Headway : SPS/Food safety architecture • Consideration to historical trade • Technical co-operation of importing countries