G/SPS/GEN/1826  
 
5 October  2020 
(20-6747) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
ECOWAS IMPLEMENTED SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY ACTIVITIES  
DURING THE PERIOD OF JULY - SEPTEMBER  2020  
COMMUNICATION FROM ECOWAS -USAID SENIOR SANITARY  
AND PHYTOSANITARY ( SPS) STANDARDS ADVISOR  
The following communication, received on  1 October 2020,  is being circulated at the request of  
the Economic Community of West African States  (ECOWAS).  
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
The USAID/West Africa Regional Mission works to support the Economic Community of West 
African States (ECOWAS) to ad vance their vision to create an economic union and common market. 
In line with this objective ECOWAS is implementing many agreements designed to support the free 
movement of goods and people throughout the region. Since 2017, SPS related actions have been 
implemented.  
In view of improving and strengthening SPS activities in the ECOWAS region , the following 
activities were implemented during the period of July to September 2020. It is to note that since 
March 2020, the COVID -19 pandemic has negatively impact ed on the smooth implementation of SPS  
related activities at national and regional levels.  
2  PLANT HEALTH AND PLANT PROTECTION  
2.1  Preparation and organization of 3rd NPPOs  regional harmonization and common 
position of matter of interest tabled for discussion at CPM15 – Virtual meetings to 
consolidate common position  
As in previous years, in early 2020 a meeting was planned with the financial support of USDA 
for the 15  ECOWA S member States, to be held in Cotonou, Benin, in March 2020. The meeting was 
intended to discuss subjects of concern and harmonize common positions on matters of interest for 
the sub -region at the CPM15 first planned from 30 March to 3 April 2020, in Rome , Italy. 
The objectives of the preparatory meeting were to review and discuss in detail the identified matters 
of interests for the West Africa sub -region to be discussed at the CPM15, and agreed on common 
position as well as consolidate these positions an d identify lead and support countries to present 
these positions at the CPM15.  
Considering the COVID19 situation, a draft comment position was prepared by experts group 
and shared electronically with all NPPOs for comment. The comments received were compil ed and 
sent again to NPPOs for validation with a second deadline by 16 June 2020. These comments were 
put into virtual discussion by Zoom in three sessions held on 14, 17 and 24 July 2020. Thus, this 
draft proposal has been finalized and common position co nsolidated taking into account all the 
comments received and views of NPPOs as the final joint ECOWAS proposal to present at the CMP15 
meeting which will be organized using remote mechanisms as the online Commenting System (OCS).  
Following the virtual harm onization meeting and considering that this was the first ever virtual 
sub-regional pre -CPM15 meeting, there was need to assess this virtual approach and gathered 
National Plant Protection Organizations' (NPPOs) views as to whether this was efficient and e ffective G/SPS/GEN/1826  
 
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  method, with suggestions of recommendations for improvement for the future sub -regional 
harmonization meetings. In this view, a questionnaire was developed and NPPOs provided feedback.  
Overall, the sub -regional harmonization on matters of interest  for CPM is critical for the 
15 ECOWAS member States. As such, participating NPPOs found it very relevant and expressed their 
views as for having a sustainable mechanism for the sub -region. It is also to note that despite 
holding the face -to-face meeting, the virtual platform provided an opportunity to discuss and 
contributes to quick build up  of consensus/compromise positions to progress CPM texts within the 
CPM and the Commission, and also provide a forum to share knowledge on various matters. Further, 
it is to note that if meeting were to continue virtually (that requires improvements), it will  only allow 
member States and very few other countries that have minimum internet connectivity to participate. 
This will create unnecessary disadvantage to those countries. This time around Mali, Liberia, Guinea 
Bissau, Guinea and Cabo Verde did not partic ipate in the virtual meetings. Nevertheless 
respondents/participants agreed that the face -to-face meeting provides  an opportunity to all 
member States to participate and also  that the facilitation, participation in the meeting and 
consensus building are ea sily achievable.  
2.2  Training workshop on the "Use of the Harmonized Phytosanitary Inspection and 
Decision -Making Guide"  
The training workshop on "The Use of the Harmonized Phytosanitary Inspection and Decision -
Making Guide " is an effort of USDA -FAS dedicated to support West Africa NPPOs Taskforce to 
disseminate the harmonized Guide in order to promote best practices in the conduct of plant 
quarantine operations in the sub -region.  
The program me aims:  
• to train in the pilot countries including C ôte d'Ivoire and G hana plant quarantine inspectors 
on a better understanding for further use of the Guide and;  
• to conduct simulation exercises with practical demonstrations of phytosanitary inspection 
including pest detection and identification at the laboratory;  
• to test th e applicability of the Guide.  
The training was conducted in Côte d'Ivoire from 28-30 September 2020. Fifteen port, sea and 
terrestrial border inspectors selected in the country were trained. Similar training will be conducted 
in Ghana from 4 -8 October 2020 . It is anticipated to scale up this training to all 17  ECOWAS and 
Sahel countries. This initiative is in line with ECOWAS priorities and the implementation of the SPS 
framework to help West Africa countries' plant quarantine systems meet international sta ndards and 
to promote safe trade.  
3  FOOD SAFETY AND CAPACITY BUILDING: "DO RIGHT AND FEED EVERYONE SAFELY"  
3.1  Coordination and participation to the CAC43 meeting  
In collaboration with AU -IBAR and CCAFRICA there have been a coordination and scientific 
advice pro vided to member countries prior and during the CAC43 (in progress). A number of regional 
and international standards were adopted. The CAC43 is still on and the final report of the CAC43 
will be adopted on 19 October 2020 . During the coordinating meeting p articipants agreed to a 
communique as a way forward. Prof. Ahmed Elsawalhy, Director of AU -IBAR thanks all participants 
and partners as well as the organizing committee. He stressed the commitment of  the African Union 
in supporting food safety related issu es for the benefits of the member States and the African 
population.  
4  GENERAL CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD  
The ECOWAS Commission take s this opportunity to thank USDA, USAID, FAO, African 
Development Bank (AfDB), AU -IBAR, CCAFRICA coordinating committee and al l partners for their 
continuing support in advancing SPS -related issues in the ECOWAS and Sahel sub -region. Also want 
to call for more collaboration, support for future implementation, especially in the new era of 
COVID -19. 
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