G/SPS/GEN/2167  
 
8 November  2023 
(23-7544) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
IGAD BRIEF UPDATE REPORT TO THE  SPS COMMITTEE  
NOVEMBER  2023 
COMMUNICATION FROM THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL  
AUTHORITY  ON DEVELOPMENT (IGAD)  
The follow ing communication, received on 8 November  2023, is being circulated at the request of 
the Intergovernmental  Authority on Development  (IGAD).  
 
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1.  The IGAD Center for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) is a regional technical 
center of IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development ), a regional economic community 
serving the eight member States in East Africa (Djibouti , Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, 
South  Sudan, Somalia and Uganda) . 
2.  Technical support provided for the above member States by IGAD/ICPALD during the reporting 
period to enhance transboundary animal disease control and livestock trade in the region , 
complementing the national development efforts of member States include s: 
1  INTER -REGIONAL JOINT REGULATORY BODIES MEETING OF IGAD EXPORTING AND 
MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA (MENA) IMPORTING COUNTRIES  
3.  The 6th IGAD -MENA meeting conducted on 8 -9 August 2023 to review the progress made and 
challenges faced during the export –import proce ss and the status of compliance with sanitary 
standards by the exporting countries, discuss on the way forward where compliance levels are low 
and propose actionable interventions to address the gaps so as to enhance transparency and trade 
between the two regions.  
4.  Key recommendations were:  
− IGAD and MENA countries should strengthen bilateral discussions and undertake missions to 
particular countries to jointly review progress made in areas of diagnostics, surveillance, 
disease control following the inter -regional engagement;  
− Importing countri es need to share updated versions of their import requirements on live 
animals and meat for the exporting countries;  
− Some of the MENA importing countries need to inform exporting countries the reasons , 
including laboratory results , in a timely manner in case of rejection of a consignment , for 
subsequent actions.  
2  ADAPTATION OF ANIMAL DISEASE INFORMATION SHARING PROTOCOL ALONG THE 
CROSS BORDERS OF ETHIOPIA -DJIBOUTI; AND KARAMOJA CLUSTER (ETHIOPIA -
SOUTH  SUDAN KENYA AND UGANDA) AND UPDATE OF VACCINATION CALENDA R 
5.  The cross -border meeting conducted on 3 -5 October 2023 to facilitate the adaptation of the 
animal disease information sharing protocol for the borders of Ethiopia -Djibouti; and Karamoja 
cluster (Ethiopia -South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda) using the signed Et hio-Kenya animal disease 
information sharing protocol.  G/SPS/GEN/2167  
 
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  6.  The team drafted two animal disease information sharing protocols for the two clusters for 
validation and subsequent signing by the countries. Moreover, the team reviewed the existing 
vaccination calen dar for each cluster and updated it in preparation for synchronized vaccination.  
7.  Key recommendations were : 
− Committing resources to achieve the agreed animal health and sanitary measures along the 
borders;  
− Need to establish, prevention; risk -based surveilla nce systems and quarantine strategies 
along the borders;  
− Need for reporting and timely information sharing for effective and efficient cross border 
collaboration.  
8.  Acknowledgement: IGAD/ICPALD is grateful to member States, FAO and AFDB for their 
collaborati on and/or financing the implementation of the above activities.  
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