WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19/Rev.1
16 October 2002
(02-5598)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Submission by South Africa
RevisionG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19/Rev.1
Page 2 Technical assistance requirements:
Information Training Infrastructure:  (Hard and/or
Soft)Specific concern Other
Rights,
obligations and
practical
operation of
the SPSAgreement:Yes Workshop for officials - Publications
- Capacity building
- Awareness buildingParticipation in for a
WTO's SPS activityInvestigating the
possibility
coordinating
assistance within the
SADC region toincrease the benefits
from the envisaged
training and capacity
building
Participation in WTO
activity in a NEPAD
context
Food safety
Animal health Yes Workshop for officials - Training in laboratory
techniques
- Equipment for residue analysisTraceability systems from
farm to forkParticipation in WTO
activity in a NEPADcontext
Plant health Updated information on
import requirements for
plants, plant products and
other regulated articles
required by developing
countriesPest Risk Analysis with
regard to import of plants,
plant products and
regulated articles
Training in conducting
surveys for theinterception and control
of quarantine pestsAssistance with the  development
of harmonised phytosanitary
measures and risk management to
ensure effective regulatory and
control services in the SADC
regionG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19/Rev.1
Page 3Technical assistance requirements:
Information Training Infrastructure:  (Hard and/or
Soft)Specific concern Other
Contact details Mr Eben Rademeyer Director Plant Health & Quality/ Mr Mike Holtzhausen, Dep. Director: Plant Health
South African National Department of Agriculture
Tel:   +27 9 12 319 6504 Tel :  +27 9 12 319 6100
Fax:   +27 9 12 319 6350 Fax:  +27 9 12 319 6350
E-mail:   SecSMPH@nda.agric.za E-mail:  MikeH@nda.agric.za
Dr. Siegfried Meyer, Directorate Animal Health
Tel:  +2712 319 7512
Fax:  +2712 329 6892
E-mail:  SiegfriedM@nda.agric.zaG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19/Rev.1
Page 4
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
(Such information could include, inter alia, a more detailed description of the technical assistance
required, any relevant background information on the reasons for the request, the possibility of
using a regional approach to the provision of the requested assistance and the scope for a
coordinated approach among relevant international organizations.)
The South African Fresh Fruit industry is an important export industry.  South Africa is also known
for its export inspection and certification system, mostly with regard to quality of fresh fruit and
vegetables.  The major Fresh Fruit Export Industries are currently in compliance with importingcountry as well as buyer food safety requirements.
The need however exists to implement food safety programmes on a national level instead of only
focussing only on export sector.  It is therefore necessary to build capacity within government as
well as within industry, also including the small growers.  The National Department also envisage toestablish a food safety component in the new structure which will require that officials in the Food
safety component will be required to conduct risk assessments to determine the level of
microbiological risk on fresh fruit and vegetables as well as to develop a monitoring programmes
for both exports and well as local sales.
Auditing of these food safety programmes would require the inspection personnel to have
competencies on GAP, GMP and HACCP auditing.
South African staple food of the poor are produced  from grains.  Industries such as the maize and
wheat industries included  mycotoxin survei llance programmes within their annual crop quality
surveys.  Although South Africa has grading legislation as well as health legislation dealing with
mycotoxins there is a lack in official monitoring of mycotoxins as well no official integrated system
to reduce and address the possibility of contamination.  Assistance would thus be required to
address these issues.
To put South Africa in a position to enter into equivalence agreements training on the evaluation of
equivalence would be required.
A regional approach for capacity building should be followed, e.g.- SADC or SACU country grouping
- NEPAD holistic approach- Or following bilateral country agreements
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