WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19
26 June 2002
(02-3546)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Submission by South Africa
AddendumG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19
Page 2 Technical assistance requirements:
Information Training Infrastructure:  (Hard and/or
Soft)Specific concern Other
Rights,
obligations and
practical
operation of
the SPSAgreement:Pest Risk Analysis with
regard to import of plants,
plant products and
regulated articles.Investigating the
possibility
coordinating
assistance within the
SADC region toincrease the benefits
from the envisaged
training and capacity
building
Food safety
Animal health
Plant health Updated information on
import requirements for
plants, plant products and
other regulated articlesrequired by developing
countries.Training in conducting
surveys for the
interception and control
of quarantine pests.Assistance with the  development
of harmonised phytosanitary
measures and risk management to
ensure effective regulatory andcontrol services in the SADC
region.
Contact details Mr Eben Rademeyer Director Plant Health & Quality/ Mr Mike Holtzhausen, Dep. Director: Plant Health
South African National Department of AgricultureTel:   +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.zaG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.19
Page 3
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.
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