WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.15
6 June 2002
(02-3155)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE – RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
Submission by the Maldives
AddendumG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.15
Page 2 Technical assistance requirements:
Information Training Infrastructure:  (Hard and/or
Soft)Specific concern Other
Rights,
obligations and
practical
operation of
the SPSAgreement:Hosting conferences,
seminars and workshops.Hosting conferences,
seminars and workshops to
train personnel concerned.To train personnel including
analysts and inspectors.Compliance with international
regulatory mechanisms.International
standards such
as ISO
standards.
Food safety Hosting conferences,
seminars and workshops.Training programmes for
inspectors and analysts.Laboratory equipment purchase
and training of personnel.To improve consumer awareness
and education.
Vetting of certificates,validity/details which these
should contain – training of
Customs Services
Animal health Vetting of certificates,
validity/details which these
should contain – training of
Customs Services
Plant health Technical expertise to:
1. Develop national
phytosanitary
certificates based on the
FAO-IPP Model.
2. Prepare legal framework
(Plant Protection
Legislation) to
strengthen plant
quarantine andphytosanitary
procedures.Financial assistance for:
1. Academic (University)
training to develop HR
in the field.
2. Short-term training
through certificate
courses, workshops,
seminars, study tours
etc.Laboratory and field equipment
for a plant quarantine facility.Several exotic pests and diseases
are introduced to the country
through trade of plant products
and materials.  This affects
agricultural productionadversely.  No quarantine
facility exists in the country.
To overcome the problem,
financial assistance to build aplant quarantine facility at the
port of entry is required.G/SPS/GEN/295/Add.15
Page 3Technical assistance requirements:
Information Training Infrastructure:  (Hard and/or
Soft)Specific concern Other
Vetting of certificates,
validity/details which these
should contain – training of
Customs Services
Contact details Food safety:  Director, Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of  Health, Male, Maldives;  Tel:  00960 312284/332608;  Fax:  00960 312281;  E-mail:
quaslab@dhivehinet.net.mv
Plant health:  Mr. Mohamed Zuhair, Assistant Director-General, Mini stry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources;  Ghazee  Building, Male,
Maldives;  Tel:  00960 323928/322625;  Fax:  00960 326558;  E-mail:  agri@fishagri.gov.mv
Maldives Customs Service:  Planning and International Relation SectionG/SPS/GEN/295/Add.15
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 Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is an organization within the Ministry of Health to provide
analytical services for the quality control of food as well as monitoring compliance of safety
standards and regulations.  The PHL is responsibl e for carrying out the monitoring of sanitary
standards of food establishments and food processing plants.
Shortage of adequately trained food inspectors and analytical personnel is one of the biggest
problems in addition to the shortage of needed equipments, to carry out the mentioned tasks.
Agriculture development in the Maldives remains a serious challenge due to lack of human and
institutional capabilities to implement change, and inadequate physical infrastructure for expanding
agriculture in the Maldives.  Apart from the physical inadequacies, technical incompetence, due
shortage of key skills also hinders agricultural development.  Pests and disease management is the
most crucial among them.  A number of pest and diseases as well as non-parasitic diseases (saltspray, mechanical injury, water-logging, chem ical injuries etc.) affect the productivity of
agricultural produce in the Maldives.  The influx of planting materials, fruits and vegetables from
the neighbouring countries without proper quarantine procedures lead to the rapid build-up of these
pests and diseases in the country.  Moreover, the country lacks its own quarantine facilities hence,
the isolated and scattered nature of the country no longer affords an effective barrier against theimportation of new pests and diseases.  This is detrimental to agricultural production in the country
and the dependency on imported products is increasing.
Also in the face of this build-up of pests and diseases, more and more people has to rely on the use
of hazardous pesticides for its control.  Unfortunately, this does not offer long-term solutions and is
likely to make the problem worse in the tiny isla nd environment.  The environment, soil and the
harvested products become contaminated with dangerous levels of pesticide residues.  It isimportant that the pest and diseases are correctly identified and the appropriate control measures
chosen while causing little damage as possible to the host, environment and beneficial organisms
existing.  An integrated approach of pest/disease management need to be immediately developed
and implemented to protect occupational health risk s with work related exposure of humans to toxic
chemicals and to safeguard our fragile, vulnerable environment from further effluence.
Therefore, it is extremely important to strengthen the plant quarantine and phytosanitary capability
of the country.  For this purpose the Government of Maldives requires international assistance.
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