G/SPS/GEN/1736  
 
16 October 2019  
(19-6723) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
SPS ACTIVITIES OF THE CARIBBEAN AGR ICULTURAL HEALTH  
AND FOOD SAFETY AGEN CY (CAHFSA)  
REPORT TO THE COMMIT TEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASUR ES 
The following communication, received on 15 October  2019, is being c irculated at the request of  
CAHFSA . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) was established by the 
Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to perform a coordinating and 
organizing role in the establishment of an effect ive and efficient regional sanitary and phytosanitary 
(SPS) regime and to execute on behalf of member States such SPS actions and activities that can 
be more effectively and efficiently executed through a regional mechanism.  
1.2.  CAHFSA is pleased to provide th is report to the seventy -sixth regular meeting of the Committee 
on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, summarising key activities and providing updates on 
CARICOM SPS work programme for the period April to October 2019 . 
2  COLLABORATION WITH I NTERNATIONAL AN D REGIONAL ORGANIZAT IONS IN THE 
AREA OF AGRICULTURAL  HEALTH AND FOOD SAF ETY 
2.1.  CAHFSA continues its engagement with the OIE, IPPC and the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
through meeting participation and regional coordination.  
2.2.  As the Regional Plant Protection O rganization for the Caribbean, CAHFSA has once again, 
collaborate d with the IPPC to organise the 2019 IPPC regional workshop for the Caribbean. 
The workshop, which was held 10 -12 September 2019, also included a one -day seminar on the 
Fusarium Wilt of Banan as, Tropical Race 4.  
2.3.  The Institution has expanded its engagement with the IAEA to include collaboration on various 
activities including:  
1. Regional coordinator on the Interregional Project for SIDS on Soil, Water and Nutrient 
Management ; 
2. Development of a reg ional project to Facilitate the development of human resource and 
capacity building in member states  in the use of nuclear technology for application in 
agriculture ; 
3. Development of a Regional Strategic Profile (RSP) for the CARICOM IAEA members . 
2.4.  CAHFSA has  signed a new Letter of Agreement (LOAs) with the Food and Agricultural 
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sub -Regional Office for the Caribbean to:  
1. Provide Technical Support to Pilot the Technical Working Group for pesticides registration 
evaluation  for CGPC countries ; 
2. Support capacity building for the monitoring and surveillance of two pests of quarantine 
importance in Grenada . G/SPS/GEN/1736  
 
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  3  STANDARD SETTING AND  IMPLEMENTATION  
3.1.  The Ministers of Agriculture of the CARICOM ha ve approved the formation of a Caribbean 
Taskforce on Food Safety. The primary responsibility of the group will be to provide advice and 
guidance to CAHFSA on the enhancement of coordination and harmonisation of food safety 
interventions, including food safe ty standards.  
4  CAPACITY BUILDING  
4.1.  A workshop on Regional Food Safety Standards Coordination  was held in Paramaribo, Suriname 
from 23 -25 July 2019 targeted at Food Safety Regulators of all 15 CARICOM member States. 
This workshop was organized by CAHFSA in collaboration with FAO and agreed on a set of key 
recommendations to enhance coordination of food safety measures among the member countries 
and to work together towards harmonized food safety standards for the region.  
4.2.  CAHFSA continues to provide training in pest risk analysis to CARICOM member States ; towards 
improving the competence of Analysts in the region and to build a cadre of risk assessment 
professionals.  
5  TECHNICAL RESOURCES AND INFORMATION EXCH ANGE  
5.1.  The Information Portal  developed on CAHFSA 's webs ite continues to provide a weekly update 
on WTO notifications as well agricultural health and food safety alerts.  
 
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