G/SPS/GEN/1784  
 
10 June 2020 
(20-4121) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
ECOWAS IMPLEMENTED S ANITARY AND PHYTOSAN ITARY ACTIVITIES DUR ING THE 
PERIOD OF DECEMBER 2 019-JUNE 2020  
COMMUNICATION FROM E COWAS -USAID SENIOR S ANITARY  AND PHYTOSANITARY ( SPS) 
STANDARDS ADVISOR  
The following communication, received on 9 June 2020,  is being circulated at the request of  the 
Economic Community of West African States  (ECOWAS).  
 
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1   INTRODUCTION  
The USAID/West Africa Regional Mission works to support the Economic Commun ity of West 
African States (ECOWAS) to advance their vision to create an economic union and common market. 
In line with this objective , ECOWAS is implementing many agreements designed to support the free 
movement of goods and people throughout the region. Since 2017, SPS -related actions have been 
implemented.  
In view of improving and strengthening SPS activities in the ECOWAS region , the following 
activities were implemented during the period of December 2019  - June 20 20. It is to note that since 
March 2020 , the COVID -19 pandemic has negatively impacted on the smooth implementation.  
2  PLANT HEALTH AND PLA NT PROTECTION  
2.1  Organizing the Third  West Africa NNPO and Partners Taskforce annual meeting, 9 -
13 December 2019, Dakar, Senegal  
The Third West Africa National Plant Protection Organization ( NPPO ) and Partners Taskforce 
Annual Meeting and the Validation Workshop of the "Harmonized Phytosanitary Inspection and 
Decision -Making Guides " were jointly organized by USDA -FAS Washington, FAO and ECOW AS, in 
cooperation with the Directorate of Plant Health of Senegal. Representatives of 14 West Africa n 
countries , namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte  d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, 
Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo at tended the meeting . It was to note the 
attendance of technical and donor partners including U EMOA, CILSS, USDA, USAID, CABI and FAO. 
The meeting aimed to:  
• review West Africa NPPO and Partners Taskforce Action Plan progresses and challenges, 
address pendin g priorities, identify new key activities and validate a work plan for 2020 
and beyond ; 
• review and validate the Harmonized "Phytosanitary Inspection and Decision -Making 
Guides ". 
The meeting made the following recommendations:  
To the regional NPPO Taskforce  
 
• to organize the pre -preparation meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures 
in March 2020  (CPM15 ); G/SPS/GEN/1784  
 
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  • to organize the next annual meeting in December 2020 ;  
• to ensure that the representation of NPPOs at both meeting s be consistent . 
 
To FAO 
 
• to support NPPOs  in raising awareness of national authorities on the financial impact of 
damage caused by harmful organisms on crops in order to encourage them to provide 
substantial budget for their NPPO operations.  
 
2.2   Preparation and organization of the third  NPPO region al harmonization and common 
position of matter of interest tabled for discussion at CPM15 – February 2020 – Cotonou 
(postponed  until further notice  because of the global concern of COVID -19). It could be 
held later in the year 2020.  
A team of experts (Dr F all Cheikh, Ana Peralta and Dr Benoit Gnonlonfin) was established and 
has developed a draft common position document for consideration by NPPOs. The draft common 
position document was sent to NPPOs for comment. Those comments received are being considered 
and the draft common position document revised   
3  FOOD SAFETY AND CAPA CITY BUILDING : "DO RIGHT AND FEED EV ERYONE SAFELY " 
3.1  Participation in the commemoration of the 2nd World Food Safety Day, June 7, 2020: 
"Food Safety, Everyone 's Business " 
In commemoration of the Second  World Food Safety Day (WFSD), the African Union Inter -African 
Bureau for Animal Resources (AU -IBAR) and the FAO/WHO Coordinating Committee for Africa 
(CCAFRICA) organized an online meeting on 5 June 2020 to raise awareness on food safety. The 
meeting was held under the sub-theme "COVID -19 Pandemic and Food Safety – Building 
resilient national food control systems for consumer protection and safe trade ". 
The objective of the online meeting was to provide a platform for Competent Authorities in Africa 
respon sible for food control to share information on impact, challenges, lessons in food control as a 
result of the COVID -19 pandemic and identify best practices and mitigation measures for operating 
resilient national food control systems. The meeting was atten ded by 86 participants from 30 African 
countries, two RECs (ECOWAS and COMESA), AU -IBAR and African Development Bank . The meeting 
was hosted by AU -IBAR and was addressed by  Dr Kimutai Maritim , CCAFRICA Coordinator and 
officially opened by Prof. Ahmed Elsaw alhy, Director AU -IBAR.  
Prior to the concluding remarks the meeting agreed to a COMMUNIQUE as a way forward. 
Prof.  Ahmed Elsawalhy , Director of AU -IBAR concluded the online meeting by thanking all 
participants and partners as well as the organizing committ ee. He stressed the commitment of 
African Union in supporting food safety related issues for the benefits of the member States and the 
African population.  
4  GENERAL CONCLUSION AND WAY F ORWARD  
The ECOWAS Commission take this opportunity to thank USDA , USAID , FAO, African 
Development Bank (AfDB), AU -IBAR, CCAFRICA coordinating committee and all partners for their 
continuing support in advancing SPS related issues in the ECOWAS sub -region . Also want to call for 
more collaboration, support for future implementation , especially in the new era of COVID -19. 
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