G/SPS/GEN/1570  
 
18 July 2017  
(17-3883) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
OVERVIEW OF ECOWAS I MPLEMENTED SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY AC TIVITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM E COWAS -USAID SENIOR SANITAR Y AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS)  
STANDARDS ADVISOR  
The followi ng communication, received on 14 July 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
Economic Community of West African States  (ECOWAS) . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The USAID/West Africa Regional Mission works to support the Economic Community 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. In  standards , a USAID/West Africa  
Cost Reimbursement Implementation Letter no 2 was signed between CILSS and USAID/West 
Africa. It is through this agreement focus will be on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards.  
1.2.  With reference to the approved 2017 work plan and in view of improving and strengthening 
SPS activities in the ECOWAS region the following activities were implemented:  
1.1  Establishment of institutional SPS working group  
1.3.  In the framework of the ECOWAS/ USAID cooperation program me on SPS, the Industry and 
Private Sector Promotion Department of the ECOWAS Commission, organized a technical meeting 
of the working group on s anitary and phytosanitary on 3  May 2017 in Dakar, Republic of Senegal. 
The purpose of this meeting was to establish the ECOWAS working group on SPS matters and to 
analyze draft terms of reference for the working group o n SPS matters and its adoption.  
1.4.  So, the working group on sanitary and phytosanitary w as established and comprise of:  
 ECOWAS Commission:  
o Department of Indust ry and private sector Promotion;  
o Department of Trade;  
o Department of Ag riculture and Rural Development;  
 West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) ; 
 UEMOA: Food safety, agriculture, mines and environment ; 
 USAID West Africa Regional Mission ; 
 Observers : 
o AU-InterBureau on Animal Resourc es; 
o AU-InterAfrican Phytosanitary Council . 
1.5.  The term of reference of the working group was reviewed, amended and validated by all 
participants. This working group will provide scientific comment and guidance on SPS matters to 
member States of the region and  lead to a secretariat to better manage and provid e leadership on 
the SPS matter.  G/SPS/GEN/1570  
 
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  1.2  Auditing and revitalizing national SPS committees and regional consultation in 
prioritizing SPS matters  
1.6.  In view of strengthening national food safety and quality system , in-country SPS committees 
were created through the support of previous projects including the PanAfrican Standards Setting 
project led by AU -IBAR with the support of European Union. It was observed that these national 
SPS committees were not active/nonfun ctional especially in the ECOWAS member States. This 
situation was the results of various conditions and challenges encountered by member States. 
These challenges are not well known. Further, solutions to address them are not yet proposed.  
1.7.  From 5 -7 July 2 017, a regional SPS and stakeholders meeting was convened to review status 
of country SPS committees, update on progress made since creation, challenges encountered, 
perspectives for moving forward and creation of regional SPS committee 's network for advan cing 
SPS matters in the region with the view of boosting intra -regional and international trade. In term, 
based on the recommendations, a regional action plan is being developed.  
2  PLANT HEALTH AND PLA NT PROTECTION  
2.1.  The agriculture sector in West Africa cont inues to play a key role in the economic 
development of the ECOWAS member states. Agriculture contributes 30% of Gross Domestic 
Product (GDP) and 55% of employ ment for the rural population. The region has for a long time 
experienced mixed fortunes as far a s food production and productivity are concerned. The region 
continues to experience an increase in population, which stands currently at 330 million, and 
should translate into 500 million by 2025. This demographic scenario requires a concerted effort to 
increase production through intensification to feed the growing population with 60% predicted to 
be living in the urban period by 2025. Grain production rose from 16 million metric tons in 1980 to 
56 million metric tons in 2013. Root and tuber production ha s also risen in the tropical wet zones 
and today it stands at 150 million metric tons. Despite these laudable achievements, the region 
continues to experience food deficit s because of number of factors such as low production, climate 
change, pest and disea se prevalence, declining soil fertility, unfavorable trade and economic 
environment and limited access to technology amongst farmers in the region. A critical factor that 
limits production is the prevalence of transboundary plant pests and diseases, which affect food 
and cash crops, causing significant losses to farmers and threatening food security. It is in this 
light the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy 2025 perspective places a lot of emphasis on the need to 
develop a holistic approach to plant pest and diseas e prevention/mitigation s plan for the region. 
PREVENTING is  better than TREATING DISASTER.  
2.2.  The objective was to develop a West Africa (ECOWAS) comprehensive plant pest and disease 
prevention, surveillance and mitigation framework that will contribute to th e realization of the food 
and nutrition objectives of the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWPA 2025/RAIP -FSN 2020) under 
the CAADP framework (Malabo Declaration 2014).  
2.3.  From 6 -7 June 2017, a regional sta keholders meeting was held and:  
 A comprehensive action pl an on plant pest and disease prevention, surveillance and 
mitigation developed for the EC OWAS region;  
 A catalog/list of best practices in plant disease management/plant protection for 
dissemination through existing ECOWAS agri cultural platforms and project s; 
 A coordination mechanism for plant disease activities taking into consideration the 
comparative advantage of all the various stakeholders;  
 Key quick start activities identified and fund s mobilized for implementation.  
2.4.  As a follow up, a task force will be  established (from 7 -8 August) with the support of USDA -
APHIS, bureau of Dakar, Senegal.  
3  FOOD SAFETY AND CAPA CITY BUILDING  
3.1.  A recent four country study on cereals sourcing for the agro -industrial sector in West Africa 
revealed that aflatoxin issues constitu te a critical challenge to the regional grain trade. Aflatoxin 
contamination represents a threat to both human health and the economic growth of this sector.  
The West Africa Trade Hub and Investment has designed a three -day Training of Trainers 
workshop on  aflatoxins control and management. Key stakeholders were Approche Communale G/SPS/GEN/1570  
 
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  pour le Marché Agricole (ACMA Project), Benin 's cereals farmer 's umbrella organization, FUPRO -
Benin, West African Grains Network, civil society and youth agri -foods enterprises.  
3.2.  From 21 -23 June  2017 in Porto Novo, Benin a training of trainers session was jointly 
facilitated by the West Africa Trade Hub and Investment, USAID West Africa Regional Mission and 
ECOWAS Commission.  
3.3.  Thirty -three actors were trained on aflatoxin management and control strategies to 
guarantee the safety of maize, groundnut and other susceptible  agricultural commodities. 
This training is a pilot program, specific to Benin, but will provide a model for expanding and 
escalating this type of training throughout t he region.  
4  ATTENDANCE AT R EGIONAL, INTERNATION AL SPS FORA  
4.1.  The ECOWAS Commission were represented at regional and in ternational meetings including:  
 National Codex Contact points meeting: Nairobi, 28 -30 June 2017 ; 
 SPS committee meeting of the World Trade Org anization, Geneva, 11 -14 July 2017 ; 
 Codex Alimentarius Commission se ssions, Geneva, 17 -22 July 2017.  
5  CONCLUSION AND WAY F ORWARD  
5.1.  In concluding and on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission I would like to express my gratitude 
to USAID, USDA, USDA -APHIS and all par tners and donors for  their support in advancing 
SPS matters in the region and beyond. We seek more supports for the implementation of actions 
plans as mentioned above.  
 
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