G/SPS/GEN/1537  
 
8 March  2017 
(17-1380) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
REPORT ON SPS ACTIVITIES  
COMMUNICATION FROM  THE CARIBBEAN AGRICU LTURAL HEALTH  
AND FOOD SAFETY AGEN CY (CAHFSA)  
The followi ng communication, received on 7 March 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Age ncy (CAHFSA) . 
_______________  
 
 
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 establishmen t of an effective 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 became ful ly operational on 1 October 2015 and focused its attention on major areas 
of work, aligned to its mandates. As this is the Agency 's first presentation to the 
WTO SPS Committee, the report provides an overview of CAHFSA 's activities for the peri od 
October  2015 to March 2016.  
2  DEVELOPING LINKAGES WITH INTERNATIONAL S PS-RELATED ORGANIZATION S 
2.1.  CAHFSA, as the regional organization tasked with c oordinating and harmonizing SPS -related 
activities, sought and obtained Observer status at the meetings of the three stand ard setting 
bodies  formally recognised in the WTO SPS Agreement (Codex Alime ntarius Commission, IPPC, 
OIE).  
2.2.  The Organization also received Observer st atus to the meetings of the WTO SPS Committee 
and wishes to use this opportunity to thank the meeting f or the honour of participating.  
3  STANDARD SETTING  
3.1  Plant Germplasm  
3.1.  Six protocols on the safe movement of plant germplasm within the CARIForum region, were 
sent for member State consultation. These include protocols for moving Ipomoea batatas  (sweet 
potato), Dioscorea  spp (yam), Capsicum chinense  (hot pepeprs), Cajanus cajan  (pigeon peas), Zea 
mays  (corn) and Phaseolus vulgaris  (beans) planting material.  
3.2  Products Derived from Regional Priority Commodities  
3.2.  In order to support the region's initiatives to produce va lue-added products, including 
cassava flour, CAHFSA, in collaboration with regional partners, sought to evaluate the quality of 
cassava flour produced in the region as a first step towards some level of standardization of the 
product. A draft standard for cassava flour has been developed.  G/SPS/GEN/1537  
 
- 2 - 
 
  3.3  Pest Risk Analysis  
3.3.  A guideline for conducting pest risk analysis was developed to provide a standardised model 
for interpreting and applying the IPPC ISPM standards for Pest Risk Analysis (PRA). This document 
is intended t o help ensure consistency and harmonisation in conducting PRAs in the region.  
3.4  Regional Animal Health Protocols  
3.4.  Three regional animal health protocols have been reviewed towards approval at a recently 
held stakeholder consultation. These include:  
 Harmonized  Protocols for the Movement of  Dogs and Cats in the Caribbean;  
 Conditions for a Permit Controlling the Importation of Live Caprine and Ovine from 
CARICOM Countries ; and  
 Protocol Governing CARICOM Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures for Trade in 
Animals and Animal Products . 
4  RISK ANALYSIS  
4.1  Animal Health  
4.1.  A Regional Animal Health Assessment Team has been established by CAHFSA and tasked with 
conducting regional animal health risk assessment as determined by CARICOM. To date, animal 
health risk assessment s have been conducted in six CARICOM member States, towards facilitating 
the trade in meat products wit hin the region.  
4.2  Plant Health  
4.2.  A training programme, including PowerPoint presentations and a workbook has been 
developed for use in training a cadre of pe st risk analysts in the region. The programme has been 
used to conduct training workshops in five member States, most of which are currently engaged in 
establishing PRA Units/Committees.  
5  TECHNICAL RESOURSES AND INFORMATION EXCH ANGE  
5.1.  Several databases relate d to agricultural heath and food safety have been developed to 
improve the delivery and sharing of information across the region. These databases, which are still 
in the developmental stage, are available from the CAHFSA website a nd will provide informatio n 
on: 
 Risk analyses completed;  
 Regionally regulated pests;  
 Regional trade issues;  
 Import and export requirements of the member States;  and 
 Food safety, animal and plant health practitioners in the region . 
6  DISPUTE RESOLUTION  
6.1  The Development of a procedure for SPS -related trade dispute settlement within 
CARICOM  
6.1.  The prevalence of SPS -related disputes among member States and the protracted time -
frames for their resolution was largely behind the initiative by CAHFSA to focus on the 
development of a draft procedu re for resolving SPS disputes as a means of faci litating intra -
regional trade. The draft document is currently being prepared for member State consultations.  
 
__________