G/SPS/GEN/1404  
 
25 March 2015  
(15-1684)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 SADC REPORT TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGA NISATION SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY 
COMMITTEE MEETING ON SPS ACTIVITIES 
MEETING OF 26-27 MARCH 2015 
The following communication, received on 24 March 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Southern African Development Community (SADC). 
 
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  1  REGIONAL MANAGEMENT OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
1.  SADC Secretariat convened regional meetings for the SADC Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Coordinating Committee (SPS CC); Food Safety, Livestock and Plant Protection Technical Committees in Pretoria, South Africa on 21–22 January 2015. The objective of the meeting was to 
discuss implementation of the SPS Annex to the SADC Protocol on Trade in order to enhance food 
security, regional and international trade while protecting human, plant and animal health/life. The meetings were supported by the European Union (EU) through the Regional Economic Integration 
Support (REIS) programme. 
2.  The meetings were attended by member States including regional and international 
organisations operating in the SPS area. Workplans were developed in the respective thematic areas (food safety, plant and animal health). 
2  WORKSHOP ON FOOD SAFETY AWARENESS CREATION 
3.  SADC Secretariat facilitated a workshop on Food Safety Awareness creation for the private 
sector in Pretoria, South Africa on 10–12 February  2015. The goal of the workshop was to broaden 
the understanding of the food safety issues by the private sector so as to enhance their 
participation in the development and implementation  of food safety standards for improved safe 
regional and international trade in food. Participants included representatives of farmers 
associations, retailers associations, manufacturers association, consumers associations; and 
farmers. The workshop was sponsored by the European Union through REIS programme. 
4.  Participants and workshop facilitators shared  their national experiences in the implementation 
of food safety systems. It was strongly agreed  that national food safety regulators should 
collaborate with the private sector in order to ensure that food safety standards are equally 
implemented for both domestic and cross international trade. 
3  STUDY ON IDENTIFICATION OF PHYTOSANITARY REGULATIONS HINDERING 
REGIONAL TRADE 
5.  SADC Secretariat commissioned a regional study in November 2014 to identify phytosanitary 
measures hindering trade in plants and plant products. The study covered seven member States, 
namely: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The end 
of assignment report is being compiled by the consultants. G/SPS/GEN/1404 
 
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  4  WORKSHOP ON HARMONISATION OF PHYTOSANITARY REGULATION 
6.  SADC Secretariat facilitated a workshop on harmonisation of phytosanitary regulations for 
horticultural fruits moving in intra-regional trade. The workshop was held in Harare, Zimbabwe on 10–12 February 2015. Participants of the worksh op were officials from the National Plant 
Protection Organisations (NPPOs) responsible for conducting pest risk analysis (PRA) including 
plant protection experts from research institutions, University and international organisations. The workshop was sponsored by the European Union through REIS programme. 
7.  Phytosanitary import conditions for 19 horticultural fruits were drafted and circulated for 
comments from stakeholders in all the member States. 
5  REGIONAL MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT FLIES 8.  With support from Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) through the regional Technical 
Cooperation Programme (TCP), member States offi cials responsible for management of fruit flies 
are undertaking one month training – ending in March 2015 at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya. 
9.  SADC Secretariat would like to thank African Union – Inter-Africa Bureau for Animal Resources 
(AU-IBAR) for the support to participate in this meeting. 
 
For more information, contact: E. Meintjies ( emeintjies@sadc.int ) or C. Mwape 
(cmwape@sadc.int ). 
 
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