G/SPS/N/SYC/7  
18 April 2024  
(24- 3216) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  SEYCHELLES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Seychelles Public Health Authority  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  All processed food imported into or exported out of Seychelles for 
sale; with the exemption of the import and export of food products of plant and animal 
origin that is provided for under the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Act, 2014; and export of 
fishery products that is provided for under the Export of Fishery Products Act, 1996.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicab le: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Draft Food Act (Import and Export of Foods) 
Regulations, 2023 . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  17 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2024/SPS/SYC/24_02620_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The Food Act 2014 refers to general provisions for the protection 
of foods from contamination, adulteration, and deception and prevents the sale of food 
that is injurious to health. However, the Act, on its own, does not provide the Authority 
with a clear direction on how to mitigate food sa fety risks associated with imported and 
exported foods.  
Hence, the need for a regulation on the importation and exportation of food, with the 
intention of addressing the existing gaps and weaknesses to augment public health 
protection and improve fair trad e. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[X] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, iden tify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : The Draft Regulations is a Sub -Regulation under the 
Food Act 2014. Section 38 (2) of The Food Act, 2014 requires that in making 
regulations under subsection (1) of the Food Act, 2014, account shall be taken of 
the Codex Alimentarius and the World Trade Organization Agreement on the 
application of SPS measures.  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aqua tic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  G/SPS/N/SYC/7  
 
- 2 - 
 
  [ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[X] Yes   [  ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) : The Regulations will enter into force on such date as the Minister of Health 
may, by notice in th e Gazette, appoint.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 17 June 2024  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
1. Trade Division  
Trade Department  
Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade  
2nd Floor, Maison Esplanade, Victoria, P.O. Box 313 
Republic of Seychelles  
Tel: (+248) 4 -382-145 
E-mail: vbrutus@finance.gov.sc  
2. Public Health Authority  
Ministry of Health, Seychelles Hospital  
P.O. Box 52, Victoria  
Tel: +(248) 4  388 195 
 +(248) 4 388 145 
E-mail: naomi.laurence@health.gov.sc  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Public Health Authority  
Ministry of Health, Seychelles Hospital  
P.O. Box 52, Victoria  
Tel: +(248) 4  388 195 
 +(248) 4 388 145 
E-mail: naomi.laurence@health.gov.sc