This session will seek to provide participants with an overview of the provisions in the EPA Agreement as it pertains to SPS measures

1. ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (EPA) TECHNICAL WORKSHOP:
10-11 MARCH 2011

2. The world
is a global
village!!!!

3.  To provide the right balance between the
right of governments to protect food safety,
plant and animal health
 To prevent SPS measures from being
unjustified trade barriers

4.  Established by the WTO &
responsible for overseeing
implementation of the
SPS Agreement
 Meets 3 times annually
thus offering an
opportunity for WTO
members to raise specific
trade concerns regarding
SPS requirements of
trading partners

5.  Has developed guidelines to
assist governments in
ensuring a consistent
approach in determining
their acceptable risk levels
and in selecting the
measures to achieve these.

6.  All countries maintain measures to ensure that
food is safe for consumers & to prevent spread
of pests and disease among plants and animals
(i.e., SPS Measures). Examples are:
 Acquire goods from disease-free areas only
 Inspection of products
 Specific treatment or processing of products
 Maximum levels of pesticide residues
 Allowing only certain additives in food
 Measures must apply to both domestic and
imported products

7.  Justification of measures must be accurately &
scientifically based
 Measures are based on international standards
(CODEX, OIE, IPPC)
 Equivalent, where necessary (i.e., use of
alternative measures to achieve same end)
 Regionalization & recognition of pest free areas
 Risk assessment is encouraged
 Transparency (notification of Parties re:
new/changed measures taken) – NNA/EP

8.  Antigua and Barbuda are
signatory to the:
 WTO Agreement (1995)
 IPPC (2005)
 CODEX (1988)
OIE (not members: annual
subscription prohibitive!!)
SOURCE:
http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/antigua-
and-barbuda/export-import.html

10. Legislation STATUS
Pesticides & Toxic Chemicals Control Act •New act enacted in (June) 2010
(sanitary) •Regulations currently being worked
• pesticides imports- registration, management, on
etc.
• manages illegal importation of unregistered &
banned pesticides
•Certifies pest control operators
Food Safety Act (sanitary) •No legislation exists
•Addresses matters of food safety •draft act to be brought before
upcoming Parliamentary session
Plant Protection Act (phytosanitary) •Current: Plant Protection Act (1941)
•Regulates import & export of plant materials •draft act to be brought before
•Manages plant pest problems nationally upcoming Parliamentary session
Animal Health Act (sanitary) •Animals (International Movement &
•Regulates import & export of animals and animal Disease, 1987 + Diseases &
products Importation, 1953) Act
•Manages animal diseases nationally •Draft act currently under review by
A.G.’s chambers

11.  National Notification Authority (NNA)
 Ministry of Agriculture (2005, Cabinet Decision)
 Enquiry Point
 Plant Protection Officer – Dept. of Agriculture
 E-mail: sps.enquiries@antigua.gov.ag
 Notifications to SPS Committee to date
(2005):
 Draft Plant Protection Act, draft Food Safety Act,
draft Animal Health Act, Pesticides & Toxic
Chemicals Control Act

12.  TORs developed for nSPSC
 Last met mid-2010
 Comprises personnel from agriculture,
analytical services, health, trade, Bureau of
Standards & IICA
 Budget submission for 2010 & 2011
submitted to Ministry of Agriculture but not
approved

13. Institution represented No. of meetings attended
Trade 1
Plant Protection 4
Veterinary & Livestock 4
Antigua & Barbuda Bureau of Standards 3
Central Board of Health 4
Agriculture Extension 1
Central Marketing Corporation 1
NOTE: Attendance of these meetings was facilitated largely by the
IICA Initiative for the Americas to improve representation at the SPS
Committee meetings

14.  Passage of outstanding draft legislation
 Capacity building for HR (collection of scientific
data, building & management of scientific
databases, conduct of risk analyses, training in
negotiation skills, etc)
 Development of systems for data collection &
management
 Acquisition of required laboratory & other
infrastructure)
 Financial & other commitment of government to
the work of the nSPS Committee