IPPC Activities in Malawi Godfrey Paul Ching’oma, Ph.D. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

Outline Introduction IPPC membership and focal point Plant Protection Act WTO membership and SPS Enquiry Point Plans to improve phytosanitary services Way forward

Introduction Malawi’s population about 13 million people Malawi about 149,000 square km is size Economy dependent on Agriculture Employs about 85% of population 90% of people live in rural areas Agriculture contributes about 40% of GDP Major exports: tobacco, sugar, tea, cotton, macadamia, coffee etc

IPPC Membership and Focal Point Malawi: Member of IPPC and Contracting Party Department of Agricultural Research Services: IPPC Focal Point National Research Coordinator for Plant Protection is IPPC Portal Editor Participation in standard setting: CPM5, 4, 3, in Rome, Italy; Accra: 2006, 2007.

Plant Protection Act 1969 Act very old, needs review Proposal submitted to FAO for review of Act and Regulations FAO advised preparation of TCP TCP written up. Upon funding Consultant to conduct Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation and make recommendations Capacity building issues include Quarantine facility refurbishment, training of personnel, review of Legislation

WTO membership and SPS Enquiry Point Malawi: member of the WTO Participation in WTO-SPS committee meetings 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 with sponsorship from EU Enquiry Point for plant health: Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station Enquiry Point for food safety: MBS Enquiry Point for animal health: Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development Notification Authority: Ministry of Industry and Trade

Plans to improve phytosanitary services Quarantine facility refurbishment Training of personnel: Entomology, Pathology, Produce inspection, Phytosanitary Risk Assessment, IPPC Standards etc Review Plant Protecion Act 1969 including Regulations Notify revised regulations through WTO SPS notification authority, and IPPC Portal

Way forward in Malawi Back to office report to PS Agriculture Awareness meeting on IPPC Portal Develop action plan to train Plant Protection staff in Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in use of IPPC Portal Mobilize resources to improve Plant Protection Services in Malawi Notify or load Pesticides Act 2000 and Regulations on IPPC Portal