Mauritius Experience with the Practical Implementation of the SPS Agreement: Problems and Needs

Background Accession of Mauritius to the WTO Increasing food safety priority Equivalence of treatments Transparency Local SPS Committee and SPS Enquiry Point

Introduction Net food importer Issues of plant/animal/human health important policy Globilisation process present new challenges to our importers/exporters

globalization process/trade liberalization = trade expected to expand = Our importers and exporters confronted with new challenges arising from new markets

Regulatory framework Plants Act 1976 Animal Diseases Act 1975 (in process of update) Fisheries and Marine Resources Act 1998 Food Act 1998 GMO Bill

Technical Assistance Visit of USAID/FANR of SADC Animal Diseases Act 1975 (in process of update) Commonwealth Secretariat and International Trade Center team Representative from SPS Secretariat

Measures by Mauritian Authority Amendments to Plant Bill GMO Bill Regional Crop Protection Program Co-operation at SADC level PIP initiative of COLEACP Setting up a Quality system for export sector

Problems Limited participation Difficult and costly process for exporters High level standard by importing countries Scarcity of competent human resource Audit of our framework is imperative

Problems Need for more awareness and understanding of SPS ALOP difficult – vulnerability of Mauritius Equivalence based on IOE, IPPC, etc. Concern regarding safety assessment Implementation of SPS Agreement - costly

Need for Technical Assistance Development and strengthening of infrastructures Capacity building at National level Identification/implementation of equivalent measures Development of Pest Risk Analysis guidelines Accreditation of our laboratories Creation of framework for quality assurance/ Certification/ Indexation of agricultural produce

Conclusion Successful establishment of institutional framework Headway : SPS/Food safety architecture Technical co-operation of importing countries Consideration to historical trade

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