1. WTO –SPS and TBT MEETING South Africa Experience 29TH -30 OCTOBER 2003
M E MOGAJANE
Assistant Director General: National Regulatory Services
National Department of Agriculture
Pretoria
South Africa

2. SOUTH AFRICAN PROVINCES
Northern Province
Mpumalanga
Gauteng
North West
Free State
Kwa Zulu Natal
Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Western Cape

3. NATIONAL ENQUIRY POINT
Located under branch agricultural economics and business development
Programme: Trade and business development
Technical people under branch agricultural production and resource management
Programme: National Regulatory Services (NRS)
No follow up

4. NeP and NNA Same Agriculture SPS committee Agricultural trade forum
Health, trade etc
Operate outside trade forum
Agricultural trade forum
Questions not answered by NeP

5. Challenges Too many meetings –not well coordinated
Sufficient resources
Co-ordination with mission
Co-ordination with provinces

6. NATIONAL ENQUIRY POINT
Transferred information to NRS
NRS
Animal health
Plant health
Food safety and quality assurance
Genetic resources management
SA quarantine and inspection services
Units/directorates formulate a response-Unit of International trade- DG approval –Submission to WTO via SA permanent mission in Geneva

7. SPS and TBT MEETINGS Exposure for Directors under NRS was done
Later on attended by mission in Geneva
Technical analysis
Impact on national legislation
Feedback received late

8. FUTURE National Regulatory Services –entry point
Plant health (Ms A Baxter)
Animal health (Dr M Modisane)
Genetic resources management (Mr P Lekala)
Food Safety and quality assurance ( Mr A Serumula and Dr B Ntshabele)
SPS and TBT committee – Health, DTI DEAT through SABS)
Agricultural trade forum
Industry entry points

9. STRENGTHENING OUR CAPACITY
2 Persons per unit trained within the next 2 years
Expose contact points in provinces for the next 3 years
Expose industry contact points for the next 3 years

10. STARDARD SETTING BODIES
Same entry point will be used for as contact points
Attend meetings of standard setting bodies
Identify people to support them

11. EXPANSION SACU- South African custom union
SADC –South African development community

12. RECOMMENDATIONS TO SPS and TBT OF WTO
Dates be given at the beginning of the year- approval in advance
1 month before the meeting - Agenda
Proper analysis and consultation
Information available as to how the delegation should look like
Formulate proper responses
Meetings –IPPC,OIE, Codex

13. FINALLY
Gerda van Dyk
SPS