Overcoming Barriers to Trade through a Modern Agricultural Health and Food Control System

Presented by Beverley P. Wood

Presentation addresses
Introduction Components of an Agricultural Health and Food Control System (AHFCS) Requirements for export to EU and USA Shortcomings of Barbados AHFCS Way Forward

Introduction
What is the WTO SPS Agreement? An agreement that gives countries the right to maintain sanitary and phytosanitary measures to protect their animal, plant and human health Why is it necessary? Ensures that food is safe for consumers, prevent the spread of pests or diseases among animals and plants

 What is a sanitary and phytosanitary measure? Any measure applied to:

Protect human or animal life from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins or diseasecausing organisms in food or beverage; Protect human life from plant or animal carried diseases (zoonoses);

 Protect animal or plant life from pests, diseases, or disease-causing organisms;

Prevent or limit other damages to a country from the entry, establishment or spread of pests

The three sisters of the WTO-SPS

Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) for food safety; World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) for plant health.

What role do the 3 sisters play in AHFCS? Provide international standards or guidelines on which countries base their national standards, and which are referred to in trade disputes

What is an AHFCS?
A system which embraces a farm to fork approach to food production and food safety and which focuses on prevention rather than end product testing.

 In such a system all persons such as, suppliers of agricultural inputs, producers, processors, importers, transporters, vendors and consumers all have a responsibility to adopt best practices for the control of food safety hazards.

Components of an AHFCS
Preventative approaches such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP); Surveillance and monitoring programmes at all aspects of the food chain, from farm to fork or boat to throat ;

 An appropriate legislative framework; Inspection services; Laboratory services.

EU requirements for imports from third countries

The national authority must be able to demonstrate before approval is considered:
The animal health situation of the country;

Provide rapid and regular information on certain infectious or contagious animal diseases;
Effective legislation on the use of veterinary medical products;

EU requirements cont
An acceptable programme for the presence of certain substances and the residues thereof in live animals or animal products for export;

Veterinary Services are capable of enforcing the necessary health controls;

 Effective measures exist to prevent and control certain infectious and contagious diseases; Processing establishments satisfy EU requirements; Competent Authority which is responsible for official control throughout the production chain from farm to fork;

 Competent Authority must have the power, structure and resources to implement effective legislation and guarantee credible certification of hygiene conditions throughout the production chain; Country must satisfy an on spot inspection by the Food and Veterinary Office.

USA requirements
Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA)
Onus on importer
The importer must verify that the food is produced in compliance with USA requirements; Food facilities registered biannually in the USA;

 The importer must know the safety risks of the country and the food; The importer must ensure the food safety programmes, systems and standards of the country of origin of the food are adequate to ensure food safety; Registered facilities must conduct hazard analyses and develop and implement written preventative control plans;

 Registered food facilities must maintain records including copies of hazard analyses and preventative control plans, and other records to assist in tracking and tracing high risk foods; Food testing to be conducted in accredited laboratories

Shortcomings of Barbados AHFCS

System is fragmented resulting in gaps and overlaps; Legislation is dated, has several gaps and in some cases not in line with international norms;
No legislation that provides the Senior Veterinary officer with regulatory oversight for meat inspection

Responsibilities are vested in many Ministries with no formal mechanisms for collaboration;

 No regulatory requirements for the implementation of food safety management systems (for example GHP, GMP)
Inspection programmes need to be improved;
No written protocols that ensure consistent and accurate inspection decisions;

Monitoring and surveillance programmes are inadequate;

 No comprehensive and consistent monitoring of food at all aspects of the food chain;

AHFCP not risk based; Laboratory services not accredited for the tests they conduct.

The Way Forward

The AHFCP is geared to address many of the shortcomings; The Programme includes:
Identification of gaps and weaknesses in the system; The development of a revised AHFCS;

 Preparation of manuals and protocols for the implementation of food safety management systems including GAPs; Legislative and regulatory framework; Construction of laboratory complex; The assistance and cooperation of ALL stakeholders

Thank You