delilah a. cabb b.sc. m.sc. belize agricultural health authority belize the path to establish a...
Post on 27-Mar-2015
216 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Delilah A. Cabb B.Sc. M.Sc.Belize Agricultural Health Authority
Belize
The Path to Establish a National SPS Committee
Background Belize is in Central America and the Caribbean
Predominantly an agricultural based economy with tourism also being a major income earner
Population of approximately 330000
Member of WTO since January 1995
ObjectiveShare the Belize Experience in the formation of the National SPS Committee
1.Result of the Project “Initiative of the Americas”
2.Outcome of participation in the Advanced SPS course offered in 2005
Background
1995: Belize became a member of WTO
2000: Government of Belize established a competent authority responsible for agricultural health and food safety in Belize
Participation in WTO1995 – 2002 no presence in the WTO/SPS
Committee MeetingsOctober 2002 Belize began to participate
(IICA’s SPS Initiative of the Americas)Key Requirement: consultation at the
national level before and after each SPS Committee Meeting
One Approach: Formation of a National SPS Committee
Initial Step: Establishing a National SPS CommitteeGuidelines were obtained in regards to the
composition (IICA Document)Venues for Meetings identified: IICA’s
conference room in the Capital, City of Belmopan
Number of Meetings stipulatedSix per annum
Invitation Letter sent : proposed representatives on the Committee
First Approach: Establishing a National SPS CommitteeThe result was formation of an ad hoc
Committee with representatives from:Ministry of Agriculture and CooperativesBelize Bureau of StandardsUniversity of BelizeBelize Poultry AssociationBelize Agricultural Health AuthorityMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeIICA
Challenges: First ApproachThere was no commitmentSeldom had a quorumEventually the Committee was reduced to
members from:University of BelizeBelize Agricultural Health AuthorityIICAAnd occasionally the Ministry of Foreign Affair
and Foreign Trade
Second Approach: Enhanced Coordination at the National LevelIn 2005, Belize participated in the first
Advanced SPS CourseResult: participants required to implement
a Project at the National levelIn the mentoring process I was challenged
to move outside of my comfort zone and develop and implement a Project on enhanced coordination at the national level
Steps taken:Legal Review
of the BAHA Act to determine if specific provisions covered the issue of coordination with other entities
Identification of existing Committees which could function as the National SPS Committee
Seek support from existing Committee(s) to take on the new roles (NSPSC)
Initial FindingsSeveral legal provisions found:In regards to Committee: following identified
Scientific Steering Committee in BAHA (Directors of Food Safety, Animal Health, Plant Health, Quarantine & Inspection Service, Registrar of Veterinary Drugs and Animal Feed and the Coordinator of the SPS Enquiry Point)
Trade Technical Team (Inter-ministerial Committee dealing with Trade matters – BAHA also a Member)
National Trade Negotiation Commission (representatives from all Ministries and relevant private sector (sugar, banana, citrus, livestock, poultry, BCCI , BBB others....chaired by the Minister of Trade)
ChallengesNo support received from the Trade
Technical TeamReason given: SPS matters are too
technical and should be addressed only by BAHA
The suggestion of the formation of a sub-Committee was also not supported
Members indicated a need for training and clear terms of references
Follow-up ActionsIICA was approached for information on
existing National SPS Committees Bilateral was held with the Directorate of
Foreign Trade (DFT)Proposal was for the DFT to take the leadA document would be circulated on the role:
of the CommitteeAgreement reached: SPS became an agenda
item on meetings of Trade Technical Team
Enhanced Coordination SPS was placed as an Agenda item on the
meetings of the Trade Technical Team;This lead to increased awareness and
dialogue on such matters at the national level;
National support in establishing a national position
No fear in officially representing the country
National SPS CommitteeTwo different political administrations:
Trade Technical TeamInter-Ministerial Committee for trade and
trade-related matters: Irrespective of the name: function remains
the same: National SPS CommitteeConsultation with private sector is at two
levels: BAHA (user groups); National Consultations coordinated by directorate of Foreign Trade
Next StepsFormally integrate the Private Sector
through enactment of regulation formalizing the SPS CommitteeNational consultation on the regulations have
been finalized Regulation now at the Ministry of Attorney
General - for legal drafting and then enactment
Representatives already identified
Proposed Membership for SPS Committee
Schedule 1: Composition of the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee:
Representatives fromBAHACustoms DepartmentMinistry of
AgricultureMinistry of HealthMinistry of Foreign
TradeMinistry of Economic
DevelopmentMinistry of TourismBELTRAIDEBelize Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
Belize Livestock Association
Belize Poultry Association
Shrimp IndustryBanana IndustryCitrus Industry and Sugar industry Belize Agro-
Productive Sector (BAS)
Belize Business Bureau
Lessons Learnt National coordination is extremely
important however it requiresInnovation PersistenceFocus on the outcome rather than the process
Use whatever system or mechanism that is available
Partnership and Ownership is very important
Expectations need be clearly articulatedIndividuals make the difference
top related