General overview of South Africa

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General overview of South Africas commitment to
global market access maintenance based on
requirements for phytosanitary measures by
PATRICK TSHIKHUDODoA Directorate Plant
HealthDivision Import/Export Protocols17 JULY
2008
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INTRODUCTION

• SA active trader in the global import/export
  market of agric product
• Trading of plants plant products risk of pests
  and diseases introduction into importing country
• SA -signatory member of various multilateral
  agreements
• SA- opportunity to export its agricultural
  products to different international markets
  (fruits, vegetables, seeds etc)

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International legislation regulating global trade

• SASignatory member of WTO- SPS (Agreement on the
  Application of Sanitary Phytosanitary Measures)
• Sets rules for global trade of agricultural
  products
• Subscribes to the principle of equal market
  access and international co-operation in
  protecting human, animal and plant Health
• WTO SPS gives members rights obligation to
• Protect the humans, plants animals from foreign
  pests (i.e. set phytosanitary regulations)
• Regulatory measures based on scientific data
  (i.e. technical justified appropriate)

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WTO SPS principles

• Includes
• Scientific risk assessment
• Appropriate level of protection
• Transparency / Provision of information
• Harmonized measures- ISPMs

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WTO SPS recognize 3 International Standards
Setting Bodies

• IPPC International Plant Protection Convention
• CODEX Codex Alimentarius Commision
• OIE Office of International Epizootics / World
  Animal Health Organization

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IPPC

• Purpose
• effective action to prevent the spread and
  introduction of pests of plants and plant
  products, and
• to promote appropriate measures for their control
• Scope
• Covers international cooperation in controlling
  the introduction of pests associated plants and
  plants products
• Extends to items capable of harboring or spread
  pests, such as
• Storage places, Conveyors / vehicles and
  containers

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WTO SPS and IPPC Obligate members to

• Provide an NPPO or national contact point (for
  SA DoA DPH APIS)
• Regulate import export of plants plant
  products based on international principles
  standards

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Current special export markets

• Bilateral agreements
• Coordinated in collaboration with the relevant
  industry and role players to ensure compliance
• Established export programmes
• Citrus EU, Japan, South Korea, China, Iran,
  Taiwan, Middle East, USA, Africa
• Table Grapes EU, Israel, China, USA
• Apples pears USA, Taiwan, EU, Mexico
• Current negotiation with some important importing
  countries
• Litchi USA
• Mango PIP was forwarded to India, China, Japan
• Avocado Finalizing the information packages
  (pest listing)
• Citrus (Thailand, Australia)

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COMMUNICATION - INITIATION OF SA EXPORTS

• Export actions are undertaken on request in
  collaboration with SA industries
• Technical meeting with representatives of
  different fresh fruit industries ( CGA,
  PPECB,DFPT,SATI, Subtrop, etc)
• held every two months
• Ongoing communication with counterpart NPPOs in
  consultation with all the role players

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ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EXPORT PROGRAMME

• Global access for plant plant products is based
  on
• Pest Risk Analysis (PRA) by importing country
• 3 stages of PRA
• Initiation stage Identifying the pests and
  pathway
• Risk assessment Scientific evaluation of pest
• Risk Management setting appropriate mitigation
  measures
• Bilateral agreement between NPPOsregarding import
  requirements
• Authorization by importing country
• Issue of import permit

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REGULATING EXPORTS OF FRUIT TO SPECIAL MARKETS

• DoA-APIS PH I/EP
• Phytosanitary registration of PHC and PUC
• Phytosanitary inspections to verify compliance
  with the requirements of the importing country,
  and
• Issuing phytosanitary certificates in
  collaboration with DoA assignees e.g (PPECB
  (Perishable Products Export Control Boards)

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Market Maintenance

• Relies on
• Technically justified measures base on
• Reliable published information
• Rapid pest identification method
• Up-to-date survey and pest lists
• Effective pest mitigation treatments
• Surveillance for new pests
• Good Agricultural practice
• Communication cooperation between role players
  stakeholders
• A record of credibility i.e. the ability to
  comply with requirements provide reliable
  information
• Active country membership of and participation in
  the relevant International Standards Setting
  Bodies, and
• Implementation of the appropriate international
  standards (ISPMs)

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SAs constraints relating to international trade

• Limited scientists to conduct PRA
• Limited pest survey information for providing to
  NPPO in target country
• Limited cooperation between DoA, Provincial and
  other departments and the industry
• Inconsistency regarding communication from
  importing countries

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CONCLUSION

• South Africa has a great potential
• to access new International markets
• Effective communication
• Reliable scientific information
• of commodity pests diseases
• Plant health legislation
• standards
• Team Work (shared responsibility)

Different Industries stakeholders
(DoA) NPPO Provincial departments
Market access maintenance
Producers / farmers
Assignees
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THANK YOU