WTO IDB/INTAL Regional Workshop on the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for Caribbean Countries: Bridgetown, Barbados, 26-29 July, 2011

Publication date

01-08-2011

Description of the mark

The purpose of the Workshop was to increase participants' awareness of the WTO SPS Agreement, the current key decisions of the SPS Committee and to discuss its operation and implementation vis-à-vis national and regional realities. In addition, the workshop provided an opportunity to discuss the improvements and challenges faced in the implementation of the SPS regulatory framework at the national and regional level, focusing in plant health and food safety. Participants were updated on the current work of Codex, IPPC and OIE, and benefited from the “three sisters’ ” participation with regards to SPS regulation in their area of expertise.

The IPPC Secretariat presented on "Plant Health Regulation: Key aspects, best practices, recommendations and instruments to support governments (PCE)" and then hosted a breakout session on regional IPPC issues and the draft International standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) that are available for country comments https://www.ippc.int/index.php?id=draft_ispms&no_cache=1&L=0.

This facilitated a better understanding of the IPPC framework and issues of important to the Caribbean region, particularly in terms of the SPS Agreement and trade. It also allowed the region to discuss ways to improve coordination and collaboration on SPS-related IPPC activities of common interest. This should also facilitate the CAHFSA Plant Health activities that will be very beneficial to the Caribbean national and regional plant health needs.

Author

Issue keywords

Commodity keywords

Report files

Website