Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Update on AOAD activities of interest to the SPS Committee - Communication from AOAD


UPDATE ON AOAD ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST TO THE SPS COMMITTEE

COMMUNICATION FROM AOAD

The following communication, received on 22 May 2025, is being circulated at the request of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD).

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1  Capacity building in SPS Issues in the Arab Region

-_              Conducting specialized training programs to build capacities in SPS fields, benefiting hundreds of professionals across the Arab region;

-_              Developing guidelines for producers and exporters on SPS and food safety requirements in global markets;

-_              Supporting the establishment and enhancement of traceability systems and risk assessment frameworks to ensure food safety from production to consumption;

-_              Promoting the concept of regionalization in managing animal disease outbreaks, enabling the designation of disease-free zones within affected countries to sustain trade and food security;

-_              Enhancing member states' capabilities in surveillance, diagnostics, and rapid response to phytosanitary threats affecting agricultural production and trade;

-_              Supporting the adoption of rigorous scientific methodologies for establishing maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides and veterinary drug residues, ensuring food safety and consumer protection;

-_              Promoting scientific research and regional collaboration to align with international standards on pesticide and veterinary drug use in agricultural production.

2  Technical Support in SPS to Arab Countries

-_              Supporting member states in improving regulatory and laboratory systems to strengthen inspection and quarantine procedures;

-_              Implementing regional projects to combat transboundary agricultural pests, such as desert locusts and animal epidemic diseases;

-_              Launching initiatives to improve the quality and safety of agricultural and food products in compliance with international standards;

-_              Adopting different concepts of regional conditions based on risk assessment and epidemiological situations, ensuring rapid outbreak response and minimizing economic and agricultural impacts;

-_              Strengthening regional cooperation among member states to facilitate information exchange and enhance diagnostic and emergency response capabilities for transboundary animal diseases;

-_              Developing effective strategies for assessing and managing phytosanitary risks to mitigate the spread of agricultural pests and plant diseases;

-_              Supporting the development of regional quarantine regulations and standards in line with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to ensure global compliance;

-_              Encouraging the adoption of advanced analytical techniques to detect chemical residues and ensure compliance with public health and food safety regulations;

-_              Developing modern regulatory frameworks to accommodate innovative agricultural and veterinary technologies, such as digital farming and biotechnology;

-_              Supporting evidence-based policies to ensure the safe and responsible use of emerging technologies in agricultural and livestock production;

-_              Fostering collaboration between governments, the private sector, and research institutions to create flexible regulations that facilitate the adoption of new technologies and drive sustainable development.

 

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