REPORT TO
THE COMMITTEE ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
The following communication, received on 16 October 2025, is being circulated at the request of CAHFSA.
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1. The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA),
created by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), functions
to coordinate and organize regional sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.
It also implements SPS actions on behalf of member States, leveraging the
efficiency of a regional mechanism.
1.2. CAHFSA continues to demonstrate tangible progress in strengthening
the region's agricultural health, food safety, and trade facilitation systems.
Building on its mandate to support the implementation of the WTO Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement within CARICOM member States, CAHFSA has made
notable progress in strengthening regional systems to promote compliance with
international standards. The key milestones serve to improve compliance, reduce
technical barriers to trade, and enhance the Caribbean's capacity to
participate more effectively in global agricultural and food markets.
1.3. CAHFSA is pleased to provide this report to the 93rd regular
meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, summarizing key
activities and providing updates on its SPS work programme.
2 ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE
2.1. CAHFSA's secretariat has been restructured into five departments
covering Administration and Finance, Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety
and Business Development. All departments operate with the full complement of
staff except the Business Development Unit, which is being conceptualized. This
marks a significant milestone, as it enhances CAHFSA's ability to coordinate
regional projects, engage key stakeholders, and lead discussions on
establishing policies, frameworks, and systems to support SPS compliance.
3 UPDATES ON SPS-RELATED ACTIVITIES
3.1 Capacity Building Programmes and Activities
3.1. CAHFSA has made significant progress in strengthening member States'
food safety and SPS capacities to enhance export readiness and market
access. This progress is reflected through expanded training initiatives, the
hosting of regional SPS workshops, and active stakeholder engagement in the
development of harmonized guidelines and the assessment of national SPS systems
to guide future action.
3.1.1 Advancing Regional Food Safety Capacity through Strategic
Collaboration
3.2. Following the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Task Force on
Food Safety, recommendations led to the creation of an Annual Food Safety
Training Plan to boost regional capacity. Inadequate training was the main
challenge. CAHFSA, with partners like the University of the West Indies, the
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), COLEAD, the Global Food Regulatory Science
Society (GFoRSS), the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC),
the Food and Agriculture Organization/International Atomic Energy Agency
(FAO/IAEA) Joint Centre on Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, the
Foundation FSSC, and other facilitators, CAHFSA has established a strategic,
needs-driven approach to advancing food safety training and capacity
development across the Caribbean.
3.1.2 Leading Plans for a 2026 FAO/IAEA Project to Establish a Regional
Centre for Laboratory Training and Food Authenticity Testing
3.3. A second key recommendation arising from the 2025 Annual Meeting of
the Caribbean Task Force on Food Safety (CTFS) was the establishment of a
Regional Centre for Laboratory Training and Food Authenticity Testing. In
response, CAHFSA has taken a leading role in advancing regional discussions and
collaborative planning for this initiative. The proposed Centre aims to
strengthen the Caribbean's scientific and technical capacity by developing a
skilled cadre of laboratory professionals to serve national and regional
laboratories, while also supporting food authenticity testing to verify food
integrity, enhance consumer protection, and facilitate fair and transparent
trade.
3.4. In collaboration with UWI, Saint Augustine, which will host the
Regional Centre for Laboratory Training and Food Authenticity Testing and lead
its implementation, CAHFSA has engaged regional and international partners to
support the Centre's establishment. Alongside the Caribbean Task Force on Food
Safety, the FAO/IAEA Joint Centre, IICA, and IDB, CAHFSA held consultations to
define the Centre's governance, operational framework, and model. This effort
helps the Caribbean meet international standards in food safety testing and SPS
compliance in global agri-food systems.
3.1.3 Pest Risk Analysis Training
3.5. CAHFSA, in collaboration with CAB International, is currently
providing Pest Risk Analysis Training for NPPO staff in the Caribbean and some
Latin American countries. This blended training will deliver modules virtually
and will culminate in an in-person workshop. It is expected that, at the end of
the process, CAHFSA would have completed a minimum of five pest risk analyses
for organisms on its regional priority pest list and for regionally important
commodities.
3.1.4 World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) Training
3.6. WAHIS Training for the Caribbean was conducted from 27-28 March
within the framework of the 6th General Assembly of CaribVET and the
25th Meeting of the CARICOM Chief Veterinary Officers. The training
was conducted in partnership with IICA, WOAH, CaribVET and CAHFSA. Through this
training, participants gained practical experience with the WAHIS reporting
platform and a detailed understanding of early warning concepts. This, in turn,
supported the animal health reporting focal points of the CARICOM member States
with the critical understanding necessary to increase notification and
reporting of animal diseases in the Caribbean.
3.2 Advocating for SPS: Initiatives to Foster Regional Unity and
Cohesion
3.2.1 Regional Preclearance Mechanism
3.7. In response to the mandate issued by the Conference of Heads of
Government of the CARICOM and supported by the 115th Meeting of the
Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), CAHFSA has been working to
establish a regional preclearance mechanism to facilitate safe and efficient
trade in agricultural products. In June 2025, CAHFSA developed a framework to
support intra-regional trade and to guide food safety, sanitary, and
phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for agricultural commodities. The mechanism,
now referred to as the Regional Trade Enhancement Mechanism for Agricultural
Products, is being implemented in collaboration with the Regional Preclearance
Committee.
3.8. A pilot phase, scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, will be
conducted with Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, and other participating countries to assess compliance with trade
requirements, identify prohibitive factors, build capacity, and begin resolving
barriers to market access. This initiative represents a critical step toward
harmonizing SPS measures and strengthening regional trade integration within
the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
3.2.2 Caribbean Plant Health Directors' Forum and IPPC Regional Workshop
for the Caribbean
3.9. From 8–12 September 2025, the Caribbean Plant Health Directors
(CPHD) Forum hosted its 18th Annual Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
The event, renamed the "Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Plant Protection
Forum", was held in conjunction with the International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC) Regional Workshop for the Caribbean. Over the course of five
days, the meeting gathered more than 16 Plant Health Directors from member
countries, as well as representatives from international and regional plant
health organizations, research institutions, and academia.
3.10. This crucial regional event serves as a platform to align plant
health guidelines and strengthen phytosanitary systems. By focusing on
technical and emerging issues, the meeting aimed to protect the region's
agriculture and environment from plant pests and facilitate trade in plants and
plant products.
3.11. Key meeting objectives included strengthening pest diagnostics
networks, addressing major pest and disease threats, advancing ePhyto digital
certification, and reviewing draft phytosanitary standards. The meeting aimed
to generate actionable recommendations for regional governance bodies, enhance
resource mobilization, and reinforce plant health security and food safety
across the Caribbean through stronger collaboration among national and
international stakeholders.
3.2.3 The CARICOM Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers (CCCVO) Meeting
3.12. CAHFSA facilitated the 25th CARICOM Chief Veterinary
Officers (CCCVO) meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago from 24-25
March. It was the second face-to-face CCVO meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic,
addressing challenges posed by emerging diseases in animal health. Key topics
included high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever (ASF), new
world screw worm (NWSW), regional single registration of veterinarians,
engagement with the World Organisation for Animal Health. The meeting
emphasised collaboration among member States to strengthen animal health
governance and tackle veterinary challenges. It highlighted the CCCVO's impact
on agriculture and intra-regional trade.
3.3 The Caribbean Week of Agriculture 2025
3.13. The Caribbean celebrated its 19th Caribbean Week of Agriculture
(CWA) from 29 September to 2 October 2025, in Saint Kitts and Nevis. During the
week CAHFSA hosted a series of sessions to include:
3.3.1 CAHFSA Symposium under the theme: "Building Resilient Markets:
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Compliance as a Business Advantage"
3.14. This theme reinforced CAHFSA's commitment to advancing the "25
by 2025 and beyond" regional goal of transforming agri-food systems toward
sustainability, focusing on soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and
climate financing. The symposium featured technical sessions on strengthening
food control systems, promoting food authenticity testing, enhancing laboratory
capabilities, and advancing SPS compliance as a driver of trade and
private-sector competitiveness - all aimed at building resilience and trust in
Caribbean agricultural markets.
3.3.2 Digital Pathways for CARICOM Livestock: Linking Animal
Identification and Traceability with Innovative Laboratory Networking
3.15. This session was held in collaboration with FAO and focused on
discussing the current state and future directions of animal identification and
traceability, emphasising the use of a regional animal health laboratory
network to enhance disease surveillance and response. During this session,
participants discussed the importance of animal identification and traceability
for animal health, food security, and trade; examined the integration of a
regional laboratory network with traceability systems to improve disease
detection; shared regional experiences and challenges in implementing animal
identification technologies, identified gaps, and proposed actionable
recommendations for policy and operational improvements.
3.3.3 One Caribbean, One Voice: Aligning Regional Priorities for Greater
WOAH Engagement, Global Animal Health and Safe Trade
3.16. This session, hosted in collaboration with WOAH, convened regional
stakeholders and international partners to discuss strategies for enhancing
Caribbean engagement with WOAH, aligning regional animal health priorities, and
leveraging this alignment to promote safe and fair trade in animal products.
This resulted in improved understanding of WOAH mechanisms and the benefits of
active participation.
3.3.4 Regional Risk Analyses: Veterinarians as Guardians of Safe Food for
CARICOM
3.17. This session was hosted in collaboration with the Centre for Animal
Health and Food Safety in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University
of Minnesota. During this session, critical discussions were held on regional
risk analyses as critical tools for food safety; the role of veterinarians in
risk analysis; and the development of a regional risk analysis fellowship for
CARICIOM veterinarians.
3.3.5 Intersessional Meeting of the CARICOM Committee of Chief Veterinary
Officers (CCCVO)
3.18. The intersessional meeting of the CCCVO was hosted at the Caribbean
Week of Agriculture, with the participation of 19 of the 21 CARICOM member States.
The CCCVO discussed several matters related to trade in animals and animal
products, and reviewed work plans for the subcommittees on alternate dispute, governance,
technical assistance, high health high performance equines, and risk analysis.
4 COLLABORATION WITH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIzATIONS IN THE
AREA OF AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY
4.1 Strengthening Digital Innovation in Food Safety and Trade
4.1. The CAHFSA participated in the Vienna Food Safety Forum 2025, held
from 10–12 June 2025 at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO) headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Organized by UNIDO, the Standards and
Trade Development Facility (STDF), Australia's Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the IAEA, and the FSSC Foundation, the global
forum convened over 300 participants from more than 75 countries. The
discussions were centred on "The Potential of Digitalisation" to
enhance food safety systems and promote trade resilience. CAHFSA's
participation contributed to the approval of an STDF Project Preparation Grant
(PPG) titled "Developing a Data and AI Approach to Elevating Food Safety
and Growing Trade Across CARICOM", which will be piloted in Suriname as a
model for regional digital transformation in food safety.
4.2 Strategic Partnerships to Strengthen Food Safety and SPS Capacity in
the Caribbean
4.2. The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA)
also initiated regional collaboration efforts through the establishment of key
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to enhance food safety and Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) capacity. In 2025, CAHFSA formalized an MOU with the Global
Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS) to support risk assessment training
and strengthen evidence-based decision-making within national competent
authorities. Additionally, an MOU was signed with the Suriname Hospitality and
Tourism Association (SHATA) as an initial step to promote leadership in food
safety and SPS training across the Caribbean tourism and hospitality sector.
These partnerships reinforce CAHFSA's commitment to building technical
competence, improving compliance, and integrating food safety as a core element
of sustainable economic growth and trade resilience in the region.
4.3 Collaboration with the GICSV and the TC-RPPO
4.3. CAHFSA actively supports the international and hemispheric
phytosanitary community through coordinated efforts to prevent the entry and
spread of plant pests.
4.4. The Agency continued its collaboration with the Inter-American
Coordinating Group in Plant Health (GICSV), a hemispheric forum that
coordinates and promotes cooperation in plant protection. GICSV was established
to promote joint actions to prevent pest introductions and spread on plants,
plant products, and other regulated commodities, and to encourage the adoption
of suitable control measures. In May 2025, CAHFSA assumed the role of GICSV
Coordinator for the period 2025-2027.
4.5. Over the past four months, the GICSV organized meetings of the
working groups on FoC TR4, Phytosanitary Emergencies, Electronic Certificates,
Locust and Fruit flies. On 14 October, the Phytosanitary Emergency TWG organized
a webinar to share experience on approaches to building stronger, more adaptive
plant health systems that can effectively prevent, prepare for, and respond to
phytosanitary emergencies across the Americas and the Caribbean.
4.6. The 37th Technical Consultation among Regional Plant
Protection Organizations (TC-RPPOs) occurred in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21 to
25 September 2025. CAHFSA, the RPPO for the Caribbean, participated in the
meeting and provided updates on its Plant Health activities.
4.4 CAHFSA's Participation in Strengthening Food Safety Systems: IICA/EU
SPS Measures Project
4.7. CAHFSA continues to support IICA in executing activities under the
European Union (EU) Food Security Programme for the Caribbean. The Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) Action aims to address key SPS barriers affecting
agricultural and fishery trade across the region. The initiative focuses on
strengthening regional regulatory frameworks, enhancing public and private
sector capacities, and improving laboratory systems to support compliance with
international standards.
4.8. Work is advancing on developing regional model regulations and
specific commodity regulations to facilitate safer, more efficient trade, with
consultants engaged to commence implementation in Q4 2025/Q1 2026. Targeted
training programmes are being designed to build public sector capacity to
support private stakeholders' food safety compliance better. In addition,
consultants have been selected to lead laboratory rationalization efforts,
aimed at improving testing capacity and harmonisation, with activities expected
to begin in Q4 2025. The application of the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Performance, Vision and Strategy (PVS) Tool
is also underway in Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, providing valuable assessments
to guide future SPS capacity development.
5 UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
5.1 Establishment of a Regional Reference Database for Caribbean Foods
5.1. Following CAHFSA's participation in the IAEA training in Vienna in
March 2025, a consensus was reached to create a Caribbean database of authentic
regional food samples. This aims to verify food integrity, detect adulteration,
and boost trade credibility. CAHFSA, with the Regional Committee on Food
Authenticity Testing and FAO/IAEA, will oversee the development, with member States'
involvement. The database will be hosted at the University of the West Indies,
Saint Augustine Campus.
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