SIXTH REVIEW OF
THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
SPS COMMITTEE
THEMATIC SESSION ON MONITORING THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CCFICS GUIDELINE ON THE USE OF VOLUNTARY
THIRD-PARTY ASSURANCE PROGRAMMES (CXG 93-2021)
SUBMISSIOn from Belize
Revision
The following submission, received on 24 June 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Belize.
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1.1. In the context of the Sixth Review
of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the Application of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), Belize submitted a
proposal for a thematic session on Monitoring the Use of International
Standards: Implementation of the CCFICS Guideline on the Use of Voluntary
Third-Party Assurance Programmes (CXG 93-2021).
1.2. The objectives of the thematic
session are to:
(a)_ explore different approaches to
implement the Codex Guidelines and share experiences and lessons (including
from three regional STDF vTPA pilot projects);
(b)_ learn about tools (e.g. UNIDO/STDF
vTPA programme assessment tool), data sharing and
other strategies that
support the assessment and/or use of third-party assurance programmes by
regulators;
(c)_ identify opportunities for capacity
building and up-scaling to assist more developing countries to use the
Codex vTPA Guidelines, including to enhance their risk-based inspection and
auditing frameworks.
1.3. The proposed draft agenda below is
being circulated for consideration by Members.
DRAFT AGENDA FOR THEMATIC SESSION, XX NOVEMBER 2024,
WTO, GENEVA
MORNING SESSION
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1. Relevant
international standards
Overview of the Codex Principles and Guidelines
for the Assessment and Use of the Voluntary Third-Party Assurance, developed
by the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification
Systems (CCFICS), and views from selected international organizations on how
the vTPA programme approach can contribute to improved food safety outcomes.
Speakers:
§_ Nicola
Hinder, Chair, Codex Committee on Food Import and
Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS) (TBC)
§_ Ryan
Newkirk, World Health
Organization (on expected contribution of vTPA programme approach to WHO Food
Safety Strategy
Followed by Q&A session and discussion
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2. MEMBERS' EXPERIENCE IN THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODEX GUIDELINE ON VOLUNTARY THIRD-PARTY ASSURANCE
PROGRAMMES (CXG 93-2021)
Presentation from Members
on their experiences implementing the approach set down in the Codex
Guideline (CXG 93 – 2021).
Speakers: TBD
§_ Patricia
Ejalu, Deputy Executive Director, Uganda National
Bureau of Standards. East African context of third-party certification, the
challenges CBs are facing while attempting to provide certification to GFSI
recognized vTPAs that are sought after by the FBOs due to export demands, and
what that means with reference to implementation of the Codex guidelines,
food safety and international trade
§_ Speaker
from the United States of America – USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS). US experiences promoting use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) by
small-scale farmers in order to increase their marketing opportunities
§_ Speaker from Asia
§_ Mike
O' Neill, Head of Codex Policy and Strategy, UK Food
Standards Agency
Followed
by Q&A session and discussion
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3. Roundtable
- Experiences and lessons learnt on piloting the use of the Codex guideline
(CXG 93-2021)
In this roundtable discussion, Members (involved in
the STDF pilot projects) will share experiences and lessons learnt in
improving their national food control system through the implementation of
the respective regional vTPA pilot projects[1]
supported by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF). This
session will also explore some of the lessons that could be applied to support
the implementation of international standards as well as provide valuable
feedback for future STDF projects.
Moderator: Marlynne Hopper, Deputy Head, Standards and Trade
Development Facility
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Speakers:
§_ Kenrick
Witty, Deputy Technical Director Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Enquiry Point, Belize Agricultural Health Authority, Belize
§_ Mirian
Bueno Almendarez, Technical Director of
Food Safety, Technical Directorate of Agri-Food Safety, SENASA, Honduras
§_ Paul
Omanyi, Assistant Commissioner Fisheries Quality
Assurance & Safety/National Project Coordinator, Department of Fisheries
Resources, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda. The
role of vTPAs in compliance to SPS measures in developing economies: A case
for Fisheries/Aquaculture in Uganda
§_ Antoinette
Mbabazi, National
Certification Division Manager Rwanda Standards Board, Rwanda. Experience and
lessons learnt on this journey of piloting the use of Codex Guidelines (CXG
93-2021)
§_ Regulator involved in West Africa project
Followed
by Q&A session and discussion
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AFTERNOON
SESSION
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4. Capacity
building initiatives
This session will share available tools to
support the use of vTPA programmes, and explore capacity building
opportunities in support of risk-based approaches in national food control
systems. It will include a presentation on the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO)/STDF vTPA capacity assessment tool and UNIDO vTPA
readiness checklist, followed by a panel discussion.
Speakers: Gabor Molnar – Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO
UNIDO: vTPA capacity assessment tool (presentation)
Panel discussion:
§_ Jose
H. Urdaz, DVM, MPVM, PHD,
Manager Agricultural Health, Safety and Agrifood Quality Programme, IICA - Experiences
and Lessons Learnt as Implementing Partner to STDF/PG/682 "Piloting the
use of TPA Programme in Central America (Belize and Honduras) to improve food
safety" Project
§_ Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA) (TBC)
§_ Technical Cooperation Canadian Food Inspection
Agency, Government of Canada (TBC)
§_ Johnson
Ssubi, Technical Project Coordinator, Land O'Lakes
Followed by Q&A session and discussion moderated by Gabor
Molnar - UNIDO
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5. Panel
- Next steps: scaling public-private partnerships by addressing gaps
identified through vTPA pilots
The vTPA pilot initiatives had
different levels of success in terms of piloting the approach itself. They
have identified several lessons and issues that influence the ability of
developing countries to participate fully in international food trade. Some
of these challenges can be addressed through technological innovations, but
others require more strategic public-private engagement, for instance to
address the cost of implementing vTPA programmes, access to the necessary
infrastructure and availability of auditors, and issues related to data
sharing.
Moderator: Mike O'
Neill, Head of Codex Policy and Strategy, UK Food Standards Agency
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§_ Adam Tchelezo, Sunripe Farms Ltd (a GlobalGAP and HACCP certified company).
Challenges FBOs in the region are facing as they strive to attain
certification to the GFSI recognized vTPAs demanded by the export markets,
and the implication this will have on data sharing with the competent authorities
§_ Gabor Molnar - Industrial Development Officer
- UNIDO
§_ Safe and Secure Approaches in
Field Environment (SSAFE)
§_ Global Food Safety Initiative
(GFSI) Senior Manager (TBC)
§_ Philippa
Wiltshire, Head
of Operations, Red Tractor Food Standards, United Kingdom (TBC)
§_ GlobalGAP
§_ Delilah Cabb
Ayala, Former
Technical Director SPS Enquiry Point, Belize Agricultural Health Authority
(BAHA)
Followed by Q&A session and discussion
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[1] These include a project in Central America (Honduras and Belize)
led by IICA, a project in West Africa (Senegal and Mali) led by UNIDO, and a
project in East Africa (Rwanda and Uganda) led by Land O'Lakes Venture 37.