Development of an effective phytosanitary regulatory information management system framework for WTO SPS compliance

Abstract

The World Trade Organisation Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) provide the rights and obligations for members to take phytosanitary measures to protect animal, plant and human life or health. Using the guidelines of the WTO SPS Agreement Article 7 this study evaluated the current SPS transparency capacity of the South African regulatory system. Based on the outcome of the evaluation a Best Practice Model for WTO SPS notification and information management was develop to improve WTO SPS compliance for South Africa Phytosanitary capacities of regulatory systems are challenged with increased global agricultural trade and a proliferation of international and regional phytosanitary standards. International Standards for Phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) are developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The concept of phytosanitary capacity was analysed and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) tool evaluated in terms of its scope, purpose and usefulness. South Africa has attempted to address some of its phytosanitary capacity challenges system and organisational challenges by restructuring and strengthening the capacity of its National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) in order to meet the demands of international phytosanitary obligations and commitments. This study evaluates the phytosanitary capacity of South Africa and uses the IPPC Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) tool to identify and assess the current constraints impacting on the capacity. Based on the outcome of the PCE recommendations to address information management and capacity constraints are made. The study the used the IPPC Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) tool to evaluate phytosanitary regulatory capacity constraints impacting on the phytosanitary capacity of Malawi. The results from the PCE for Malawi was compared with the results obtained from the PCE for South Africa. The results highlighted the different levels of phytosanitary capacity between a developing country such as South Africa and a Least Developed Country such as Malawi and made recommendations to address the country specific constraints.