AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT INSPECTION SERVICES Mooketsa Ramasodi Directorate Agricultural Product Inspection Services Trade Awareness Workshop Polokwane, 13 August 2009

2 Overview of the presentation 1)WTO Intro 2)Structure 3)Core Functions 4)Legislative mandate 5)Key deliverables 6)Trade requirements 7)Footprint 8)Inspection requirements 9)Inspection processes 10)Integrated Measures 11)Challenges 12)Summary 13)Acknowledgement

3 Coverage of SPS and TBT Agreements - Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement - Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement Technical Regulation Any other Objective Protect Human Life Protect Animal Life Protect Plant Life Protect a Country From risks arising from Additives contaminants toxins or disease- causing organism in their foods plant or animal carried diseases Additives toxins pests diseases disease-causing organisms Pests diseases disease-causing organisms TBT SPS WTO

4 Structure Food Safety and Biosecurity WTO Food SafetyBiosecurity Agreements (SPS/TBT) Directorates Policy Operations STBT PSZSFS & QABSPHVS APIS Inspection Services VQPH

5 Core Functions Administration and services delivery in terms of more than 10 Acts of Parliament Core functions, methods, products and services clustered into 40 groups e.g.  Protocols and work programs  Inspections  Audits  Permits etc

6 Legislative mandate Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 Agricultural Products Standards Act, 1990 Liquor Products Act, 1989 Plant Improvement Act, 1976 Plant Breeder’s Rights Act, 1989 Genetically Modified Organisms Act, 1997 Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 Meat Safety Act, 2000 Animal Diseases Act, 1984 Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 International Agreements (WTO-SPS, WTO-TBT, CBD, ISTA)

7 National Environmental Management Act, 1998 GMO Act, 1997 (Amendment in 2006) National Environmental Biodiversity Act, 2004 Convention on Biological Diversity / Cartagena Protocol Focal Point Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972) CODEX Alimentarius Contact Point Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety Competent Authority National Biotechnology Strategy 2001 Department of Agriculture Department of Environmental Affairs Department of Health Department of Science & Technology Department of Trade and Industry Consumer Protection Act, 2008

8 Key deliverables Inspections Investigations Audits Surveys Rapid response

9 APIS Footprint

10 Trade Requirements Imports Import permit Phytosanitary certificate /Vet Health Certificate Declaration at the port of entry Exports Export requirements (Permit, Directive, Protocols) Quality certificate Phytosanitary certificate Cold treatment certification Domestic Movement permits (where there are control measures) Compliance to regulations (grading, labeling, content, germination rates etc)

11 Inspections at a glance Inspections at a glance Assumptions in the application of inspections The pests or diseases of concern, or the signs or symptoms they cause are visually detectable Inspection is operationally possible Some probability of pests and diseases being undetected is recognised Regulated articles for inspections Plants, animals and their products Storage facilities Packaging material including dunnage Conveyances and transport facilities Soil, fertilizers and related materials Traveller’s personal effects moving internationally International mail

12 Specific Requirements for inspections Specific Requirements for inspections Document checks Documents must be complete, consistent, valid and not fraudulent Inspections Verification of consignment identity and integrity Visual examination for pests, diseases or other non conformities Regulatory decisions Nature of the inspection findings determines the type of decisions to be adopted These decisions include certifications, releases, destructions, refusal of entry, confistications.

13 Inspection Processes Border ControlExport ControlDomestic Control Declaration of aconsignment Import requirements Risk management decisions Request from a client Export requirements Sampling and inspection Risk management decisions Request from clients or DAFF initiated Domestic requirements Sampling and inspection Inspection is about compliance verification to ensure ALOP

14 Integrated measures in a systems approach Integrated MeasuresRisk Control Measures Certification/Risk Control Measures Port Inspection Pack house Inspection Field Inspection Eradication Prohibitions Seizures Detentions Destructions Authorizations - Certificates - Permits - Authorizations - Reports - Orders

15 ChallengesChallenges  Non compliance - Awareness, Laxity, Greed  Surveillance (early warning systems) - Bactrocera invadens, AFB  Biology of pests and diseases - Pests and diseases do not require passports  Smuggling - Proliferation of smuggling coupled with corruption

16 In summary Post - BorderBorderPre - Border ExportsImports Importing country’s requirements Inspections Certification decisions Compliance monitoring Interceptions Trade Control Surveillance Compliance monitoring Risk Assessment Early Warning Risk Management Decisions

17 Acknowledgements Thank you Appreciation to all colleagues at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for their support in preparation of this presentation Mooketsa Ramasodi or e mail