1. IPPC Activities in Malawi
Godfrey Paul Ching’oma, Ph.D.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

2. Outline Introduction IPPC membership and focal point
Plant Protection Act
WTO membership and SPS Enquiry Point
Plans to improve phytosanitary services
Way forward

3. Introduction Malawi’s population about 13 million people
Malawi about 149,000 square km is size
Economy dependent on Agriculture
Employs about 85% of population
90% of people live in rural areas
Agriculture contributes about 40% of GDP
Major exports: tobacco, sugar, tea, cotton, macadamia, coffee etc

4. IPPC Membership and Focal Point
Malawi: Member of IPPC and Contracting Party
Department of Agricultural Research Services: IPPC Focal Point
National Research Coordinator for Plant Protection is IPPC Portal Editor
Participation in standard setting: CPM5, 4, 3, in Rome, Italy; Accra: 2006, 2007.

5. Plant Protection Act 1969 Act very old, needs review
Proposal submitted to FAO for review of Act and Regulations
FAO advised preparation of TCP
TCP written up.
Upon funding Consultant to conduct Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation and make recommendations
Capacity building issues include Quarantine facility refurbishment, training of personnel, review of Legislation

6. WTO membership and SPS Enquiry Point
Malawi: member of the WTO
Participation in WTO-SPS committee meetings 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 with sponsorship from EU
Enquiry Point for plant health: Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station
Enquiry Point for food safety: MBS
Enquiry Point for animal health: Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development
Notification Authority: Ministry of Industry and Trade

7. Plans to improve phytosanitary services
Quarantine facility refurbishment
Training of personnel: Entomology, Pathology, Produce inspection, Phytosanitary Risk Assessment, IPPC Standards etc
Review Plant Protecion Act 1969 including Regulations
Notify revised regulations through WTO SPS notification authority, and IPPC Portal

8. Way forward in Malawi Back to office report to PS Agriculture
Awareness meeting on IPPC Portal
Develop action plan to train Plant Protection staff in Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in use of IPPC Portal
Mobilize resources to improve Plant Protection Services in Malawi
Notify or load Pesticides Act 2000 and Regulations on IPPC Portal