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Improved phytosanitary system ensures the lifting of a vegetable export ban in Ghana
Walter Hevi
KEPHIS International Phytosanitary Conference - 4th – 8th June 2018

2. Introduction
From there has been many interceptions of plants from Ghana at EU borders, due to the presence of harmful organisms
In October, 2015, the European Commission decided to prohibit the introduction of five (5) plant commodities from Ghana into the EU market until end of December 2016.
A follow up audit was undertaken in September 2016, decision was taken by the European Commission to renew the ban by one year until December 2017.

3. Interceptions of harmful organisms from 2011-17
No. of interceptions
Year
Source: EUROPHYT

4. Predominate harmful organisms intercepted (2012-2015)
5 banned plant commodities with the highest number of interceptions:
Capsicum sp (Pepper)
Luffa sp (Luffa/Ridge gourd)
Momordica sp (Bitter gourd)
Solanum sp (Egg plants)
Lagenaria sp (Bottle gourd)
Thrips palmi
Tephritidae (Fruit flies)
Thaumatotibia leucotreta (FCM)
Bemisia tabaci (White fly)

5. Five (5) banned plant commodities:
Chili Pepper
Luffa/Ridge gourd)
Bitter gourd
Egg plants
Bottle gourd

6. Decline in Ghana’s vegetable export: volumes and values (2012-2016)
Source: Ghana Export Promotion Authority
Year
USD

7. Challenges in the Phytosanitary system
Inspectors lacking sufficient technical competence to undertake effective export inspections
Absence of specific technical guidance on detecting different harmful organisms on different hosts
The NPPO quarantine laboratory not equipped to carry out diagnoses
There was no system is in place which provides for the full traceability

8. Challenges in the Phytosanitary system cont'd….
Information flow from the competent authority to the pack-house owners and exporters of fruits and vegetables was poor
Lack of knowledge and unawareness of international requirements about the presence of harmful organisms among smallholders
Authorised facilities carrying out heat treatment of wood packaging material had no appropriate equipment

9. Actions taken to solve phytosanitary challenges
A ministerial taskforce was constituted by the Minister of Food and Agriculture made up of representatives of NPPO, private sector, development partners and other relevant institutions
Strengthening technical capacity of inspection staff
Recruiting phytosanitary experts to support risk-based inspection and phytosanitary certification
Reviewing standard operation procedures (SOPs) for inspection and production to conform to EU plant health requirements

10. Actions taken to solve phytosanitary challenges cont'd..
Equipping inspection facilities with laboratory equipment for pest diagnosis
Conducting on-farm trials to help develop appropriate pest management protocols
Train farmers/exporters in pest management
Reviewing traceability systems

11. Result: Evaluation by EU Team (September, 2017)
Port officials performing export inspections had technical competence levels conforming to Article 2(1)(i) of Council Directive 2000/29/EC and ISPM 7
Comprehensive SOPs for checks existed and are consistently followed
Laboratory technical capacity to test concerned harmful organisms existed
Sampling was consistently done with representative sample sizes conforming to ISPM 23

12. Result: Evaluation by EU Team (September, 2017) cont'd..
Appraisal and follow-up systems to interceptions existed
Upgraded traceability system to operate along entire supply chains existed conforming to ISPM 7
Producers and exporters trained on pest management and phytosanitary issues
Facilities authorised to carry out heat treatment of wood packaging material had appropriate equipment to meet ISPM 15 requirement

13. Interceptions after lifting of ban: Jan., 2018 – April, 2018
Harmful organism
No. of Inceptions
Harmful organisms
- thrips (4)
- fruit fly (1)
- nematodes (1) 6
Documentations
No phytosanitary certificate
- Passengers luggage 5
Documentations (Additional declarations) 3
Source: EUROPHYT 2018

14. On-going activities to sustain improved phytosanitary system
Pest monitoring and data collection using various traps and lures
Local certification scheme for all producer - Ghana Green label certification
Recruitment and training of additional staff to increase the number of NPPO staff carrying inspection
Producers/exporters fields and pack-houses inspected before allowed to export
Monitoring of Fall Armyworm in vegetable fields
Temporary ban on exporter whose consignment is intercepted with harmful organism by NPPO at the post of exist.

15. Conclusion and Recommendation
Experience from this activity confirms that public, private sector stakeholders and development partners need to work together to ensure systems compliant with international phytosanitary standards to boost trade