1. Phytosanitary Regulatory Services in South Africa
Marianna Theyse
Manager: International Plant Health Standards
Directorate Plant Health

2. Scope of presentation Introduction WTO SPS Agreement
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
National PH Regulatory Services = National Plant Protection Organisation of South Africa (NPPOZA)
Market Access and Maintenance
SA challenges relating to international trade
Conclusion

3. Introduction
SA is an active trader in the global import/export market of agric product
Trading of plants & plant products = risk of pests and diseases introduction into importing country
SA = signatory member of various multilateral and bilateral trade agreements
SA membership = opportunity to export its agricultural products to different international markets (fruits, vegetables, seeds etc)

4. WTO SPS Agreement
SA=Signatory member of WTO- SPS (Agreement on the Application of Sanitary & Phytosanitary Measures)
Sets rules for global trade of agricultural products
Subscribes to the principle of equal market access and international co- operation in protecting human, animal and plant Health
WTO SPS gives members rights & obligation to:
Protect the humans, plants & animals from foreign pests (i.e. set phytosanitary regulations)
Regulatory measures based on scientific data (i.e. technical justified & appropriate)

5. WTO SPS Agreement cont. “Sanitary” refers to
Human and/ or animal health and officially controlled human and/or animal pests and diseases, toxins and other contaminants
“Phytosanitary” refers to
plant health and officially controlled plant pests and diseases
“Measure” refers to any
Legislation, regulation or official procedure for preventing the impact of regulated pests

6. WTO SPS compliance cont.
Provisions of WTO SPS
*Harmonization = use ISPMs
Where relevant international standards/ relevant guides exist, Member shall use them or relevant part of them as a basis for their technical regulations, standards or conformity assessments
*Equivalence = Members shall, upon request, enter into consultations with the aim of achieving bilateral and multilateral agreements on recognition of the equivalence of specified SPS measures, even when they differ from theirs, provided that they fulfill their objective or provide the appropriate level of protection (ALOP).
ALOP = the level of protection deemed appropriate by the Member establishing a sanitary or phytosanitary measure to protect human, animal, or plant health or life within its territory. This concept is also referred to as “acceptable level of risk”

7. WTO SPS compliance cont.
Provisions of WTO SPS
*Assessment of Risk and Determination of the Appropriate Level of SPS Protection = PRA
SPS measures based on risk assessment developed by relevant international standard setting bodies
In assessing the risk to animal or plant life or health and determining the measure to be applied for achieving the ALOP, Members shall take into account
- scientific evidence
- economic factors
- and minimizing negative trade effects
Ensure consistency in the application of the concept of ALOP
Where relevant scientific evidence is insufficient, a Member may provisionally adopt SPS measures on the basis of available pertinent information – Precautionary principle.

8. WTO SPS compliance cont.
Provisions of WTO SPS
*Adaptation to Regional Conditions, incl. Pest- or Disease-Free Areas and Areas of Low Pest or Disease Prevalence
Ensure that SPS measures are adapted to the SPS characteristics of the area - whether all of a country, part of a country, or all or parts of several countries - from which the product originated and to which the product is destined.
Recognize the concepts of pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence.
Exporting Members claiming that areas within their territories are pest- or disease-free areas or areas of low pest or disease prevalence shall provide the necessary evidence thereof in order to objectively demonstrate this to the importing Member.

9. WTO SPS compliance cont.
Provisions of WTO SPS
*Transparency = IPP at
National Enquiry Points and Notification Authorities established
*Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures = APIS
Annex C
*Discrimination = MFN, NT and Precautionary principle

10. WTO SPS compliance cont.
International Standard Setting Bodies
Members shall play a full part, within the limits of their resources in the relevant international organizations and their subsidiary bodies
- the Codex Alimentarius Commission
- the International Office of Epizootics (OIE)
- the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
Promote within these organizations the development and periodic review of standards, guidelines and recommendations with respect to all aspects of sanitary and phytosanitary measures

11. International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
Purpose:
effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and
to promote appropriate measures for their control
Scope:
Covers international cooperation in controlling the introduction of pests associated plants and plants products
Extends to items capable of harboring or spread pests, such as:
Storage places, Conveyors / vehicles and containers

12. IPPC: National regulatory services
SA membership obligations ito WTO SPS AGREEMENT and specifically the IPPC (NRT 97): Members should provide for a NPPO (National Plant Protection Organisation)
Conduct pest risk analysis (PRA)
Phytosanitary inspection
Issue phytosanitary certificates
Disinfestation and/ or disinfection of consignments
Phytosanitary security of consignments after inspection
Surveillance (cultivated and wild)
Report pest occurrence, outbreak and spread
Control pests
Protect endangered areas
Designate, maintain and survey PFA’a and ALPP’s
Training and development of staff
National Plant Protection contact point

13. NATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION ORGANISATION (NPPO)
OF SOUTH AFRICA
DIRECTORATE PLANT HEALTH
Director: Plant Health - MS Alice Baxter
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT INSPECTION SERVICES
Director: APIS - Mr Mooketsa Ramasodi
SUB-DIRECTORATE
International Plant Health Matters
NPPO Contact Point, Bi- and multilateral Agreements :
Ms Marianna Theyse
Pest Risk Analysis:
Ms Isabel Bezuidenhout & Mr Victor Mudau
Plant Health Import Export Protocols:
Ms Juliet Maja
National Plant Health Matters
Early Warning Systems & Rapid response:
National Policy, Norms and Standards:
Promotion and Awareness:
Quarantine Diagnostic & Infrastructure Services
Diagnostic Services:
Ms Melanie Arendse
Quarantine Services:
Infrastructure & Campus Management:
Port of Entry Point Control
Seaports
Airports:
Port of Entry Point Control Land Border Posts
Land Border Posts
National Plant and Plant Product Inspections
Gauteng:
Ms Poppie Molebatsi
Eastern Cape & Free State:
KZN, Mpumalanga & Limpopo:
Mr Harry Hlakane
Western Cape:
Audit services
NPPO SA = 2 directorates
APIS inspections
Policy Plant Health

14. Market Access and maintenance
Relies on:
1 Technically justified measures based on:
Pest Risk Analysis
Reliable published information
Rapid pest identification method
Up-to-date survey and pest lists
Effective pest mitigation treatments
Surveillance for new pests
Good agricultural practice
2 Bilateral agreement between NPPOs regarding import requirements
3 Communication & cooperation between role players & stakeholders
4 A record of credibility i.e. the ability to comply with requirements & provide reliable information
5 Active country membership of and participation in the relevant International Standards Setting Bodies, and
6 Implementation of the appropriate international standards (ISPMs)

15. Market Access and maintenance cont.
Communication:
1 Export initiation actions are undertaken upon request & in collaboration with respective SA industries
2 Technical meetings regarding access and maintenance of export markets “MAWG” meetings (reps from different industries CGA, Subtrop Growers, Hortgro, PPECB etc)
3 Day to day communication
4 Ongoing communication with trade partner NPPOs

16. Market Access and maintenance cont.
Regulating exports:
1Phytosanitary inspections and controls to verify compliance
2 Phytosanitary certification to confirm compliance (phytosanitary certificate)

17. Market Access and maintenance cont.
Major established export markets:
Citrus – EU, Japan, South Korea, China, Iran, Taiwan, Middle East, USA, Africa, Russia, India
Table Grapes: EU, Israel, China, Iran
Apples & pears: USA, Taiwan, EU, Mexico
Stone fruit: EU
Persimmons: EU, Israel
Current negotiation with some important importing countries:
Litchi – USA
Mango – India, China, Japan, Brazil
Avocado – India, Brazil
Citrus – Australia

18. Market Access and maintenance cont.
Some important quarantine pests of concern:
Fruit flies (Mediterranean and Natal Fruit Fly)
False Codling Moth
Citrus greening
Citrus Black Spot (PFA)

19. SA’s challenges relating to international trade
Capacity constraints related to:
Limited scientists to conduct PRA
Limited pest survey information for providing to NPPO in target country
Scientific information for PRA
Inconsistency regarding communication from importing countries
Lack of information on import requirements of trade partners
Other:
Limited cooperation between DoA, Provincial, other departments and the industry/ stakeholders
Smuggling
Non-compliance of imports
Climate change
Pest outbreaks (ie Bactrocera invadens, aster yellow phytoplasma etc)

20. CONCLUSION (DoA) NPPO South Africa has a great potential
Scientists
South Africa has a great potential
to access new International markets
Effective communication
Reliable scientific information
of commodity pests &
diseases
Plant health legislation &
standards
Team Work (shared responsibility)
Different
Industries
& stakeholders
(DoA) NPPO
+ Provincial
departments
Market access
& maintenance
Producers /
farmers
Assignees