Participating in regional, international standard setting and harmonization, a game changer in Africa livestock sector growth

Posted by Angela Mutegi on 23 June 2023 4:20 PM CAT

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is the first region in Africa to successfully develop a harmonized Regional Grading and Classification System for its red meat and live animal value chain. “If you have a regional scale that can be used to classify for instance, grade A of exotic, and grade A of indigenous breed, the prices will not be very diverse,” says Dr. Mary Mbole-Kariuki.

Mr. Oppong-Otoo, who coordinates the Standards and Trade Secretariat for Animal Health and Food Safety at AU-IBAR stresses that international standards ought to be developed with the institutional capacity needs and priorities of Africa in mind. This enables African countries to implement the Standards and participate effectively in international trade. "The philosophy is simple; If a country is actively involved in the development of standards, it becomes easier to implement them," states Oppong-Otoo.

Dr. Mbole-Kariuki, who leads technology innovation and skills development at Live2Africa agrees, adding that, “When we talk of African Free Trade, it is because some things are not equal, they are not harmonized.”

The livestock Sector is critical for Africa's goal to eradicate hunger and malnutrition, and improve intra- and inter-continental trade. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 by FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO indicates that 278 million people in Africa suffer from chronic hunger. The high protein content of animals is critical for African countries to meet their nutritional needs. To optimize its potential, Africa has to invest in standardization of the livestock sector, and build the capacities of African nations to comply with the standards. “Standards are the currency for trade,” asserts John Oppong-Otoo, a food safety expert at AU-IBAR.  

Participation in international standard setting

The Live2Africa Project advocates for the adoption of standards to facilitate safe trading of animals and animal products. It encourages African Union Member Countries' to participate in setting international standards. Majority of the Member States are signatories to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which includes a harmonization clause, which means that countries must work together to align their respective animal disease control measures.

The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is the WHO-recognized international standard-setting body for animal health, animal welfare, and veterinary public health. Live2Africa Project mobilized African Member States to positively influence and shape decision-making in the WOAH standard setting process. “We mobilized and worked with chief veterinary officers and animal health experts from respective countries, to review the draft standards and advise on adoption. Countries need to participate so that national interests and peculiarities are integrated into international standards,” says Oppong-Otoo.

Mutual understanding

The more countries work together towards standardization and harmonization, the more the likelihood of removing SPS-related non-tariff trade barriers, notes Oppong-Otoo.  Continuous interaction among regulatory authorities is also important towards fostering smart partnerships, relationships, and mutual understanding of sanitary measures. The shared understanding can be a potential trade facilitator by promoting effective implementation of certification, inspection, and other sanitary measures.

Background

The Sustainable Development of Livestock for Livelihoods in Africa (Live2Africa) Project, was developed as an initiative by AU – IBAR towards the implementation of continental components of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA 2015 – 2035). The Live2Africa Project was implemented by AU-IBAR through European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). The seven year project that run from June 2017 to June 2023, was implemented  in all five regions of the continent, in partnership with six Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, SADC and UMA),African Union Member States, and with a diversity of technical and implementing partners and livestock value chain actors.