Kuwait - WTO Workshop on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

A Regional Workshop on the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures for the Arab Region took place earlier this week in Kuwait.

Members from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia and UAE participated in this training touching upon all aspects of the implementation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement.

Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt was part of the mission team composed of WTO staff and trainers from the two other international standard setting organisations organisations mentioned in the agreement - IPPC and OIE.

Practical issues of importance to the region

After initial lectures and discussions the participants had a one day breakout session - the largest being on Codex, where they were introduced in detail to Codex work and had time to discuss practical issues. Items that came up were energy drinks and alcohol; GM labelling; hormones in milk and meat; lack of laboratory capacity to control standards implementation; what to do when a Codex limit does not exist; and how to set up a functioning food law and food control system.

Regional participation

Tom Heilandt called upon the countries to actively participate in Codex and in the regional coordinating committee for the Near East to be able to effectively influence the work of Codex to ensure that their rights and needs as huge importing countries are taken into account.

Photos from Workshop

 Photo credit

©Tom Heilandt