Briefing Memo for National and International Media

Group Picture : 22nd GA of IAPSC

Introduction

Before discussing the Steering Committee (SC) and the General Assembly (GA) of the Inter African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC), it is appropriate to make a brief presentation of this specialized body of the African Union (AU).

Created in 1954 on FAO recommendation, the IAPSC is the pivot of all the national plant protection services in Africa. Its missions include assisting African countries in fighting the outbreaks of plant pests and diseases through phytosanitary measures ; coordination of phytosanitary activities at the borders, airports and ports ; designing early warning mechanisms in case of the outbreak of plant pests and diseases ; harmonization of phytosanitary regulations of African countries ; facilitating the work of regional agricultural research networks ; and formulating a common African platform in international phytosanitary forums.

At its creation, the IAPSC was based in London and run by colonial masters. Upon the birth of the OAU, the IAPSC was incorporated into the pan African organization and in 1967 its head office was moved from London to Yaounde, Cameroon.

The Scientific Secretariat of the IAPSC is headed by a Director (presently Dr Daniel KOUMBA KOUMBA of Gabonese nationality), and an Assistant (presently Dr Sarah OLEMBO of Kenyan nationality).

22nd GA : AU & Egyptian Oficials

Organization of the 22nd General Assembly and the Steering Committee

Jointly organized by the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the African Union, the 2nd

22nd GA : Egyptian officials

Steering Committee and the 22nd General Assembly of the IAPSC shall hold from 18-23 March 2006 in the conference hall of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The General Assembly of the Inter African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union is the supreme management body of phytosanitary policy in Africa. It is the biennial gathering of phytosanitary officials of AU member countries. The mission of these forums is to examine plant protection issues in Africa. In addition, the following items are also examined :
  phytosanitary strategies and policies ;
  implementation of recommendations of previous General Assemblies is evaluated and endorsed ;
  new avenues are explored and adopted as new recommendations ;
  the mandate and missions of the IAPSC scientific secretary are reviewed and redefined, etc.

The ultimate purpose of this activity is the adoption of continental strategies on the harmonization of phytosanitary procedures in Africa. As such, Africa should be able to stand up as a homogenous whole in the globalization dynamics. The continent has several reasons to redouble its efforts in this respect :
  the harmonious socio-economic development of African countries,
  food self-sufficiency and sustainable management of Africa's genetic resources,
  requirements of international standard regulation organizations,
  requirements of Africa's trade partners, etc. In addition to delegates of member countries, a large number of observers from other scientific institutions and international organizations also attend these meetings. These observers include local and foreign partners willing to contribute to the search for solutions to the continent's phytosanitary problems.

It is important to note that these two meetings are institutional to the IAPSC.

Choice of Host Country

GA Opening Ceremony in Cairo

Any AU member country can host these two IAPSC meetings, either on its demand or on proposal of the General Assembly. Over the years, several countries have thus played host to these meetings : Mauritius in 1996, South Africa in 1998, Cameroon in 2000, Côte d'Ivoire in 2002 and Senegal in 2004.

Host Country of 22nd GA

It was at the 21st General Assembly in Dakar (Senegal), that Egypt was chosen, among other candidates, by the participants to host the 2nd Steering Committee and the 22nd General Assembly of the IAPSC in 2006. Egypt was chosen in recognition of, and as encouragement to its agricultural dynamism, backed by a solid development policy adopted by its government.

Content of the General Assembly

The content of the General Assembly is usually determined by the Steering Committee, under the aegis of the Scientific Secretariat of the IAPSC, and on the basis of its action plan and the evaluation of its priorities.

For now, new consumer requirements, measures taken by the European Union and international organizations such as WTO, WHO, FAO, etc, have obliged the IAPSC to include the revision of its general phytosanitary policy on its priority list.

The Common African Plant Protection Strategy (CAPPS) and the new IAPSC mandate having already been adopted in Yamoussoukro in 2002, and revised in Dakar in 2004, the Cairo meeting shall dwell on strengthening this strategy by reactivating the IAPSC focal points and promoting research on less polluting phytosanitary control methods to enhance the continent's agricultural production. All of these efforts are geared towards improving the position of African agricultural products on the international market.

Main theme of the 22nd AG of the IAPSC

Plant Healt and Safe Trade

It is urgent to promote, reinforce and support programmes and initiatives aimed at improving the capacities of African countries to comply with international standards and to harmonize their technical regulations on a regional scale. If the problem of market access is not solved, and international standards are not respected, African farmers will not draw any advantage from the liberalization of the market. Concrete action must therefore be taken to address this situation. This can be done by identifying the problems and adopting strategies likely to enhance the development objectives of African markets defined within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

Discussions shall be based on the following points :

1. Updating of data and factors of losses recorded in intraregional, interregional and international trade by sub regional economic communities and African countries as a result of their noncompliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) required by countries which import African agricultural products. 2. Constraints and challenges to the national capacity to comply with production and quality standards (in terms of human capital and infrastructure) required on the international market. 3. Opportunities in institutional provisions, technical expertise, dissemination of information and policies relating to the enhancement of the exportation of African agricultural products within the context of the sanitary and phytosanitary standards of the WTO.

Conclusion

Technical management of GA

This ambitious programme should lead to the adoption of measures and recommendations which shall prepare Africa for the new challenges mentioned above. As such, our region shall, without any complex, take its place on the world scene. It is incumbent on communication services and the media, to raise awareness in the public, primary beneficiary of this action, so that it should adhere to the conclusions arising from these meetings.

For further information, please contact Mr. Benoit

Pyramides visit

BOUATO, AU/IAPSC Information and Communication Service. Cell phone number in Cairo : Email : bbouato@yahoo.fr