EU funds Africa for international sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards

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The European Union (EU) has set aside funds aimed at helping African countries comply with international Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Standards (SPS) under an initiative called better training for safer food, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Tuesday .

 
EU Head of Delegation in Zambia Derek Fee said on Monday that about 10 million euros had been earmarked to help African countries comply with SPS standards, adding that SPS measures were key to facilitate trade in Africa and with the rest of the world.

 
The EU envoy made the remarks at the start of a five-day regional workshop on "harmonization of food hygiene inspection and authorization of food establishments with Africa". The SPS measures are key in increasing the protection of African and EU consumers, the envoy said.

 
According to Fee, in view of stimulating regional trade and improving access to export markets, training provision will help developing nations improve their food safety systems to benefit their population and economies.

 
The Better Training for Safer Food program is being implemented in the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and the EU and the African Union (AU) Commission are jointly coordinating the implementation of the program which runs from 2009 to 2010, Daily Mail said.

 
The action targets the public and private sectors which play a role in the SPS systems at national, regional and continental levels. The key objective is to support food security mainly by transfer of technical expertise and policy advice in areas of food safety and quality across Africa.

 
Fee said the knowledge, expertise and skills transferred will help produce and distribute agro-food products compatible with international SPS.

 
Speaking on the same occasion, Zambian Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao said many African countries lacked legislation and infrastructure necessary to produce desired food products that met international standards.