Delilah A. Cabb B.Sc. M.Sc.Belize Agricultural Health Authority

Belize

The Path to Establish a National SPS Committee

Background Belize is in Central America and the Caribbean

Predominantly an agricultural based economy with tourism also being a major income earner

Population of approximately 330000

Member of WTO since January 1995

ObjectiveShare the Belize Experience in the formation of the National SPS Committee

1.Result of the Project “Initiative of the Americas”

2.Outcome of participation in the Advanced SPS course offered in 2005

Background

1995: Belize became a member of WTO

2000: Government of Belize established a competent authority responsible for agricultural health and food safety in Belize

Participation in WTO1995 – 2002 no presence in the WTO/SPS

Committee MeetingsOctober 2002 Belize began to participate

(IICA’s SPS Initiative of the Americas)Key Requirement: consultation at the

national level before and after each SPS Committee Meeting

One Approach: Formation of a National SPS Committee

Initial Step: Establishing a National SPS CommitteeGuidelines were obtained in regards to the

composition (IICA Document)Venues for Meetings identified: IICA’s

conference room in the Capital, City of Belmopan

Number of Meetings stipulatedSix per annum

Invitation Letter sent : proposed representatives on the Committee

First Approach: Establishing a National SPS CommitteeThe result was formation of an ad hoc

Committee with representatives from:Ministry of Agriculture and CooperativesBelize Bureau of StandardsUniversity of BelizeBelize Poultry AssociationBelize Agricultural Health AuthorityMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeIICA

Challenges: First ApproachThere was no commitmentSeldom had a quorumEventually the Committee was reduced to

members from:University of BelizeBelize Agricultural Health AuthorityIICAAnd occasionally the Ministry of Foreign Affair

and Foreign Trade

Second Approach: Enhanced Coordination at the National LevelIn 2005, Belize participated in the first

Advanced SPS CourseResult: participants required to implement

a Project at the National levelIn the mentoring process I was challenged

to move outside of my comfort zone and develop and implement a Project on enhanced coordination at the national level

Steps taken:Legal Review

of the BAHA Act to determine if specific provisions covered the issue of coordination with other entities

Identification of existing Committees which could function as the National SPS Committee

Seek support from existing Committee(s) to take on the new roles (NSPSC)

Initial FindingsSeveral legal provisions found:In regards to Committee: following identified

Scientific Steering Committee in BAHA (Directors of Food Safety, Animal Health, Plant Health, Quarantine & Inspection Service, Registrar of Veterinary Drugs and Animal Feed and the Coordinator of the SPS Enquiry Point)

Trade Technical Team (Inter-ministerial Committee dealing with Trade matters – BAHA also a Member)

National Trade Negotiation Commission (representatives from all Ministries and relevant private sector (sugar, banana, citrus, livestock, poultry, BCCI , BBB others....chaired by the Minister of Trade)

ChallengesNo support received from the Trade

Technical TeamReason given: SPS matters are too

technical and should be addressed only by BAHA

The suggestion of the formation of a sub-Committee was also not supported

Members indicated a need for training and clear terms of references

Follow-up ActionsIICA was approached for information on

existing National SPS Committees Bilateral was held with the Directorate of

Foreign Trade (DFT)Proposal was for the DFT to take the leadA document would be circulated on the role:

of the CommitteeAgreement reached: SPS became an agenda

item on meetings of Trade Technical Team

Enhanced Coordination SPS was placed as an Agenda item on the

meetings of the Trade Technical Team;This lead to increased awareness and

dialogue on such matters at the national level;

National support in establishing a national position

No fear in officially representing the country

National SPS CommitteeTwo different political administrations:

Trade Technical TeamInter-Ministerial Committee for trade and

trade-related matters: Irrespective of the name: function remains

the same: National SPS CommitteeConsultation with private sector is at two

levels: BAHA (user groups); National Consultations coordinated by directorate of Foreign Trade

Next StepsFormally integrate the Private Sector

through enactment of regulation formalizing the SPS CommitteeNational consultation on the regulations have

been finalized Regulation now at the Ministry of Attorney

General - for legal drafting and then enactment

Representatives already identified

Proposed Membership for SPS Committee

Schedule 1: Composition of the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee:

Representatives fromBAHACustoms DepartmentMinistry of

AgricultureMinistry of HealthMinistry of Foreign

TradeMinistry of Economic

DevelopmentMinistry of TourismBELTRAIDEBelize Chamber of

Commerce and Industry

Belize Livestock Association

Belize Poultry Association

Shrimp IndustryBanana IndustryCitrus Industry and Sugar industry Belize Agro-

Productive Sector (BAS)

Belize Business Bureau

Lessons Learnt National coordination is extremely

important however it requiresInnovation PersistenceFocus on the outcome rather than the process

Use whatever system or mechanism that is available

Partnership and Ownership is very important

Expectations need be clearly articulatedIndividuals make the difference