Lao officials seek to lower health risks of agricultural imports, exports
Lao officials seek to lower health risks of agricultural imports, exports
Work to develop risk evaluation capacity concerning Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and improve the domestic and agricultural products sector in Laos is in its final stages of contract assignment, after being supported by the Trade Development Facility Project since June 2011.
The SPS risk evaluation programme was one of the major assignments under Component B of the project. It was established to facilitate trade and ensure that imported and exported products do not pose health risks and, where food is concerned, are safe for human consumption.
The programme focuses on one of the most crucial areas for improvement in Laos, in relation to implementing sanitary and phytosanitary measures as part of the World Trade Organisation Agreement, following Laos' recent acceptance for membership. The work is also set to benefit development by boosting regional markets.
The Lao SPS Risk Evaluation Committee, which is made up of authoritative figures from a range of relevant sectors, including the ministries of Health, Agriculture and Forestry, and Industry and Commerce, met in Vientiane on December 14. Participants discussed the implementation of SPS risk evaluation work and reviewed its technical implications.
The meeting focused on technical analysis output and risk evaluation. This involved staff members from each technical working group providing presentations to share their knowledge and thoughts on relevant topics and other cross-cutting areas in SPS work, in cooperation with the AETS Consulting Company, which has been receiving and supporting this contract assignment.
The project assignment has three stages. The first works to establish the organisational structure of the Risk Evaluation Group with a focus on implementing gap analysis and drafting the Terms of Reference. The second stage focuses on capacity building by using groundwork to develop practical and theoretical training programmes for the technical working groups and technical officers in the related SPS departments. The third stage organises the implementation of risk evaluation work to ensure the sustainable improvement of the overall sector.
The Risk Evaluation Group meeting on Friday was the third and final committee meeting for this supported project assignment. The first meeting was held last December and the second in July this year.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Somphanh Chanphengxay, who chaired the meeting, said this partnership has been successful where hitting targets was concerned.
He added that even though the project support is ending, the work must be continued to ensure its sustainability, as it is an important commitment of the government in becoming a competent member of ASEAN and the WTO.
The target of the project, on completion, is ultimately to build the capacity of Lao technical staff in agricultural risk evaluation with regards to the export and import of products to and from neighbouring countries.
Risk factors include lack of quarantine facilities at border checkpoints, importing of incubated animals, no set standards on farms, low bio-security, and the lack of laboratories. There are also several risks where traders and product transportation is concerned.
vientiane times
