expert meeting on environmental requirements and international trade: 2 - 4 october2002 the ghanaian...

EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4

OCTOBER2002

THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE

Larsey Mensah

Ministry of Environment & Science

Accra, Ghana.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS, MARKET

ACCESS AND COMPETITIVENESS

• Environmental requirements in external markets have affected Ghana’s exports particularly in the fisheries and horticultural sectors;

• EU is Ghana's biggest trading partner - 60% of export trade UK - 16%

FISHERIES SECTOR

• EU Directive 91/493/EEC of July 1991 (conditions of hygiene for the production and placing on the market of fishery products)

• Adverse effects on Ghana’s fish and fishery products - inability of export firms to meet the standards;

• Certification process - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)

NATIONAL ACTIONS

• Upgrading of production and processing structures of export firms to meet requirements;

• Technical assistance and support from UK government;

• Certification of firms and resumption of exports.

HORTICULTURAL SECTOR• EU Regulation MRL 300 L0042 - maximum residue limit

of pesticides on imported fresh food products into the EU;

• Production and processing infrastructure as well as production techniques involving the use of agro-chemicals and considerations of hygiene, have been affected significantly by these requirements;

• Excessive pressure on producers and exporters;

• Abandonment of production of the affected products;

• Importers response to pressure from consumers - EUREP GAP Certification with compliance target date scheduled for January 2003

NATIONAL ACTIONS• Initiatives to strengthen and assist exporters

to obtain EUREP GAP Certification - training, establishment of management systems and pre - auditing;

• Upgrade production and processing infrastructure as well as production techniques involving the use of agro-chemicals, hygiene consideration etc.

• Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) has done some studies on the cost of compliance

Among the major constraints in responding to such requirements

are:• Lack of equipment to be used in analysis for the

presence of residue levels;

• Non-availability of organic manure/fertilizers;

• Lack of awareness on the part of exporters and farmers in the sector;

• financial and cost implications;• Technology;• Investment finance

OVERCOMING THE CONSTRAINTS

• Equipping research institutions, national standard boards and universities with the required capacities to be able to carry out residue analysis;

• Educating farmers on the use of fertilizers and pesticides and their effects on the environment and quality of their produce;

• Importation of organic fertilizers for use by farmers and the employment of biological species to control pest

• Direct investment funding• Joint ventures• Training

STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES

Standard-related information has been disseminated to domestic stakeholders through:

•Workshops and seminars organised by Ghana Standards Board and the Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) with financial support from DFID;•Export schools organised by the GEPC;•Seminars in the various regions will start soon;•Operators redundant to change where cost implication is significant except where market pressure is high.

Risk analysis, testing, monitoring enforcement and effecting

certification:• A staff of the GSB is currently receiving

training in Austria in the area of residue analysis;

• Risk analysis - EPA organized a skills-building workshop on risk management planning;

• Workshop on risk analysis also held for staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA)

SPECIFIC CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS AND PRIORITIES

• Support for risk analysis, testing and certification including knowledge transfer in this area to a wider audience;

• Development of MRLs for export products of interest to Ghana;

• Equipment and reference standards to carry out residue analysis;

• Support for investment in improving infrastructure.• Assistance to establish a SPS enquiry point.• Product development and supply base expansion.• Market access facilitation.• Human resource development in trade-related

issues.• Policy improvement and advocacy enhancement.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• DFID - Ghana Trade Policy Project• JITAP• Sponsorship - participation in

International Standardization Meetings. e.g. CODEX Meetings

• Sponsoring participation in other trade and environment related Meetings, Seminars and Workshops.

Promoting research and development and exchange of information on traditional and environmentally

preferable production methods suitable to local conditions

• Research and development on product and process adaptation is now a popular topic in most institutions.

Promoting business partnership between foreign and local firms

• Currently, such objective is the focus of the operation of institutions such as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and GEPC.

• Subject of most official trade and investment missions overseas.

Adopting specific measures for SMEs consistent with WTO Rules

• Policies and programmes are now drawn up to comply with and incorporate WTO rules in most of the relevant sectors.

• Consistency with such rules are also embodied in the work programmes of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

WTO DOHA WORK PROGRAMME

Ghana would wish to see progress in the following areas:•Review the “best endeavour” clauses to ensure that developed countries comply with those obligations intended under the relevant provisions;•Examining how to enhance the effectiveness of transparency provisions relating to standards and environmental labeling.

• Exploring possibilities of facilitating market access for environmentally preferable products from developing countries;

• Including developing country EPPs in negotiations on environmental goods and services.