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

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EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment & Science Accra, Ghana.

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Page 1: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

OCTOBER2002

THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE

Larsey Mensah

Ministry of Environment & Science

Accra, Ghana.

Page 2: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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%

Page 3: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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)

Page 4: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 5: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

Page 6: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

Page 7: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

Page 8: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

Page 9: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 10: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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)

Page 11: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 12: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 13: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 14: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 15: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 16: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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.

Page 17: EXPERT MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE: 2 - 4 OCTOBER2002 THE GHANAIAN EXPERIENCE Larsey Mensah Ministry of Environment &

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

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