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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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%
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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)
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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• Exploring possibilities of facilitating market access for environmentally preferable products from developing countries;
• Including developing country EPPs in negotiations on environmental goods and services.