Accra, Ghana, 19-23 February2024: National Plant Protection Organization of the 15 member States of ECOWAS plus Chad plus Mauritania trained and get prepared for the 18th Commission on Phytosanitary Measures and regional phytosanitary action plan updated.

By Gabriel / 2 years, 4 months ago

From 21st to 23rd February 2024 in Accra, Ghana the capacity of National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) from the 15 member countries of ECOWAS plus Chad plus Mauritania was built to better understand the issues being discussed within the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) including matters of interest for West Africa and Sahel region. With the guidance of the Senior SPS advisor and an international consultant, the 17 NPPOs discussed, and agreed by consensus on the matters of interest and a harmonized common position document adopted for the forthcoming CPM18 to be held from 15 to 19 April 2024, Rome, Italy.

 

Further, the regional task force of NPPOs and partners meeting was held from 19-21 February 2024. The regional phytosanitary action plan was reviewed, achievements and challenges encountered in 2023 as well as the next steps discussed and adopted. Hence, a 2024 phytosanitary action plan was adopted.

“As a testimony, NPPOs reiterated their commitment to the process and express support to the request of ECOWAS to be recognized as the 11th Regional Plant Protection Organization (RPPO)”.

Key outcomes:

·         The capacity of 17 NPPOs for better understanding matters of interest in the CPM built.

·         Harmonized common position document on matters of interest for CPM18 adopted.

·         2024 action phytosanitary action plan adopted.

NPPOs were from the 15 ECOWAS Member States Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Togo plus Chad plus, Mauritania, InterAfrica Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (IAPSC), CABI, CORAF, AATF, AGRHYMET/CILSS to networking, share experiences, and build and strengthen a regional platform of NPPOs for better coordination. The meetings were supported by USDA, USAID participating member States participation in the IPPC standards-setting process, and the application and domestication of phytosanitary measures enhanced.