Ghana Standards Authority’s Post

Yesterday I joined SME's and Multinational Food Manufacturers in a seminar organized by Kenya Association of Manufacturers geared towards training on the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative. We went through the overview of the AfCFTA Agreements and its instruments. AfCFTA- flagship programme of AU agenda – 2063 is to boost intra-African trade in goods &services. AfCFTA is a creation of a single market of over 1.2 billion people, combined Gross Domestic Product of over US$ 3.5 billion. Principal objective of this protocol is to create a liberalized market for trade in goods, while Specific objective is to boost intra African trade. We thank the KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) initiatives in implementing AfCFTA and ICMS Configuration to Support AfCFTA Rates. Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has equally harmonized the standards across countries that is acting as a major catalyst for trade allowing companies to sell their products and services without the need for adaptations across multiple markets. This facilitates access to markets and global supply chains increasing efficiency of the industrial processes achieving considerable savings in the design and improving quality products and services. AFSEC, ARSO, AFRAC and AFRIMETS are recognized by AfCFTA which focus is on facilitating trade by indulging State Parties to develop and promote the adoption, and/or adaption of international standards/or, adopt the standards developed by ARSO/AFSEC AND cooperation in the areas of standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment, accreditation and metrology including Harmonization of Standards. We at SIMPLY FOODS LIMITED look forward to leverage the platforms to grow our export market. #collaborationopportunities #newmarkets #businessharmony #SImplyfoods

STANDARDS ORGANISATION OF NIGERIA spearheads efforts to harmonize African standards for trade advancement https://lnkd.in/eiQNwrMM African Organisation for Standardisation - ARSO, #Africa #foodsafetyafrica #foodsafety #foodbusiness #foodindustry #foodmanufacturing #foodprocessing #foodhygiene #foodquality #regulatory #policies #compliance #systemsmanagement #laboratory #technology #foodsecurity #news #standards #harmonization #trade #afcfta

On July 16th, the International Trade Centre (ITC) joined forces with the European Commission, the Ministerio de Industria y Comercio, (MICM) of the Dominican Republic, and the Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo (CCPSD) to organize a workshop on the new trade rules governing trade with the EU. This event, which took place at the MICM, aimed to create awareness about the new EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) and the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), with a focus on ensuring business continuity for Dominican exports to the EU, especially in the cocoa industry. The workshop was opened by H.E. Katja Afheldt, EU Ambassador to the DR, H.E. Vilma Arbaje, Vice-Minister at the MICM, and Josefina Thomas Knipping from the CCPSD. The workshop included the following technical presentations, followed by a general discussion with participants: Market information systems and tools of the EU for exporters from third countries: by Merianny Gonzalez, EU Delegation in Santo Domingo CS3D: presented by myself EUDR: presented by Luis Araque de Juan, Chief of the Trade Section at the EU Delegation in Santo Domingo The workshop also featured a testimonial from Ms. Dinorah Burgos of COOPROAGRO on the work carried out by ITC with CLAC within the framework of the ACP-EU Business Friendly Programme, aimed at supporting Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) exporters in adhering to Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) trade-related rules and regulations. Private sector representatives and experts, including Roselyn Amaro Bergés , Executive Vice-President of Asociación Dominicana de Exportadores (ADOEXPO), Maria del Pilar Hernández, Executive Vice-President of the DR Cocoa Foundation, Johnny Molina from the Comisión Nacional del Cacao, Gisela Delgado and Taiana Mora-Ramis attended the workshop. A big thanks to Vladimir Hernández del Orbe and his team from the MICM for the excellent coordination of this important exchange. This initiative is part of the accompanying measures promoted by the EU and ITC, ably led by Pamela Coke-Hamilton, to ensure that exporters from developing and transition countries have the necessary knowledge and tools to implement ESG-compliant protocols, thereby promoting global sustainable development and SME competitiveness. #Intracen, #UN, #ThisWeekAtITC #MCIM #EU #CCPSD #SDG #ESG

Join our webinar on ‘Business opportunities in Vietnam’s #agrifood industry’ - next Thursday 04/04/24. Who should attend? The webinar aims at European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups (ready to scale internationally), European clusters and cluster managers, business advisers of the Enterprise Europe Network and other European business support organisations, including all stakeholders of the ‘Friends of EEN’ initiative. Learning objectives The webinar will offer an overview on the Vietnamese Agrifood sector. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the sector's landscape, including its growth potential, key players, and regulatory import framework based on EU-Vietnamese free trade agreement. This will be crucial for European companies to navigate the Vietnamese business environment effectively. The webinar will also explore exciting commercial opportunities with regard to the rising local demand for quality food products and technologies to adopt sustainable farming practices. #SGAgrifood #Agrifood

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held a workshop on 30th and 31st July, 2024, at The Palms Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria, to assess the comprehensiveness of trade-related regulations collected from regulatory institutions in Nigeria, in the context of the global regulatory transparency initiative. The objective of the workshop was to raise awareness on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Non- Tariff Barriers Online Reporting, Monitoring and Eliminating Mechanism ( in collaboration with African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and EU TAF). The workshop brought together over twenty five (25) national regulatory institutions, including the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). Recall, MLSCN regulates the production, importation, sales and stocking of In-vitro Diagnostics in Nigeria. Yours truly led the MLSCN delegation to the workshop. Today, most trade-related regulations stem from legitimate public policy objectives, such as the protection of health, consumer safety or the environment. While such measures cannot and should not be eliminated, a lack of transparency results in higher consumer prices and reduced value chain development The increase of regulatory transparency through this initiative can reduce the costs of trade-related regulations by a quarter according to some research findings. The workshop was held under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat African Union World Trade Organization UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Harmonized standards play a crucial role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) program by ensuring product quality and safety in African markets. Here are some benefits: 1. *Increased trade*: Harmonized standards facilitate trade among African countries by reducing technical barriers and increasing the compatibility of products. 2. *Improved product quality*: Standardization promotes quality products, enhancing consumer trust and confidence in African goods. 3. *Enhanced safety*: Harmonized standards ensure products meet safety requirements, reducing risks to consumers and protecting public health. 4. *Reduced costs*: Standardization simplifies certification processes, reducing costs for manufacturers and exporters. 5. *Increased competitiveness*: Harmonized standards help African products compete globally, boosting exports and economic growth. 6. *Improved regulatory framework*: Standardization supports the development of a robust regulatory framework, strengthening institutions and governance. 7. *Enhanced consumer protection*: Harmonized standards safeguard consumers' interests, ensuring access to safe and quality products. 8. *Fostering regional integration*: Standardization promotes regional integration, aligning African countries with international best practices. By implementing harmonized standards, AfCFTA aims to create a seamless market, promoting economic growth, product quality, and consumer safety across Africa.

🌍 Consultations on the due diligence guidance for legal cocoa in Cameroon 🌱 As part of the European Sustainable Cocoa Initiative, 13 Cocoa Actions are underway, including the analysis of the legal framework for cocoa production and trade in Cameroon, under the supervision of EFI. Despite the sector's importance to the Cameroonian economy, the legality of cocoa is not yet clearly defined. To fill this gap, EFI commissioned TAMI International to carry out an in-depth study of the legal framework for cocoa production and trade, and to propose a due diligence methodology for operators wishing to export to the European Union (EU). 📝 On 11 and 12 September, consultations in Yaoundé will bring together stakeholders to obtain their validation of the legal requirements identified as relevant to cocoa farming in Cameroon, and to gather their comments on the due diligence actions proposed to verify the compliance of cocoa with these requirements. The proposed due diligence guidance will also include recommendations on how operators can rely on certification systems. Input from stakeholders will be taken into account to finalise the due diligence guidance, which will be presented at a workshop scheduled for October 2024 in Yaoundé. 🇨🇲 #SustainableCocoa #CocoaSustainability #DueDiligence #CocoaCameroon #EFI #EUDR #Sustainability #CocoaActions

Ahead of the Joint Taskforce meeting this Wednesday 12 September in Rotterdam, it bears pointing out that so many clarifications sought during the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC)-EFI webinar on 25 June 2024 remain deafeningly unanswered. Ultimately, employment in the EU is at risk at a time when its economy is struggling. Even more dammingly, imposing deforestation rules sans meaningful consultation with the producers has resulted in a real risk of oil palm smallholders from the European supply chain, an unjust discrimination. This is on top of the various compliance uncertainties that are bound to disrupt supply and production. Simply having engagements where EU shoves its demands down producers' throats is not consultation, but just paying lip service. While the industry hopes for clarity this week, not many players are sanguine. We will be happy to be proven wrong.

Inside Scoops on Trade Changes! Every importer impacted…. Increased administration & costs… how is your association advocating? Consider membership to Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters. IeCanada collaborates across multiple associations #shaping_trade #ieCanada

Constructive cooperation among all participants is essential for the continuous improvement of the food safety system. Everyone in the food supply chain, from primary producers to policymakers, should consistently and uncompromisingly work on the improvement. In FIC Serbia, we are proud to be part of this effort and encourage others to join us. Please read the article in CorD Magazine for more insights into this crucial topic: https://lnkd.in/dZtKPuV2 #FoodSafety #ContinuousImprovement #Cooperation #CordMagazine #FICSerbia #FoodSafetySystem #FICGuide2024 #FoodSector