PAN-SPSO stands for the Participation of African Nations in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standard-setting Organisations. It aims at assisting African Union Member States in enhancement of the organisational set-up for more effective representation in international standard-setting organizations (ISSOs), e.g. the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) / the World Health Organization (WHO) Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Plant Protection Convention, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Trade Organisation,(WTO), etc. in order to facilitate trade and marketing of animals and animal products in compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

The participants of the 1st PAN-SPSO Steering Committee and Technical Partner Meetings

During the Technical Coordination Meeting, participants were familiarized with the result areas and activities of the PANSPSO Consolidation Phase, the overall budget allocation (AU-IBAR, AU-IAPSC and RECs) and the work plan for year 1, as well as with the administrative, financial and contract (partnership agreements) issues.

During the Steering Committee (SC) Meeting, participants examined the items of the adopted agenda. The new terms of reference of the Steering Committee were adopted. The SC made the following recommendations:

• AUC and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to give the opportunity to AU-IBAR and African Union Interafrican Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC) to participate in high level foraorganised at the regional and continental level to advocate and raise awareness among high level officials on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) issues.
• The need to provide support to PAN-SPSO activities, and increase the visibility of AU-IBAR, AU-IAPSC and the PANSPSO project.
• RECs to provide support to Member Countries to establish SPS committees where they do not exist, and ensure functionality and sustainability of SPS committees, in the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme(CAADP).
• RECs to start the implementation of activities as planned in project documents even if the partnership agreements(PAs) are not signed, using direct procurement by AU-IBAR.
• AU-IBAR and RECs to expedite the signing of partnerships agreements and transfer of funds to RECs
• PAN-SPSO to put emphasis on consolidation of common positions at the national level (involving civil society) prior to continental coordination process and international meetings.

The Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the AUC thanked all members and observers of the Steering Committee for the good work done and their dedication shown during the meeting.

COMESA proposed to host the next SC in Lusaka, Zambia. This proposal was accepted by the members. The meeting will take place in November 2012.