AU IBAR held a training workshop in Dar Es Salaam for capacity building of the National Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee of the United Republic of Tanzania. The objectives of the workshop were:
- to improve the understanding of the participants on the standards setting procedures of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).
- to improve the understanding of participants on the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Mphumuzi Sukati (who was also representing the Director of AU IBAR), Mr. John Oppong-Otoo (Food Safety Officer, AU-IBAR) and Dr. Hiver Boussini (Animal Health Officer, AU-IBAR). The trainees were members of the National SPS Committee and included participants from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Research and Academic Institutions, Organizations representing Industry Groups and Consumer Association. Fifty participants attended the training.
At the same workshop, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon Charles Mwijage relaunched the National SPS Committee and assured participants that the Ministry is committed to provide resources to ensure that the Committee deliver on its mandate. He also emphasized the importance of the committee to the socio-economic development of the country, given the negative impact on human, plant and animal health, and trade due to non-compliance to SPS standards.
The workshop was organized under the auspices of AU-IBAR’s Standards and Trade Secretariat for Animal Health and Food Safety.
