Stakeholders more educated about sanitary, phytosanitary measures

Stakeholders here should now be better equipped to more effectively apply food safety, animal and plant health measures.{{more}}

Last Thursday, May 10, a cross section of local stakeholders were engaged in a one-day training seminar, organized by the SVG EPA Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Commonwealth HUB and SPOKES project, spearheaded by the OECS secretariat.

Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conference room, participants were educated on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.

The day’s proceedings involved a number of presentations and discussions concerning SPS, facilitated by different persons, including Malcolm Spence, an official from the Office of Trade Negotiation (OTN) of the CARICOM Secretariat.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Nathaniel Williams said the training was of critical importance to enhance the awareness of Vincentians on the challenges and opportunities that can be derived from SPS measures.

“SPS as we know, speaks to measures or standards for the protection of human, animal and plant life,” the PS said.

Another critical point highlighted by Williams, is that St Vincent and the Grenadines is a country with a Small and Vulnerable Economy (SVS).

He informed participants that within the context of trade, countries such as SVG are called upon to implement international standards and to take scientific measures that are appropriate and necessary for the protection of life.

He said SVG is called upon “…to ensure that we play our part in ensuring that the types of food … that we make available, whether locally grown, locally produced or imported, that they are of the appropriate standards necessary for human consumption for animal health and for plant life.”

The PS also called on the participants to form a cohesive group, in an effort to deal with issues related to the health of human life, animal life and plant protection. He informed them that they all have the responsibility in their various operations to prevent anything which may affect health in the lives of humans, animals or plants.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Douglas Slater informed the stakeholders that the workshop was of great importance and they should not take it as another day away from their work places.

“…You have a very serious responsibility as senior civil servants to respond to the needs of the nation. You are a part of the chain. We all know the cliché, ‘a chain is as strong as its weakest link’.

“We do not want any of us here to be considered a weak link. We want a strong chain,” Slater stated.(AA)