. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/174
19 April 2000
(00-1583)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
The following communication was received from the Republic of Zambia.
_________
In the Republic of Zambia, issues relating to the SPS Agreement are dealt with by four
departments, one of which falls within the Ministry of Health and the remaining three fall under the
Ministry of Agriculture.  Issues relating to food sa fety are dealt with by Ministry of Health, and issues
relating to plants and animals are dealt with by Ministry of Agriculture.  Ministry of Commerce,Trade and Industry is the Enquiry Point and National Notification Authority.
Therefore, effective implementation of the SPS Agreement largely depends on the ability of
the above-mentioned departments to participate in the work of standards-setting bodies and the WTO
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  At the moment participation in the activities ofthe standard-setting bodies is limited by lack of financial resources.
It would also be important to upgrade infrastructure and ensure that SPS measures maintained
have sufficient scientific evidence.  Therefore assistance would be required to upgrade the following
laboratories, as well as build human resource capacity to effectively deal with SPS issues:
1. The Plant Quarantine Laboratories and Biosystemics  is based at Mount Makulu.
The facilities need to be upgraded and officers require international exposure to
familiarize them with foreign pests.  The bio systemics will require refurbishing to
enhance rapid responses to inquiries.
2. The Herbage Chemistry (HC)  lab for testing fertilizers, stock, feed, planting media
compost and water for conformity.
3. The Seed Health Testing and Control Laboratory
4. National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research,  assistance would be
required to acquire various standards for mycotoxin testing.
5. National Food and Drugs Laboratory  needs to be strengthened in verifying
conformity of standards in additives, pesticides residues and food safety.
Other areas where technical assistance is required include the following:
- Raising awareness among the business community and the public in general on issues
relating to SPS;
- Training of officials at border posts and provision of necessary equipment so as to
increase technical capacity to handle SPS-related issues;G/SPS/GEN/174
Page 2
- Creation of an appropriate data base within the Ministry of Commerce on SPS to
facilitate the work of the Ministry as enquiry point and national notification authority;
- Equipping the technical departments with relevant scientific and technical
information.
__________