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A new partnership is helping to improve the capacity of Ugandan authorities and private sector organizations comply with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures and unlock up to $150 million in revenue otherwise lost to pests and diseases.
CABI, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), HortiFresh and COLEAD, have teamed up as part of a new project funded by the European Union Commission targeting horticultural produce including fruit and vegetables.
Fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) that will form the focus of the project include capsicum, garden eggs (white), Hass avocado, mango and okra.
Comply with SPS measures for domestic and export markets
It is hoped the collaboration will help increase the capacity of Uganda authorities and private sector organizations comply with SPS measures for domestic and export markets. The aim is to increase trade, safeguard health and increasing income and employment opportunities.
In Uganda, the export of horticultural produce to global markets is significant to the economy, food security and livelihoods. In 2023, 60% of exports, which included fresh fruit and vegetables, were to the EU, worth €58 million.
However, despite the notable exports, Uganda has a limited share of the EU market. This is due to produce being intercepted and rejected because it does not meet the required SPS standards.
Exports are being intercepted and rejected because of harmful organisms, excessive maximum residue limits (MRLs) that are not in line with the EU standards, and Codex and documentation errors.
Given the challenges Uganda faces when exporting to the EU, there will be a core focus on EU plant health and food safety regulations.
His Excellency Jan Sadek, Ambassador of the EU to Uganda, said, “In these days of tariff wars around the world, the EU remains steadfast in its commitment to allow imports from Uganda quota-free and tariff-free. The Everything but Arms (EBA) trade deal with Uganda removes tariffs and quotas for all imports of goods (except arms and ammunition) coming into the EU.
“Europe wants all the fantastic fruits and vegetables you grow in Uganda, but of course they must comply with the SPS standards required for entering the EU market.
“I am confident that this project will boost such exports by bringing together the public and private stakeholders to improve the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables export value chain. I congratulate CABI and COLEAD for this very ambitious project and I hope it will have a very ‘fruitful’ implementation.”
Improving compliance with the SPS system
Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit Gnonlonfin, CABI’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS), Global Program Lead and Project Manager, said, “Between 2015 and 2024, according to EUROPHYT/TRACE, more than 787 interceptions occurred due to harmful organisms (70% were on FFV exports) and 308 interceptions because of documentation (71% on FFV exports).
“For Uganda to regain market share and capitalize on the opportunity to increase revenue of up to $150 million, the problems outlined need to be addressed by improving compliance with the SPS system.”
He added that the beneficiaries of the project will include the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) – the designated national competent authority in SPS at MAAIF – and associated ministries, departments and agencies, including trade and standards.
A range of beneficiaries
Other beneficiaries include target business operators such as membership organizations, for example HortiFresh, farmer-based organizations, farmer groups, cooperatives, and support services such as research organizations.
Consultants, training centres, certification bodies, farmer support structures, extension services and entities involved in freight and logistics will also benefit. Indirect beneficiaries include local, regional and EU purchasing, processing and retail companies, consumers and consumer associations and rural communities.
At the beginning of March, a team from CABI met with Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries, to update him and his delegation on the status of the project so far.
The Permanent Secretary in turn advised CABI that the project has been approved by the Cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to proceed with the next steps towards finalization of the ratification process.
The Permanent Secretary said the infrastructural support the project will provide to the government will ease the certification process at the fields and packhouses addressing export challenges. The project will end in February 2029.
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The CABI team at their meeting with Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Additional information
Main image: Mango is one of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables targeted by the project to help Uganda improve its Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures for export (Credit: Pixabay).
Project page
Find out more about CABI’s work in partnership to strengthen the capacity of Ugandan authorities and private sector organizations to comply with SPS measures for domestic and export markets from the project page ‘Boosting international trade: Improved Sanitary and Phytosanitary system in horticulture in Uganda.’
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