West African states to establish regional pesticide, seed, biosafety regulations

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministers of Food and Agriculture recently approved the establishment of a regional committee to oversee the implementation of regulations regarding the production, importation and application of pesticides in West Africa.

... a committee of experts from member states that have ratified the common regulation on pesticides and external experts, was one of the decisions of the one-day meeting of the ministers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso that discussed ways of boosting agricultural productivity in the region.

ECOWAS said its operations would be centrally coordinated but operate from two zones - the Sahelian and humid zones - that will cater for the agricultural divide of West Africa.

".... the committee will facilitate trade in pesticides among Member States through the enforcement of regionally agreed principles, facilitate farmers` access to quality pesticides in a timely and convenient manner, ensure their judicious use, contribute to the creation of an environment conducive for private sector investment in the pesticides industry and promote private/public partnership," a statement from ECOWAS said.

It said the ministers also agreed on the ECOWAS supplementary act for the harmonisation of rules for pesticides registration in the region as well as the regulation on the harmonisation of rules governing the quality control, certification and marketing of seeds and planting materials.

The Minsters said the comprehensive regulation would ensure access to quality seed to West African farmers; facilitate local production of quality seeds as well as intra-regional trading.
"A liberalised market for seeds suitable for the region will also help contribute to improved food security and the capacity of regional farmers to compete in the global environment."

The ministers also adopted a five-year action plan for the development of biotechnology and biosafety in the region to enable regional agriculture to benefit from new agricultural technologies.

AngolaPress