phytosanitary

On the sanitary and 'phytosanitary' assessment that the United States government was conducting on imported vegetables from Zambia, Dr Mwila said some experts were recently in the US to look at ways of speeding up the process.

Most African countries and others from the Least Developed Countries category have been grappling with the issues of sanitary and 'phytosanitary' measures when trying to venture into export markets.

They have announced a precautionary principle with regard to genetically modified foods, which is very difficult to reconcile with the WTO's sanitary and 'phytosanitary' rules.

He said the commission was considering the main issues surrounding the continued sanitary and 'phytosanitary' ban on the movement of the traditional cattle from rural areas.

Further, these countries have practically blocked developing country imports under the stringent norms of sanitary and 'phytosanitary' measures (often more tougher than what is prescribed by Codex Alimentarius).