POLICY PROGRAM
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Strategy
 RATES works closely with the private sector to identify trade policy constraints and initiate change through regional institutions such as COMESA, EAC, and SADC. This stakeholder “cluster” approach in identifying constraints and formulating policies has already started paying dividends. RATES’ strategy is to increase these regional organization’s capacity to better serve the trading community in RATES-supported commodities.
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Key activities
Activity 1. Facilitate Incorporation of Regional Grain and Dairy Standards into National Policy
RATES has worked closely with COMESA and the East African Community (EAC) to adopt harmonized maize and dairy standards. By early next year, these organizations should complete the formal adoption process of both the grain and dairy standards. This process is dependent on the scheduling of formal COMESA Council of Ministers meetings which affect the timing and achievement of project deliverables.
Maize Standards
The RATES Program will work with private and public stakeholders (through EAC, COMESA and EAGC) to implement and complete the policy process to harmonize COMESA maize standards. RATES has supported national consultative meetings in all target countries and the regional workshop is scheduled for August 2007. The following tasks will be completed during the 2007/2008 program year:
- The RATES policy team will ensure that final documents derived from the 2007 Regional Subcommittee of Maize Standards are submitted in time for approval to the COMESA Standards Committee during its meeting in November/December 2007. This process will be facilitated by the RATES policy advisor based in the COMESA secretariat. He will also provide technical assistance as the process moves to the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for April 2008. Our two policy specialists, Mr. Simuyemba and Bernard Kagira, will lead this effort.
- Once the maize standards have been adopted at the regional level, phase 2 of the process can begin. This includes the final adoption of the new standards at the national level. The national level adoption process will require formally “gazetting” the new standards to replace the existing national standards in each country.
- RATES will assist the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) to take the lead on disseminating information to its members on the new standards and to encourage quick adoption of the new policies at the national level. To facilitate this process, the RATES trade office team will conduct stakeholder meetings (in conjunction with the EAGC) in each target country and identify local champions to monitor the process. The RATES team will assist in the dissemination of the new standards through the use of our Web sites, newsletters, training courses, and official publications.
Dairy Standards
RATES (through our partners COMESA, Land O’Lakes and ESADA) will work with stakeholders to implement/complete the policy process to harmonize dairy products standards in COMESA. This work has been conducted by Irwin Foreman, a dairy industry specialist from LOL who will continue to provide support to this activity. National Consultative Meetings have been held in all target countries and a regional workshop will be held in September 2007. The following tasks are required to complete the process:
- RATES will ensure that the final documents derived from the 2007 Regional Subcommittee of Dairy Standards will be submitted for approval to the COMESA Standards Committee during their meeting in November/December 2007. RATES will provide technical assistance as the process moves to the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for April 2008.
- RATES will implement phase 2 of the process once the regional standards are adopted. As with maize, this includes the legislation and adoption of the new standards at the national level. RATES/Eastern and Southern Dairy Association (ESADA) will sponsor stakeholder meetings in each target country to discuss and agree on the appropriate process for implementation. The RATES policy team will take the lead in ensuring national level adoption. RATES and ESADA will jointly conduct training in the regulations where necessary. RATES will also utilize the expertise of Land O’Lakes industry specialists to provide technical backstopping as required.
Activity 2. Complete the COMESA/EAC Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Standards (SPS) Dairy Protocol Process
Over the course of 2007, RATES developed the draft Dairy SPS Protocol and submitted it to the regional organizations for review. Both COMESA and the EAC have reviewed the protocol and disseminated the document to Member States for consultations. To complete this process, RATES will complete the following tasks:
- RATES will work with ESADA to facilitate a joint COMESA/EAC technical session on SPS in October 2007. During this meeting, SPS officials and private sector stakeholders (from 10 target countries) will meet to finalize the documentation and resolve any differences that may arise.
- RATES will provide technical assistance as the process moves to the COMESA Agriculture Committee in late 2007/early 2008 for its review and approval. RATES will lend technical support as the protocol is discussed and approved at the next Council of Agricultural Ministers scheduled for March 2008.
- RATES will ensure that the protocol reaches the final stage, which is the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for April 2008.
- Phase 2 of the process requires ESADA to be pro-active through its membership to ensure that the protocol is adopted at the national level. The RATES team will assist in this through a national roundtable process that will agree on the appropriate actions to implement the protocol. As with maize, the RATES policy team will take the lead in this effort.
Activity 3. Promote the adoption and implementation of the COMESA simplified trade regime (STR)
The RATES program has worked closely with COMESA to promote the STR initiative. COMESA has developed the necessary list of eligible commodities, developed guidelines and redesigned simplified customs forms to introduce a simplified trade regime aimed at facilitating the trading of small values (up to $500) of selected commodities. These smaller volumes are focused on “informal” traders but who collectively handle a high volume of inter-regional trade. This maize will now be allowed to cross regional borders with a minimum of red tape. During the extension period, the contractor will develop a program to roll out the simplified trade regime and ensure that customs and other agencies are implementing the STR program at selected border posts.
- The STR process will be discussed and approved by the Council of Trade Ministers at their scheduled October 2007 meeting.
- Phase Two of the process will require acceptance and implementation at the national level. EAGC and ESADA will be the main activists in this effort.
- The trial program will target EAC borders with Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and possibly Rwanda and Burundi.
Activity 4. Synthesize and publish in the www.tradecomesa.com website trade regulatory requirements on target commodities
RATES will work with COMESA to complete the process of synthesizing and publishing in the www.tradecomesa.com website trade regulatory requirements on target commodities. In addition, the TIMRS will be launched as an integrated web based information source for trade policies, regulations, procedures and practices. We will also provide follow up support to sensitize and educate traders on trading requirements under COMESA FTA and EAC Customs Union.
Activity 5. Provide support to COMESA on CAADP
RATES will coordinate with COMESA and will be available as a technical resource on general CAADP program issues, especially Pillar II on market access. Specifically RATES will avail its technical services to national roundtables on Compact deliberations (Kenya and Uganda) and the regional forum to be held in Addis Ababa in October 2007. In addition, RATES will provide its services to COMESA in regards to the development of any regional compact initiatives.
Deliverables
- Regional dairy and maize standards adopted by key countries involved in 80 percent of the regional trade of these commodities
- At least two international trade policy positions/white papers produced by ACTIF by the end of the extension period
- The COMESA dairy SPS protocol adopted by the COMESA Council of Ministers meeting in April 2008
- COMESA SPS Protocol adopted by at least 5 dairy producing countries by September 2008
- STR adopted and implemented by at least 3 COMESA/EAC countries by September 30, 2008.
- www.tradecomesa.com website operational, handed over to COMESA for management, and used by traders for trade procurement decisions.
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