MEETING SPS COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXPORT OF

MEETING SPS COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS IN THE EXPORT OF NILE PERCH “NATIONAL EXPERIENCE” by Mr. Philip Borel (Chairman UFPEA/EAIFFPA) P. O. Box 24576, Kampala Tel/ Fax : 041 -347835 Email: ufpea@infocom. co. ug Date : 11 th May, 2009 1

Executive Summary The fish processing / export was the first nontraditional export industry in Uganda. It was established in mid-eighties as a cottage fish processing industry. The first fish export was made in March 1989. The infrastructure design / status was inadequate and thus fish quality/safety requirements could not easily be met. Initially, no quality management systems were in place and the Competent Authority Inspectors were not trained. As a result of the above, there were quality related problems that led to EU Bans. The establishments were asked to meet minimum EU requirements in order to export fish products to the EU market. 2

Executive Summary Cont’d Working towards harmonization was a huddle; it called for infrastructure improvement in terms of plant design / layout and implementation of the quality management systems like the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and the HACCP system. There was urgent need for capacity building in terms of training the Competent Authority Inspectors on how to inspect and monitor establishments for compliance with EU and regulatory requirements and the establishment staff on how to develop, implement and maintain the quality management systems. This required for substantial funds. Appreciations go to organizations like CDE, UNIDO and USAID for funding projects that helped meet the minimum requirements to pass the EU inspections and to qualify for harmonization. 3

Partnerships / Stakeholders Donors EU EU Food Legislation Government -National Resource & Food Legislation -FSP Project Upstream Control -GMPs / HACCP -QMS (ISO 9001) -FSMS (ISO 22000) Competent Authority -Standard Operating Procedures -Quality Assurance Inspections -SOPs for Fish Inspection & QA Private Sector Artisanal Fisheries -Fishers -Fish Suppliers UFPEA -Establishments -QAMA -Compliance issues Goods Providers -Ice production -Packaging materials Services Providers -Laboratories -Cold storage -Freight Services 4

Problems in the past q Inadequate Infrastructure design / status § Fish quality/safety requirements not met q Initially, q no quality management systems Weak Competent Inspectors q Resultant quality problems – EU Ban 5

Fish collection 6

Legislations: EU Legislations: l 178/2002 - General principles and requirements of Food Law l 852/2004 - Hygiene Rules of food stuffs l 853/2004 - Specific hygiene rules for food stuff of animal origin l 854/2004 - Official controls on animal products l 882/2004 - Official control to ensure verification of compliance with feed and food law National Legislations: l Uganda Standards (US 201, US 28) l The Fish (Quality Assurance) Rules l SOPs for Fish Inspection & Quality Assurance 7

Post Ban Interventions: q q q UFPEA formation 1992 Infrastructure Improvement Donor Funding: • • • q CDE UNIDO USAID Capacity Building • • • External Support Programs; Training of Fish Inspectors; Implementing HACCP, GMP’s, traceability; Quality Assurance Managers’ Association QAMA; Traceability and Product recall procedure; Common approach in addressing quality problems. 8

Fish storage 9

Harmonization q Infrastructure up-grading - (1997) q Quality, Hygiene and Food Safety Standards: • External Support Programs (UNIDO); • Training of Fish Inspectors; • Implementing HACCP, GMP’s, traceability; • Establishment of QAMA. q Compliant q Periodic EU Inspections CA Compliant Inspections 10

Fish transportation 11

Temperature maintenance 12

Good hygiene practices 13

Quality Control 14

Addressing Challenges q Effective upstream control § Hygiene; § Fishing; § Handling & storage; § Transport; § Food safety training q Implementing / maintaining quality systems § Prerequisite programs (GMPs) – CDE + UNIDO § HACCP § ISO 9001: 2000 (QMS) – USAID (SPEED PROJECT) § ISO 22000: 2005 (FSMS) – UNIDO q Market competition – CDE § Value addition – UNIDO (COMPETE PROJECT) 15

Addressing other Challenges q Resource management § Self-monitoring & control program § Fish for Future campaign (FFF) § Formation of Regional Association THANK YOU THE END 16