Workshop on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

The 2-day workshop focused on information exchange and initial steps to develop a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) action plan of future regional cooperation activities in CAREC to address key SPS concerns that hinder the smooth flow of goods and people in the CAREC region.

The topics covered were

• the result of SPS assessment in the People’s Republic of China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan;
• SPS best practices in CAREC, the Greater Mekong Subregion, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
• salient provisions of the World Trade Organization on the Application of SMS Measures (SPS Agreement); and
• application of SMS measures in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Participants included CAREC trade facilitation sector focal points and senior officials of SPS-related government agencies (e.g., customs authority, ministries of agriculture and health) of all CAREC member countries.