Strengthening Project for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in the Caribbean

Within the framework of the signing of the agreement between the European Union and IICA on April 10, 2013, it was agreed to support the development and modernization of sanitary and phytosanitary measures applied in the Caribbean, with the aim of improving access to European markets for agricultural products from this region. The project aimed to improve progress towards the development and establishment of effective and efficient national and regional sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regimes to overcome the challenges of limited regional/national administrative capacity with respect to compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. These actions were carried out under 3 main components: Legislation: Strengthened legislation, protocols, standards, measures and guidelines in the area of Agricultural Health and Food Safety (AHFS) and fisheries; Coordination: Improved national and regional coordination mechanisms in support of the SPS regime developed and established in the CARIFORUM states; Capacity building: Strengthened national and regional regulatory and industrial capacity to comply with international trade SPS requirements. This project benefited CARICOM member countries and the Dominican Republic.