COMESA Member States met in Kigali, Rwanda from 21-22 May 2025 to validate the revised COMESA Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Regulations. The regulations govern how the COMESA region should manage matters related to food safety, plant health and animal health. The review and revision of the SPS Regulations aimed to address the SPS risks which have evolved since the regulations were first issued in 2009.
Ms Antoinette Mbabazi, the Acting Director General of the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority opened the validation workshop, which was also addressed by Amb. Dr. Mohamed Kadah, COMESA Assistant Secretary General-Programmes.
In her opening remarks, Ms Mbabazi noted that harmonized SPS regulations are essential for enhancing market access, eliminating non-tariff barriers (NTBs), and ultimately fostering intra-regional trade in agricultural and food products.
“In the absence of harmonized regulations and standards, the sector remains fragmented, creating significant hurdles for producers and exporters—especially smallholders—who often face redundant requirements, delays in accessing markets, and even rejection of their products,” she said.
She added that the revised draft COMESA SPS Regulations “represent more than just a legal framework; they symbolize our shared commitment to integrate our economies, protect the health of our people and ecosystems, and unlock the full potential of trade in the region.”
COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes, Amb. Dr. Mohamed Kadah said the alignment of national SPS measures with the regional framework would help to eliminate regulatory discrepancies that continue to impede trade in food and agricultural products.
“Successful implementation of these regulations will reduce transaction costs, minimize duplication of testing and certification, and foster mutual recognition of SPS measures among member states,” Amb. Dr. Kadah stated.
During the workshop, delegates from Member States reviewed the draft SPS Regulations and once adopted, the implementation of these regulations at national level are expected to create a predictable regulatory environment, thereby enhancing market access and competitiveness for businesses, especially SMEs.
The work to review the regulations was undertaken by SPS experts from member states in April and September 2024, with the support of the African Union Commission, while the validation workshop was conducted with the support of the European Union-funded Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP).