Designed byCPersad

Supporting the Food and Beverage Sector

Through Conformity Assessment Through Conformity Assessment ActivitiesActivities

Designed byCPersad

The Importance of The Food and Beverage Sector

• Close to 10,000 employed in this Close to 10,000 employed in this industry.industry.

• Second largest employerSecond largest employer

• Largest contributor of GDP from Largest contributor of GDP from the Manufacturing Sector (over the Manufacturing Sector (over TT$3.5bTT$3.5b

Designed byCPersad

Responsibility of the TTBS

• (TTBS) was designated the WTO/TBT Enquiry Point on behalf of the Government in January 30, 1996.

•1998, MTI notified the WTO that TTBS was responsible for the implementation and administration of the WTO TBT Agreement

•Designation Contact Point for the EPA

Designed byCPersad

Responsibility of TTBS to SPS Measures

• To ensure that Technical To ensure that Technical Regulations and Conformity Regulations and Conformity Assessment (CA) procedures Assessment (CA) procedures are not prepared, adopted or are not prepared, adopted or applied with the effect of applied with the effect of creating “unnecessary creating “unnecessary obstacles to international trade”obstacles to international trade”

Designed byCPersad

TBT MeasuresTBT Measures

General TBT measures pertaining General TBT measures pertaining toto

human health could include:human health could include:

• requirements for pharmaceuticalsrequirements for pharmaceuticals

• General labelling requirements General labelling requirements relating to food packagingrelating to food packaging

• nutrition claims and concernsnutrition claims and concerns

Designed byCPersad

TBT OR SPS

Designed byCPersad

TBT OR SPS

TBT OR SPS? AN EXAMPLE – ORANGES:

Figure 1: TBT and SPS measures relating to the international trade of oranges

Designed byCPersad

Approach

• Implementation of an approved Implementation of an approved PSIP Project titled:PSIP Project titled:

“ “Building capability for sustaining Building capability for sustaining export-led growth in Trinidad export-led growth in Trinidad and Tobago by strengthening and Tobago by strengthening the tradethe trade

Institutional Infrastructure for Institutional Infrastructure for Technical Barriers to Trade”Technical Barriers to Trade”

Designed byCPersad

Approach (Cont.)

• Develop systems accepted and Develop systems accepted and implemented internationallyimplemented internationally

• Harmonize with regional Harmonize with regional initiatives Technical Regulations initiatives Technical Regulations and Standardsand Standards

• Facilitate focus groups to Facilitate focus groups to determine specific areas to determine specific areas to develop and to provide develop and to provide assistanceassistance

Designed byCPersad

Activities (cont’d)

• Further developing the Further developing the conformity assessment conformity assessment framework framework

• Formulating a framework for Formulating a framework for negotiating Mutual Recognition negotiating Mutual Recognition ArrangementsArrangements

• Developing regional certification Developing regional certification marksmarks

Designed byCPersad

Activities (cont’d)

• Further developing the Further developing the conformity assessment conformity assessment framework framework

• Formulating a framework for Formulating a framework for negotiating Mutual Recognition negotiating Mutual Recognition ArrangementsArrangements

• Developing regional certification Developing regional certification marksmarks

Designed byCPersad

Future Developments

• Harmonizing the national system Harmonizing the national system of developing and applying of developing and applying Technical RegulationsTechnical Regulations

• Implementing regional harmonised Implementing regional harmonised standards (CSME and EPA)standards (CSME and EPA)

• Coordinating the various agencies Coordinating the various agencies and regulatory bodiesand regulatory bodies

Designed byCPersad

Future Developments (Cont.)

• Increasing the pool of accredited Increasing the pool of accredited laboratories available locallylaboratories available locally

• Develop recognized international Develop recognized international certification markscertification marks

• Establishment of National TBT Establishment of National TBT CommitteeCommittee

• Amending legislation to facilitate Amending legislation to facilitate obligationsobligations

Designed byCPersad 142008

Designed byCPersad

Thank you.Thank you.