June 21^st-22^nd, 2018 (Djibouti)  Officials from the Jubaland State of Somalia at the Djibouti Quarantine laboratory

IGAD/ICPALD facilitated and supported an experience sharing mission for 5 quarantine officials from the Jubaland State of Somalia to the Djibouti Regional Livestock Export Quarantine that is owned by the Prime International Company, in Djibouti. The mission was, specifically for Kisimayo team, with limited export experience, to learn about the standards and guidelines on the development and management of quarantines, guideline and phytosanitary certificates, livestock quarantine and marketing system, exportation systems of livestock to Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries and veterinary port operations, among others

The objectives of the mission were:

• To gain experience and learn from the different facilities of  export quarantines in Djibouti, build partnerships and improve the capacity of export quarantine in the Jubaland State of Somalia;
• To learn from quarantine procedures such as  inspection through certification

 The Kisimayo team visited and learn some good practices from the main quarantine, pre-quarantine and the Port activities where animals are shipped to their terminal markets in MENA; discussed key issues and made the following recommendations. 

 Recommendations

1. At the Djibouti Regional Livestock Export Quarantine, FMD is a challenge as lack of pure vaccine against the diseases pose problems to the livestock export, especially to the importing countries that require animals that are FMD virus antigen free. It is suggested that the IGAD region endeavors to secure and use FMD pure vaccine; The exporting countries also need to strengthen   investing on exporting deboned meat.
2. For the Jubaland State of Somalia, inspection of animals and issuance of health certification fall within the domain of the national authority in Mogadishu and this has affected the work efficiency and quality. Hence, the state needs to negotiate with the central government for authorization or delegation of the Jubaland State to use a national stamp and signature on animal health certificate;
3. Adherence to animal welfare laws is a requirement of importing markets that the Jubaland State of Somalia need to address, especially  putting in place  acceptable infrastructure and standard means of animals transport;
4. For the Jubaland State of Somalia to establish and run a standard export quarantine, provision and sustaining supply of feeds and water, as seen in Djibouti, is key, despite being an expensive activity;
5. IGAD/ICPLAD recommends to the quarantine team to share, to all Kisimayo technical staff, the SMP and SOP quarantine procedures and manual and roll them out to improve compliance of the quarantine.

IGAD/ICPALD expresses appreciation to Italian Development Cooperation for financing this event through the IGAD /FAO implemented livestock and meat project.

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June 24-25, 2017- Dubai; UAE IGAD and FAO have been implementing a regional project on “Improving Supply of Safe and Quality Livestock and Meat Exported from the Horn of Africa to Middle East and North African (MENA) Countries” funded by the Italian International Cooperation. IGAD region exports about 50% of live animals and less than 10% of meat required annually to MENA countries despite the close proximity; high livestock resources available and long traditions of marketing and supplying organically produced livestock to MENA.

 As indicate above; the live animal and meat  exports are not high compared to the opportunities we have; these are mainly  due to limited SPS compliance including trans-boundry animal diseases,   poor vertical and horizontal linkages between the livestock actors, limited promotion and linkage , unjustified  request of vaccination for some diseases and rejection of animals ; among others. Therefore, IGAD/ICPALD organized the 3^rd inter-regional technical meeting between the Chief veterinary officers (CVO) of exporting member states and CVOs of importing countries in Dubai; UAE from June 24-25, 2018 to strengthen collaboration; enhance trust and transparency between the two regions

 Dr. Solomon Munyua, Director of ICPALD and Mr Gerold Boedeker, A/sub-regional coordinator of FAO for GCC and Yemen made welcome remarks and the workshop was officially opened by H.E Eng. (Amb) Mahboub Maalim, the executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The participants are CVOs and officers’ in-charge of export quarantine facilities from Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Jordan; the CVOs or their representatives from IGAD member states (MS) and the Lab manager and Deputy Technical Manager of Djibouti Regional Quarantine. After presentations on the status of trade, challenges and key issues; the below recommendations were made for follow up actions 

 Recommendations

1. IGAD/ICPALD and FAO should work closely with member states to enhance compliance with import sanitary requirements for sustainable trade;
2. MS should promote private sector investment in feedlots and ranch to enhance value addition and ensure year round marketable supply of livestock;
3. IGAD, FAO and MS should support implementation of livestock identification and traceability system (LITS) starting from primary markets and quarantines and focus on promotion of compartmentalization as a way to prevent and control TADs ;
4. IGAD secretariat shall facilitate the IGAD-MENA technical collaboration platform at policy level of permanent secretaries and ministers to formalize the engagement at higher level;
5. IGAD and FAO shall continue to strengthen experience learning through South to South cooperation to help exporting countries comply with SPS requirements;
6. The IGAD-MENA regulatory authorities to continually communicate and regularly review the bilateral agreements/ memoranda of understanding/ and apply to resolve any emerging trade related issues.

ICPALD expresses its appreciation to Italian International Co-operation for funding this activity.

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28-06-2018, Bishoftu, Ethiopia: The IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) today concluded a two-day national consultation meeting for legal and policy experts from the Federal Government of Ethiopia.

The meeting held in Bishoftu, Ethiopia from the 27^th and 28^th June 2018 was to review the final technical draft of the Protocol on Transhumance in the IGAD region.

June 13-15, 2018 (Ghana) Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in partnership with FAO, with financial support from Italian international Cooperation is implementing the regional project; improving supply of safe and quality livestock and meat exported from the Horn of Africa to Middle East and North African (MENA) countries. One of the activity of the above project is to organize a trade mission for meat exporters and regulatory bodies from IGAD exporting countries to other meat deficient regions such as West Africa.

The objectives of the mission (June 13-15, 2018) were to facilitate interaction of regulatory bodies and private sectors of the IGAD countries with Ghana counterparts, collect  data and  lessons that will be shared to more meat exporters and stakeholders and enable the exporting countries to implement and start business ; promote and enhance inter-African livestock trade . After the discussion with Ghana regulatory bodies and importers and visit to markets; the following recommendations were made for actions

• The IGAD/ICPALD will share Self Declaration Document (SDD) received from Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Ghana to CVO of member states (MS) and exporters
• The delegation team will share the mission report and other information to their respective authorities for further action
• The private sector representatives will also share the information with their members
• CVOs of MS to fill the SDD document, submit to the CVO Ghana ; follow up and provide feedback to the private sectors interested in the trading of meat to Ghana.

 IGAD/ICPALD expresses appreciation to Italian Development Cooperation for financing this event through the IGAD /FAO implemented livestock and meat project.

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