Regional leaders gather in Kigali to validate updated food safety and agricultural trade rules, marking a crucial step toward healthier markets, stronger economies, and fewer barriers for producers and exporters
By Ethical Business News Desk
Kigali, Rwanda – May 21, 2025 – Member States of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) are meeting in Kigali from May 21–22 to validate the revised draft COMESA Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Regulations. These regulations are critical to managing food safety, plant health, and animal health across the region.
Originally adopted in 2009, the regulations have been revised to address evolving SPS risks and enhance regional trade in agricultural and food products. The validation workshop was officially opened by Ms. Antoinette Mbabazi, Acting Director General of the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority. Also addressing the workshop was Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Kadah, COMESA Assistant Secretary General for Programmes.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Mbabazi underscored the importance of harmonized SPS regulations in eliminating non-tariff barriers and boosting intra-regional trade.
“In the absence of harmonised regulations and standards, the sector remains fragmented, creating significant hurdles for producers and exporters, especially smallholders, who often face redundant requirements, market delays, and even product rejection,” she said.
She emphasized that the revised 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.”
Amb. Dr. Kadah highlighted the need to align national SPS measures with the regional framework to eliminate regulatory inconsistencies that hinder trade.
“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,” he noted.
The validation workshop follows months of technical work by the COMESA SPS Sub-Committee, which reviewed the regulations in April and September 2024, with support from the African Union Commission. The current workshop is supported by the European Union through the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP).
Rwanda was selected to host this high-level meeting due to its strong institutional commitment to SPS implementation. Through its designated national authority, the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority, Rwanda has established a solid regulatory framework and has made notable progress in food safety and the protection of plant and animal health.
Delegates at the workshop are expected to finalise the revised regulations, paving the way for their adoption and national-level implementation. Once enacted, these rules are expected to create a predictable regulatory environment that enhances market access and competitiveness, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
One pressing challenge across the region is the high transaction cost linked to repeated inspections and delays at border points, especially for perishable goods. For example, delays in transporting produce like potatoes from Rwanda to neighbouring countries such as Uganda or Burundi often result in spoilage and financial losses.
“We urge our Member States to go beyond validation and ensure active implementation of these revised regional measures,” said Providence Mavubi, Director, Industry and Agriculture Programme at COMESA..
“Enforcing SPS standards nationally is essential to guaranteeing that all goods crossing our borders are safe for consumption. As we often say, if it is not safe, it is not food,” she added.
The adoption and effective implementation of the revised COMESA SPS Regulations are seen as a significant step forward in fostering regional integration, safeguarding public health, and strengthening the agricultural economy across COMESA’s 21 Member States.
