BAHAMAS: Bahamas Agricultural Health & Food Safety Authority Represents Bahamas at CPM in Rome, Italy

#Italy, May 05, 2018 – Rome – Mr. Mark Humes, MP, Chairman of the Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) and Ms. Josefina Adderley-Curry, Officer-in-Charge, Department of Agriculture, Abaco, attend the 13th Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-13) from April 16-20, 2018 in Rome, Italy.

The meeting of the CPM, the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), reviews the state of plant protection around the world, identifies action to control the spread of pests into new areas – develops and adopts international standards – establishes rules and procedures for resolving disputes, adopts guidelines for the recognition of regional plant protection organizations; and cooperates with international organizations on matters covered by the Convention.

Topics covered at the meeting included Plant Health and Trade Facilitation, Plant Health and Environment Protection, Human and Plant Health Interaction, ePhyto certification, e-Commerce, Sea Container Cleanliness, and Cooperation between Standard Setting and Standards Implementation.

During the five days of deliberation, the delegation participated in wide-ranging discussions on issues related to local and global plant health and plant protection issues, particularly issues that have an impact on countries like the Bahamas who depend on trading large quantities of plant and plant products, such as grain, fruit and vegetables or timber to sustain their economies.

They also held strategic planning meeting with regional and international plant health officials to discuss the Bahamas’ phytosanitary capacity development plan. (Photo L to R: Juliet Goldsmith – Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (CAHFSA); Sarah Brunel (Capacity Development Officer – IPPC; Mark Humes, MP – Chairman BAHFSA; Josefina Adderley-Curry – Department of Agriculture)

As a contracting member of the Commission, the Bahamas, in partnership with other CPM contracting nations, is responsible for implementing the work program of standards development, information exchange, and capacity building.

The delegation is expected to return back to the Bahamas on Saturday, April 21st and will organize a series of information workshops for local sanitary and phytosanitary stakeholder groups.

Release: Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources