COMESA Green Pass page heading [ Print | E-mail ]

Establishment of COMESA Green Pass

(1) There is hereby established a COMESA Green Pass, which shall be a commodity-specific SPS certification scheme and authority for movement of food and agricultural products within the Common Market, issued by a National Green Pass Authority.

(2) Unless otherwise provided in these Regulations, a Green Pass issued by a National Green Pass Authority in one Member State shall be valid in another Member State. 8. Objectives of Green Pass The objectives of the Green Pass are:

(a) to facilitate movement and trade in food and agricultural commodities;

(b) to protect:

i) human health and life from risks arising from additives in food and drink, contaminants in food and drink, toxins in food and drink, and plant or animal carried diseases;

ii) animal health and life from risks arising from additives in feed and water, toxins in feed and water, pests, diseases and disease causing organisms;

iii) plant health and life from risks arising from pests, diseases and disease causing organisms; and

iv) the socio-economic structures and institutions of a Member State from risks arising from the entry, establishment and spread of pests and diseases.

National Green Pass Authority

(1) Member State may set up under domestic laws or designate a National Green Pass Authority for certification in accordance with Regulation 11.

(2) Where a Member State sets up or designates a National Green Pass Authority, it shall notify the Secretary-General officially, in writing, of the setting up or designation of such an institution, not more than a month after it has been officially set up or designated by the Member State.

Functions and Powers of National Green Pass Authority

A Member State shall ensure that a National Green Pass Authority shall have functions and powers to:

(a) receive and consider applications for Green Passes;

(b) register enterprises eligible to be issued with a Green Pass;

(c) monitor and evaluate enterprises registered under paragraph (b);

(d) assist enterprises in meeting eligibility criteria for Green Pass;

(e) establish and maintain a register, comprising of such information as the Authority may decide, subject to confidentiality rules, of eligible enterprises; and

(f) collaborate and coordinate with the Regional SPS Unit at the Secretariat, with regard to the issuance of the Green Pass.Page

Certification of National Green Pass Authority

(1) The Committee shall certify a national institution as a Green Pass Authority for purposes of these Regulations, where it is satisfied that the institution:

(a) complies with the requirements of these Regulations;

(b) has adequate resources to carry out its functions under these Regulations;

(c) has an effective monitoring and surveillance system;

(d) has an effective emergency preparedness system; and

(e) has an effective traceability system.

(2) Where a Member State applies for authority to issue a Green Pass for a particular commodity or group of commodities but fails to meet the requirements stipulated for the commodity or group of commodities, the Secretariat may assist the Member State to formulate a programme of interventions and source funds to address the specific deficiencies observed.

(3) The Committee shall consider an application for certification after having received a request on the issue from the SPS Unit.

Registration of Enterprise

(1) An enterprise may be registered under Regulation10(b) where it satisfies the SPS requirements as required for the commodity in question in the specific Council regulations, directives and codes of practice issued in accordance with Regulation 18.

(2) Where an enterprise, which has applied for registration under sub- regulation (1), fails to meet the requirements stipulated for the commodity or group of commodities, the National Green Pass Authority may assist the enterprise to formulate a programme of interventions and source funds to address the specific deficiencies arising or observed.

(3) Where an enterprise registered under sub-regulation (1) subsequently fails to meet the requirements stipulated for the commodity or group of commodities, the National Green Pass Authority may suspend the registration of such an enterprise until the specific deficiencies are remedied.

Suspension of Importation under a Green Pass

(1) Where a Member States has valid grounds to believe that a Green Pass has not been issued in accordance with these Regulations, it may;

(a) prevent the importation of the commodity subject matter of the Green Pass; and

(b) request for additional information from the exporting Member State.

(2) Any action taken under sub-regulation (1) shall be forthwith notified to the Secretariat.

(3) The Secretariat shall inquire and report on the matter to the Member States involved within four weeks. 

Mutual Recognition Agreements

Member States are individually or collectively encouraged to sign mutual recognition agreements with any country or group of countries outside the Common Market for the recognition of the Green Pass as authority of entry of commodities into that country’s or group of countries’ market.

Regional Accreditation Bodies

(1) The Council may designate such number of national SPS related institutions as regional accreditation bodies as may be required for the purpose of these Regulations.

(2) A regional accreditation body shall, in its field of accreditation:

(a) carry out audit, inspection and accreditation of any recognised national SPS related institution or a process;

(b) assist recognised national SPS related institutions in establishing quality assurance and management systems;

(c) assist the Secretariat in establishing national certification bodies in Member States, with the aim of establishing common certification criteria, for the Green Pass;

(d) establish a peer review mechanism for ensuring compliance with agreed standards; and

(e) conduct relevant training to ensure effective operations.

(3) A regional accreditation shall itself be accredited in accordance with the relevant international standards.

(4) Council shall determine the relevant International standards. Download Full Document

---

SPS Analysis for Agricultural Trade Commodities in the COMESA region

Rift Valley fever | World Health Organisation | Apr-23-2008

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures-The COMESA Experience | Moses SIMEMBA, COMESA | Sep-12-2006