National Action Plan to Make National [SPS]Enquiry Point Functional

Action Plan-Pakistan^*

Making National Enquiry Point Proactive, Effective, Efficient and Responsive

In my presentation on Coordination & Transparency in the 2nd Specialized Course on SPS conducted by WTO(October 16-27,2006), it was highlighted that factors limiting forging effective coordination, and impacting transparency of the SPS management in Pakistan included inter alia absence of a dedicated National Enquiry Point (NEP). Need was therefore assessed for an effective & efficient NEP, appreciating the pivotal role it plays in holistic SPS management in general and SPS-related coordination & transparency in particular.

In this context a SWOT analysis was undertaken, highlighting the strength & weaknesses of the system, with the aim to underpin effective & efficient operation of NEP by overcoming the identified shortfalls, and by countering perceived threats as to avail of upcoming market opportunities.

Strength	Weaknesses	Opportunities	Threats
Availability of Leadership Central Office Space Computers & Fast Internet Connection SPS Task Force & Codex Committees Public-Private Partnership	ad hocism Multitasked office Want of Commitment at senior management level Lack of awareness of the role of NEP Poor coordination among SPS-related institutions in the country & NEPs across countries Lack of capacity for informed notification Weak SPS informatics/resource base Lack of budget for NEP-related activities	Effective Coordination Improved Transparency Confidence & Credibility Innovation in SPS management Enhanced Trade Linkages Less Technical Barriers Improved Market Access	Loss of Credibility Impacted market access Cost of Adjustment

A quick look at SWOT analysis would guide towards following measures that can help make NEP functionally more proactive & responsive to the advantage of the country:

Ø Giving permanency to NEP institution

Ø Providing dedicated staff for its office

Ø Demonstrated commitment to make NEP institutionalized

Ø Linking SPS-related institutions at functional level with NEP through some administrative orders

Ø Equipping NEP with SPS resource base

Ø Enhanced communication within the country & across countries including at the level of the Mission & SPS Committee

Ø Training in notification process & transparency requirements

Ø Allocating some fiscal & human resources for NEP

Ø Learning from the experiences of other NEPs

The aforementioned actions are doables to a great extent, and by prioritizing them one can further ensure timely implementation of proposed actions, and also sustainability of NEP.

In this context following actions will be taken against the time line indicated against each:

ü Notifying WTO Secretariat of the new NEP- Action initiated last week

Immediate opportunity to link Pakistan through the NEP with invigorated understanding of SPS management especially making NEP operational, by allocating of financial & human resources will be rewarding in terms of effective coordination in this area. SPS Secretariat has already acknowledged the receipt of revised notification.

ü Developing Listserv (s) for SPS institutions/stakeholders & NEPs- Mid November 2007

Details of NEPS of the WTO Member countries are available with the WTO Secretariat and key stakeholders have already been identified by the WTO Unit, MINFAL. The list serve of these contacts will be developed by putting them on our e/contact. This listserv will help link key stakeholders in the area of SPS, and thus forge improved coordination, transparency and efficiency as they will have prompt access to SPS- related documents including inter alia SPS-related notifications of Pakistan and its trading partners. In the absence of such a networking, delayed and ineffective coordination can impact inter alia transparency and feedback from the stakeholders.

ü Orientation of senior management/stakeholders towards role of NEP- Starting November 2007

Pakistan being a founder Member of WTO is under obligation to comply with WTO Agreement on SPS in its true spirit, and to that end political commitment to improve SPS management is a prerequisite. Besides briefing to the Minister & the Secretary Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock (MINFAL) on role of NEP towards SPS management, an orientation course for SPS leadership with in and outside MINFAL will be arranged to emphasize the role of NEP in this context. As a result, with both political & technical commitment and additional resources it would be easier to implement this action plan in stipulated time.

ü Training of Notification Authorities in notification process & transparency- January-March 2007

Four different agencies namely Animal Quarantine, Plant Quarantine, Marine Fisheries Departments of MINFAL and Ministry of Health (MOH) are involved in agricultural health and food safety related notifications. These departments need training in SPS notification, which will be arranged through NEP. The training program shall focus on understanding of SPS agreement, application of its articles in the notification process especially with reference to scientific evidence and transparency. In the absence of such a training transparency can not be achieved.

ü Convincing the competent authorities for administrative orders linking SPS institutions- November 2007

A project on National Animal & Plant Health Inspection Services (NAPHIS) has already been approved by Government of Pakistan, aiming at linking of all SPS- related agencies in to single functional entity namely NAPHIS. The Secretary MINFAL will be convinced for immediate administrative orders in this regard for making proposed NPHIS coordination mechanism operational, for which already Rs. 400 million has been earmarked for 2007-2010, and allocating part of it for NEP's operation.

ü Developing SPS informatics/resource base and dedicated SPS portal- Ongoing/Portal by December 2007

FAO will be approached for providing technical support for establishing SPS Portal, as envisaged under Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF).The UTF has been established by MINFAL through an agreement with FAO, for which Government of Pakistan has already transferred the money to FAO accounts. FAO will be asked to provide expertise based on their experience with FAO-SPS portal.

NEP office will also be equipped with SPS documents to be secured through online and other resources, so that NEP can also work as SPS resource centre.

With the aforementioned initiatives, we believe we would be able to translate some of the lessons learned during 2nd Specialized Course on SPS in to action, by making NEP proactive, effective, efficient & responsive, a way guided towards SPS highway.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Submitted by Dr. Syed Wajid H. Pirzada, NEP as a requirement of 2nd specialized course on SPS conducted by WTO