Development of the Regional Technical Regulations Framework for Facilitating Cross Border Trade in Food and Cosmetic Products

Quality & Value of Traded Goods

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Implementation Partners: East African Community (EAC) Secretariat

Implementation Period: July 2018 – June 2022

Project Participants: National Standards Bodies (NSBs), Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Competent Authorities, and affiliate regulatory authorities, manufacturers and cross border businesses.

Project Rationale

Development of the regional technical regulations framework for food and cosmetics is responding to challenges experienced by manufacturers/producers and cross border businesses in meeting conformity requirements and accessing their preferred markets in a timely and cost-effective manner. These challenges are caused by the requirements affecting product characteristics or their related conformity processes and production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions and costs, for which compliance is mandatory.

Upon adoption, implementation of the framework will see reduced times and costs for compliance, resulting from multiple requirements across EAC Partner States. The framework will also promote cooperation among regional regulatory authorities as well as efficiencies in quality infrastructure investments and resource management.

Following its approval and validation by the East African Standards Committee (EASC), the adopted regional technical regulations framework for facilitating cross border trade in food and cosmetic products documented major success with the development of harmonized criteria for registration, approval and verification of processed and pre-packaged foods, during a taskforce meeting held September 30 2020. Drafting of these criteria was supported by EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) with focus on registration, approval, and verification of processed and pre-packaged foods, which was submitted to the taskforce for validation and approval. Immediate implementation of the framework will guarantee that foods placed in the market meet safety and quality requirements while minimizing cost to businesses and ultimately, consumers. Long-term, the framework will promote collaboration among the authorities facilitating increased trade within the EAC and ensure prudent use of resources for consumer protection.

Implementation Strategy

This project is being implemented in coordination with the EAC secretariat, with representation of NSBs, SPS Competent Authorities, and other regulatory authorities from all Partner States in the EAC. A taskforce to fast track the development of the framework, composed of technical experts, will lead the process which will include national consultations with stakeholders from national policy and regulatory agencies and the private sector.

Expected Outcomes

Development of the regional technical regulations framework for food and cosmetics is part of TMA’s broader strategy to improve EAC regional quality infrastructure and reduce technical barriers to trade.

The framework will ease market access for foods and cosmetics through harmonized measures and a Single Integrated Multi-Agency Mechanism for cross-border control, fostering collaboration and coordination of regulatory and conformity assessment activities.

It will build trust between regulatory systems, ensure high confidence in product conformity, reduce multiple conformity procedures, and minimize time and financial burdens for businesses.