PROJECT FOCUS AREAS
1. Expanding Agricultural Trade
For example, the project is institutionalizing risk-based, lower costs measures to reduce trade transaction costs across borders.
2. Driving Best Practices in SPS
By promoting public-private partnerships, TRASE is domesticating the EAC SPS Legal Framework in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi. It is also building producer and consumer awareness on the importance of safe food and the harmful effects of low quality and/or counterfeit inputs on human health, the environment and trade, thus driving demand for safer products.
3. Strengthening Regional and National SPS Committees
TRASE is strengthening SPS committees to coordinate and communicate with the private sector and EAC governments on actions to reduce trade barriers, increase transparency, and raise SPS awareness.
REGIONAL CONTEXT
East African Community
The East African Community (EAC) represents one of the fastest growing regional economic communities in the world. And yet, trade of agricultural products from and within this region has been hindered by sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues. The EAC Secretariat has recently taken important steps to create and prioritize common SPS standards for its partner states.