. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/150
6 December 1999
(99-5354)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
CASE STUDIES – ENQUIRY POINTS / NATIONAL NOTIFICATION AUTHORITIES
Presentation made by Malawi at the Special Meeting
of the SPS Committee on Transparency Provisions
held on 9 November 1999
Notification Authority : Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Enquiry Points : Malawi Bureau of Standards
Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station
Department of Animal Health and Industry
Roles and activities : Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• Coordinator of the national network
• Signatory to the WTO Agreements
Malawi Bureau of Standards
• Responsible for sanitary matters on food products
• Receive queries on sanitary issues related to food products
• Receive notifications from other WTO members
• Request for comments from local institutions
• Establish national standards on food products
Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station
• Controls imports and exports of plants, plant parts, plant products
and other living organisms
• Controls registration and inspection of nurseries and sales or
removal of plants from nurseries
• Receive notifications on phytosanitary outbreaks in other
countries
• Notify other members within SADC region on sanitary measures
• Train Malawian agricultural produce exporters in fumigation for
pest controlG/SPS/GEN/150
Page 2
• Inspect imports and exports of plants and plant products to meet
local/foreign requirements
• Also performs some functions related to TBT on agricultural
chemicals
Department of Animal Health and Industry
• Controls imports and exports of animals and animal products
• Inspects imports and exports of animals and animal products
• Receive notifications from other WTO Members
• Notify other WTO Members on animal health matters
Areas of concern : Many bodies involved in SPS measures
• Forestry Research Institute of Malawi
• National Parks and Wildlife
• Local Government and Authority
• Ministry of Health and Population
• Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board
• Department of Fisheries
• [Biotechnology Board]
Capacity to implement measures for new or traditional areas
• Lack of sufficient and trained  personnel
• Lack of equipment
Coordination of actors and players
• Notification and registration of new proposals and draft measures
• Organising effective participation of the private sector and
industry
Knowledge of other WTO Agreements
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