Arrangements for sps measures and awareness of food safety issues among producers and consumers in Ghana

Abstract

This paper examines arrangements for implementing the sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as well as the degree of awareness of the emerging global issues on food safety among producers and consumers in Ghana. The standards and procedures set by the lPPC, OlE and CAC were used in the evaluation. This included an examination of the regulatory environment provided by the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) as well as the pre-requisite programmes offood companies in Ghanafor producing safe foods. Though Ghana has started amending existing legislations, regulations and institutional functions to address disparities emerging between the international standards and national standards, further reforms are required to meet the SPS standards; in particular, investment is needed from government to address the deficiencies currently existing in the SPS institutions. Both the FDB and GSB are stepping up their efforts to sensitise consumers and ensure maximum compliance of food producers to new international standards. Whilst some food companies' managers appear to appreciate the need to produce safe and quality foods, lack of capital to improve prerequisite programmes for safe food production is a major constraint. Unfortunately, poor consumer pressure has not helped to keep up the momentum of change among the producers