IGAD Regional SPS Strategy and Plan of Action 2017-2022

PREFACE

The IGAD region is a key producer of livestock and its products for local consumption and export trade within and outside the region. The sector is however faced with challenges from OIE listed trans-boundary animal diseases (TADs), other diseases and food safety issues that usually lead to export trade bans. Inadequate compliance with SPS measures by IGAD member states following the outbreak of rift valley fever in 1998/99 and 2000/2002 led to two consecutive trade bans of live animals export to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries especially to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. This heavily affected the livestock industry. Somalia alone had an economic loss of 435 million USD. Even
domestically, closure of some markets like Garissa market in Kenya, resulted in a more than 25% decrease in the price of cattle inducing a total loss of USD 10 million for the value chain.