Africa's Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards: The Technical Barrier to Agricultural Trade
Divergent SPS standards are one of Africa's most significant non-tariff barriers. Harmonising food safety and plant health requirements under AfCFTA could unlock $6 billion in additional agricultural trade annually.
Sanitary and phytosanitary standards, covering food safety, animal health, and plant health, are among Africa's most significant non-tariff barriers. A farmer in Rwanda growing a crop that meets EU phytosanitary standards may still be unable to export to Nigeria because Nigerian SPS requirements differ from European ones in specific ways that require additional testing and certification. The AfCFTA SPS Annex commits member states to recognising each other's standards where they achieve equivalent protection outcomes, but implementing this commitment requires bilateral recognition agreements that take years to negotiate.
African Food Safety Authority
The African Union has established the African Food Safety Authority to develop harmonised food safety standards applicable across the continent. AFSA's standards, when adopted, will allow food manufacturers to certify once and sell across AfCFTA markets without country-by-country regulatory compliance. Early progress has been made in mycotoxin standards for grains and aflatoxin limits for groundnuts. Agricultural exporters and food manufacturers can access SPS compliance guidance on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.