Cape Town, South Africa: ICGEB Biopesticides Group hosts end of project workshop for the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to harmonise regulations and mitigate pesticide residues in the Southern African Development Community region.
A three-year regional project that sought to address the challenge of low export market access by some countries in Southern Africa, owing to the non-compliance with existing Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) trade standards, has been completed. The 2-day workshop, held from 27-28 August 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, brought together project partners, regulatory professionals, researchers, industry experts, and policymakers, together with representatives from STDF, CropLife Africa Middle East, CropLife South Africa, the South African Bioproducts Organisation and the Southern Africa Pesticides Regulators Forum.
Fifty participants from 10 countries including Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe were present at the workshop, where additional delegates also joined online. The project achievements included the development of guidelines for the registration of biopesticides and biological control agents (BCAs) in the SADC region, roadmaps for the domestication of the guidelines in five countries, and in-person training for 35 regulatory officials on implementation of the guidelines for the registration of biopesticides and BCAs.
In addition, mitigation studies focusing on replacing the final application of chemical pesticides with biopesticides (this allows chemical residues time to decline to acceptable levels while the biopesticide continues to provide pest control until harvest) were completed. For example, in replacing carbendazim with neem oil for control of anthracnose in mangoes.
Thirty scientists received training in key elements of pesticide residue decline assessment and mitigation strategies and factsheets on the biology and control options for anthracnose fungi and false codling moth to provide growers with pertinent information on management of these pests were elaborated. A toolkit to assist farmers in evaluating the suitability of biopesticides in integrated pest management programmes was also developed, and information on biopesticides registered in four countries (Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) were collected and collated and is now available on the CABI Bioprotection Portal, enabling growers easy access to information on biopesticides registered and available for use.
The way forward looks to collaboration with industry in implementing the guidelines, supporting additional residue mitigation studies, and including additional stakeholders such as media in further engagements.
The ICGEB wishes to thank the STDF and all other partners for making this project a success, making an impact in the SADC region, and building stronger partnerships across the continent.
For more information on the project:
https://standardsfacility.org/PG-694
About the STDF:
The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a global partnership that aims to facilitate safe and secure trade by contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. It supports capacity building in food safety, animal health and plant health in developing countries.
