Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement
Janet L. Lawrence1 and Peter A. Murray2
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture1
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism2
ABSTRACT
The fisheries sector is important for CARIFORUM States as it provides employment and contributes to food and nutrition security and export earnings. Over the years, several countries have successfully traded in European and other international markets and accrued economic benefits therefrom. However, some countries are unable to access these markets as they are incapable of satisfying the sanitary and phytosanitary status required by trading partners. To assist countries to capitalise on the market opportunities available under the Economic Partnership Agreement, investments have been made through the European Development Fund in the area of SPS compliance. Specifically, over the past ten years under the 10th and 11th European Development Fund (EDF), significant investments were made to address the constraints impacting the Region’s capacity to comply with international SPS standards. Namely, strengthening the regulatory framework through the development of model legislation, strengthening mechanisms to improve coordination among stakeholders involved in national and regional SPS controls of fisheries products, training of stakeholders to meet food safety standards, and improving laboratory capacity to monitor the quality of fish and fisheries products entering regional and international markets. These investments are discussed in relation to their contribution to harmonizing fisheries SPS systems and improving access into international markets.
HOW TO CITE: Lawrence, J.L. and P. A. Murray, 2026. Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of the Fisheries Sectors within CARIFORUM Countries for Improved Market Access Under the Economic Partnership Agreement. Contribution 1.3, p26-32 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023 . CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariathttps://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=897
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