• Trademark Africa and EAC SPS agencies collaborate using IOTA to digitize the exchange of trade documents, improving efficiency and security in East African trade.

• The workshop in Rwanda marked a breakthrough in the creation of a digital SPS platform, promising a revolution in regional trade with a focus on transparency and unification of food safety standards.

The recent partnership between Trademark Africa and the East African Community (EAC) Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regulatory agencies marks a crucial milestone in the modernization of trade document exchange. This collaboration focuses on the use of IOTA technology for the exchange of SPS documents across borders in East Africa .

The initiative was formalized with a workshop in Rwanda, where plans were outlined for a specialized digital platform for SPS certificates to address regulatory challenges and promote a more efficient, secure and interconnected trading community in East Africa. This project lays the foundation for a digitized future in regional trade.

The SPS Measures in International Trade

SPS measures are critical to ensure food safety and prevent the spread of plant pests and animal diseases. The SPS initiative between Trademark Africa and EAC regulatory agencies plans to use the Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP), a digital infrastructure developed in collaboration with IOTA, to exchange data related to SPS standards and regulations .

The use of IOTA’s distributed ledger technology will facilitate the creation of digital identities to manage access to SPS data and entities, ensuring a unified and standardized approach to food safety and plant health across EAC borders.

Key Workshop in Rwanda to Establish the Project

The Business Process Mapping Workshop held in Rwanda on October 24-26, 2023 was a pivotal moment in this collaboration. The workshop brought together representatives from various ministries and institutions, where the course was charted for the design and development of a digital information exchange platform specific to SPS certificates among the EAC countries.

Participants analyzed the existing processes for sharing SPS certificates, identified the main sectors involved and outlined the features and functionalities needed for a seamless digital platform.

Commitment to the SPS Process Revolution

The workshop highlighted how the SPS platform will not only streamline business processes, but also address challenges such as diverse regulatory standards, disease threats, capacity and infrastructure constraints, among others related to compliance with standards, technical regulations and SPS measures in key export markets. This collaborative effort lays the foundation for a more efficient, secure and streamlined approach to SPS document exchange, strengthening a stronger and more interconnected East African trade community.

The Way Forward for East Africa

With an action plan now in place, the road to a digitized and secure SPS information exchange platform in a safe and efficient trading system in East Africa has officially begun. This initiative promises to boost not only regional trade, but also foster a more collaborative and digitally advanced trading system within the EAC.

The integration of TLIP with SPS measures is an important completion of the trade data available through the TLIP infrastructure. TLIP’s role as a trusted infrastructure for logistics information enhances SPS measures, fostering transparency and unity in the area of food safety and plant health concerns across borders.

Next Steps

Next steps involve incorporating recommendations, involving more stakeholders and designing a pilot that integrates seamlessly with existing systems, prioritizing safety and efficiency.

Industry stakeholders and the general public are encouraged to watch for updates and announcements from the IOTA Foundation, Trademark Africa and the EAC for information on the impact of collaboration on cross-border trade.