Regional effort aims to streamline agricultural trade across Caribbean

A new regional initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural trade across the Caribbean is underway following an inception meeting convened by the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) to develop harmonised sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards for priority agricultural commodities.

The initiative forms part of the project “Strengthening the Framework for Intra-Regional Trade in Agriculture Products,” funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The effort is expected to improve the regulatory environment governing agricultural trade within the region and help facilitate the safe movement of agricultural products between Caribbean countries.

Under the project’s first phase, stakeholders will work toward developing 10 harmonised SPS standards for selected agricultural commodities. The process will build on existing regional trade guidelines previously adopted by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED–Agriculture) and will involve consultations with national authorities and industry stakeholders across member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

The consultancy component of the project is being implemented by CAB International (CABI), which will collaborate with CAHFSA and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). A Regional Technical Advisory Committee—made up of experts from plant health, veterinary services and food safety authorities across the Caribbean—will also support the work.

“The development of regional SPS standards represents an important step in strengthening the foundation for intra-regional agricultural trade. By harmonising technical requirements across countries, we can reduce uncertainty for exporters, improve market access and enhance the safety and quality of agricultural products traded within the Caribbean,” said Gavin Peters, chief executive officer of CAHFSA.

Currently, differences in national SPS regulations across Caribbean countries can complicate the movement of agricultural products between markets. Officials say the adoption of shared standards would provide clearer guidance for producers, regulators and traders, while ensuring agricultural goods meet safety and quality requirements.

The initiative also aligns with the region’s food security goals, including the Caricom 25 by 2025 + 5 agenda, which aims to significantly reduce the Caribbean’s food import bill by boosting regional production and trade.

Malcolm Wallace, operations officer at the CDB, said the project reflects the bank’s ongoing commitment to strengthening agri-food systems across the region.

“Strengthening regional SPS frameworks is critical to unlocking the full potential of intra-regional trade in agricultural products. This initiative will help create a more predictable and transparent regulatory environment, enabling Caribbean producers and traders to compete more effectively while safeguarding plant, animal and human health,” Wallace said.

The consultancy will involve extensive consultations with national SPS authorities, technical experts and private sector stakeholders throughout the Caribbean. Draft standards will be reviewed through regional consultations before being submitted to COTED-Agriculture for consideration.

According to Benoit Gnonlonfin, the technical lead for the CABI consultancy team, collaboration among regional partners will be key to the project’s success.

“Developing practical and science-based SPS standards requires strong collaboration with national authorities and regional partners. Our team looks forward to working closely with member states to ensure that the resulting standards are technically sound, implementable and supportive of regional trade,” Gnonlonfin said.

In addition to developing common standards, the broader project will support capacity-building for national SPS systems and the development of knowledge and communication tools designed to strengthen expertise across the regional agri-food value chain.

Officials say the initiative is expected to contribute to a more integrated and resilient Caribbean agricultural sector by improving regulatory clarity, facilitating trade and enhancing the region’s ability to manage agricultural health and food safety risks.