Ministry of Commerce And Supplies - Enhanced Integrated ...

N T I S2010residue limits (MRLs) are often only the base standard and that individual countries and trading blocs (the EUfor instance) set their MRLs much lower--generally at the LoD. Therefore, Nepal must move proactively toaddress this issue.World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Contact Point: DoLS, LegalStatus and OrganizationNepal joined the OIE in 1996 and has been an active member since then. Immediately following OIE accessionAct No. 7 of the year 2055 (1998) An Act Made to Provide Necessary Arrangement[s] Relating to Animal Healthand Livestock Services (shortened to the Animal Health and Livestock Act 1998) was passed, followed by theNepal Veterinary Council Rules, 2057 (2000). Subsequently, the Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act2057 (2001) was passed the following year. There was also a pre-existing act, the Animal Feed Act of 1976,which sets guidelines and provisions for standards and enforces standards for locally produced and tradedanimal feedstuffs. Although not specified in any of the legislation, these are all de facto administered by theDoLS, which is also the OIE contact point for Nepal.In 2005, the OIE carried out a Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) evaluation in Nepal. The results ofthis mission are still confidential, but it is understood that its findings were that almost all the functions ofthe DoLS lagged behind the world standards. Partially as a result of this mission, the DoLS is reviewing theAnimal Health and Livestock Act 1998 and the Nepal Veterinary Council Rules (Regulations) 2000 , using itsinternal resources. There has been no request from the GoN for assistance from the OIE to upgrade veterinarylegislation, though the OIE does provide this service. However, many of the deficiencies identified in the PVSevaluation are the subject of requests to various donors. Upgrading includes the provision of a PCR 9 machine,together with training in its use and laboratory certification to the International Standards Organization (ISO)17025 standard as well as test method certification. This is being provided by the OIE with financial assistancefrom Japan.Reporting by Nepal to the World Animal Health Information Database (WAHID) has been diligent in respect ofmost diseases such as H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (there was an outbreak in Nagaar NagarpalikaJhapa, in Mechi district on the southern border with India in early 2009), which was resolved by cullingapproximately 26,000 backyard fowl. However, non-OIE-listed diseases of zoonotic potential are not reported.An area of concern is that the OIE-listed diseases of honeybee are not included in the DoLS surveillance orreporting.Biosafety National Focal Point: Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation,Environment Division (MoFSC/ED), Legal Status and OrganizationNepal signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Convention on Biological Diversity in early 2001.Under this protocol the focal point for Biosafety in Nepal has been run by the MoFSC, Environment Division(MoFSC/ED). Within Nepal, eleven policies and 16 Acts are deemed to be specifically affected by Nepal’saccession to the Cartagena Protocol. This includes all the Acts administered by the SPS focal points as describedabove. 10 The MoFSC/ED is also involved in other issues such as sustainable forestry certification, as well asaspects of implementation of the International Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in animals(musk deer parts, tiger bones and skins, rhino horn, and red sandalwood).9Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment is used for identification of diseases at molecular level.10National Biosafety Framework Nepal, 2007, Government Approved: March 2007. Prepared by the MoFSC with the help of the United NationsEnvironment Programme and the Global Environment Facility.194NEPAL TRADE INTEGRATION STRATEGY 2010BACKGROUND REPORT