CET Tests New Tool In Zambia In Collaboration With US Department Of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service, African Union
Story by The Texas A&M Center for Educational Technologies

In partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service and African Union, Dr. Nicola L. Ritter, an instructional associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, hosted a one-week training event on good regulatory practices (GRP) on sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) in Lusaka, Zambia.
Twenty-seven public health officials from around the country attended the event in September 2024. Officials from plant health, animal health, and food security participated in the forum to coordinate SPS measures.
The group pilot-tested an innovative GRP SPS tool developed by the Center for Educational Technologies at Texas A&M University to assist the user in assessing current practices for developing, reviewing, or implementing as well as in identifying where current practices can be strengthened.
The tool is designed to accompany and complement the publication Good Regulatory Practices to Improve SPS Measures: A Practical Guide (Practical Guide), prepared by the Standards and Trade Development Facility, a global partnership to facilitate safe trade and promote improved food safety, animal health, and plant health capacity in developing countries.
Zambia, as an emerging economy with a robust agricultural sector, plays a significant role in both regional and global food systems.
With a growing demand for agricultural exports, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Zambia faces numerous opportunities and challenges. Among the most critical challenges is the implementation and evaluation of SPS measures — standards related to food safety, animal health, and plant health — ensuring that Zambia’s agricultural products meet both domestic and international standards.
To maintain competitiveness in international markets while protecting public health and the environment, it is imperative that Zambia adopts GRPs to evaluate SPS measures effectively. Such practices are crucial for Zambia’s agricultural and trade sectors because they will:
- Enhance Food Safety and Public Health
- Promote Trade and Access to Global Markets
- Avoid Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade
- Ensure Cost-Effectiveness and Sustainability
- Promote Transparency and Accountability
- Comply with International Agreements and Standards
- Build Capacity for Risk Assessment and Data Use
Incorporating GRPs into Zambia’s regulatory framework will ensure that the country remains a trusted partner in global food systems while protecting its domestic interests. The time for adopting good regulatory practices in evaluating SPS measures is now, as it is essential for Zambia to position itself for a future of sustainable agricultural growth and enhanced trade relations.