SPS-LMM Program is financed by USAID and implemented by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station of the Texas A&M University System in collaboration with MoARD.

Goals: Increase exports of meat and livestock to benefit Ethiopian livestock producers and exporters and to promote national economic development. The Ethiopian government gives first priority to increasing meat exports, especially beef, in order to capture value of hides and offals and to create job opportunities for Ethiopians.

Establish capability for rapid and effective response to HPAI outbreaks so that HPAI does not become endemic in Ethiopia.

Purpose:

Assist GOE and private economic operators to resolve five principal constraints limiting expansion of Ethiopian meat and livestock exports:

· Import restrictions based on SPS requirements imposed by importing countries

· Insufficient and inconsistent supply of price competitive, export quality meat and livestock

· Lack of capacity for cattle slaughter and for cold chain processing and packaging export quality beef products

· Lack of capability for cost effective, cold chain transport of meat products by road and sea for delivery to MENA and other international markets

· Limited knowledge of market preferences for type and quality of meat products and lack of established and profitable contracts with meat importers in international markets

Improve public awareness regarding recognition and response to HPAI and strengthen regional and federal veterinary services for early detection and rapid response to HPAI outbreaks.

Ongoing activities:

· Strengthen regional and federal capacities for surveillance, monitoring, diagnosis and control of trade limiting diseases, such as FMD, and rapid response to HPAI outbreaks.

ü Assist development of national plan for and HPAI and FMD control and for responding to outbreaks of diseases which affect human health limit trade.

ü Develop internationally credible SPS Certification System

ü Assist NAHDIC and NVI to develop technical and organizational capability for quick response to diagnostic and vaccine requirements

· Strengthen federal meat inspection and SPS regulatory capabilities to meet international meat trade requirements

ü In collaboration with Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Services, train meat inspectors and abattoir managers in developing and implementing HAACP programs

· Strengthen federal animal and health regulatory authority in MoARD to serve national and international regulatory requirements

ü Support establishment and operations of the Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Division.

· Increase the supply of price competitive, export quality meat, especially beef, and livestock.

ü Evaluate the supply chain for Ethiopian cattle, sheep and goats in terms of off take from lowland and highland herds, alternative market channels (domestic, informal exports and formal exports) and the international price competitiveness of Ethiopian meat relative to meat exported by Brazil, Australia and other major exporters

ü Assist private operators to improve feedlot management and to develop “best cost” rations to increase weight gains and reduce time required to reach profitable slaughter weights

ü Provide feed processors and feedlot operators with reliable information on nutrient composition and feeding values of feed resources in Ethiopia

ü Assist dairy cooperatives, commercial dairies and feedlot operators to develop profitable program for producing export quality beef from Holstein cross males weighing 400+ kg at 18-20 months of age.

· Increase capacity for cattle slaughter and cold chain processing and packaging beef in private operations which meet international standards

ü Evaluate technical capacity of existing operations to meet international SPS requirements

ü Recommend changes in existing operations and the development of new capacity for cold chain processing and packaging of beef and other meat products for international markets

· Develop cost effective capacity for cold chain transport of Ethiopian beef and meat products by road/sea to international markets

ü In consultation with Ethiopian and international transport companies, evaluate technical and financial feasibility for transport of chilled and frozen meat in refrigerated containers by road to Djibouti and by sea to MENA ports

· Establish reliable, profitable market agreements with meat and livestock importers in MENA and other international markets

ü Support professional associations (EMEPA and ELTPA) to service needs of Ethiopian livestock traders and exporters

ü Support trade missions to identify market requirements and consumer preferences and to promote quality and safety of Ethiopian meat products to private importers and government officials

ü Establish the “SIGA” brand for Ethiopian meat and livestock that meet export quality standards, including international SPS requirements.

ü Support development of promotional materials, including a website with links to Ethiopian meat and livestock exporters.