The Ghana Shippers Authority has held a training workshop for producers and exporters in the Eastern region with a call on them to adhere to acceptable standards on exportation of foods and other produce onto the European Union (EU) market.

About three years ago, the EU placed a ban on the importation of vegetables from Ghana on the grounds of flouted quality restrictions and protective measures.

The ban has however been lifted.

Such a situation places huge negative cost implications on the producers and exporters in the country and also reduces exports which affect the country's Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Speaking at the workshop in Koforidua on Technical Barriers to Trade, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Exports Promotions, Mrs Agnes Gifty Adjei Sam, explained that the EU puts in place measures called "Technical Barriers" to protect their citizens from eating unwholesome foods.

She said countries abroad required producers to maintain certain minimum residual levels in their produce and that once the residual levels exceed the requirement; it becomes a health alert issue.

Advising the participants to ensure that their produce meant for exports satisfy all technical requirements in order not to incur losses, Mrs Adjei-Sam assured that the GEPA on its part is collaborating with some technical institutions to train producers to accurately comply with the international standards.


She said the GEPA worked tirelessly with the EU auditors who had been in the country to ensure that the ban placed on the five vegetables were lifted, adding that, the government's one district, one factory initiative would help boost production and exports and reduce importation.

Baffuor Ofori Atta, a management staff member at the GSA, advised the participants not to be afraid of the paperless system but rather make good use of the system since it was a good initiative the government had brought to ease and reduce cost of exports.


Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com