The opening conference within the Better Training for Safer Food in Africa programme (BTSF Africa) takes place on 3 April 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This programme trains African participants on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. Training in this area should help African countries to produce agricultural and food products which comply with international SPS standards.

The conference is organised jointly by the European Commission (EC) and the African Union Commission (AUC). It aims to discuss the institutionalisation of SPS standards in Africa and regional integration in the area of SPS standards, controls and procedures.

EU Commissioner for Health, Androulla Vassiliou and Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture have invited key players to participate in the launch of this continent-wide programme. Conference delegates include African and EU Ministers and representatives of African Regional Economic Communities, specialised bodies, international organisations and standard setting bodies.

This conference is an important step towards increasing the involvement of the public and private sectors in the development and implementation of activities to improve food safety and protect the health of EU and AU citizens. The activities are in line with aims fixed by EU and AU Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon Summit of 9 December 2007. This saw the adoption of a Joint EU-Africa Strategy and Action Plan 2008-2010. Part of the Plan is to strengthen African countries' capacity to meet relevant SPS standards and BTSF Africa is a key tool in achieving this goal.

The conference and subsequent activities will contribute to making SPS issues more prominent in AU policies and practices. This will be done through discussion and exchange of expertise on pressing SPS issues and their impact on health, the economy and overall development.

The Joint Africa-EU Strategy is also a mechanism for the EC and AU to get feedback on identification and implementation of policies of common interest. It aims to facilitate networking and exchange of best practices leading to the implementation of continental, regional and national SPS and quality control standards.