Enhancing the quality of fruit and vegetable production and diagnosing the upgrading of phytosanitary and phytotechnical laboratories

Full description of the project

Many plant products represent an export potential for Algeria. However, most producers of fruit and vegetables for export are not sufficiently informed and motivated by the need to ensure high quality and reliability of supply.

The current situation of import control by the phytosanitary and phytotechnical services in Algeria is almost entirely based on dossier evaluation. Ports and land borders lack laboratories for physical testing and are not able to test all plants and seeds used for domestic production, as well as pesticides and their residues.

Overall objectives

1. The development of a strategy for the development of export production in the fruit and vegetable sector, including the reduction of constraints related to certification and origin labeling;
2. The development of a strategy for the appropriate upgrading of phytosanitary laboratories, with a view to improving both the testing procedures for plant products and the control and certification system for plants and seeds.

Specific objectives

1. Identification of products with real potential for export promotion based on labeling and delimitation of production areas;
2. Identification of the need to clean up laws and regulations, training of managers and trade organizations;
3. The elaboration of an effective strategy for the development of the sector in 2006 and 2007 and in the medium term;
4. The assessment of the existing situation of the scientific structures with regard to the expertise of the staff and the adequacy of the equipment, and the degree of compliance with European standards;
5. The development of a program of training and provision of equipment necessary to improve inspection, sampling, and analysis techniques in 2006 and 2007 and in the medium term.