Non-tariff barriers and regional standards in the EAC dairy sector

The dairy industry of the East African Community (EAC) is one of the largest in Africa, and is an important part of the region's agricultural economy. Thousands of small farmers take part in the production of dairy products, and millions of consumers benefit from the health benefits brought by dairy products. In recent years, East African countries have been working to design and implement a set of regional health and production standards in order to help the dairy industry reach its full potential. This policy note examines the role that standards can play in promoting the healthy consumption of dairy products while at the same time helping the vibrant dairy industry to modernize and develop. The note begins by discussing the East African dairy industry and the current attempts to design standards, and concludes by outlining ways in which the World Bank and other stakeholders can work together in order to design and implement useful and long-lasting dairy standards that would take into account both health and economic considerations