DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS 

 

 

The Specific objective of the project is “Enhancing technical and administrative procedures and operation for Horticultural Perishable Products (HPPs) circulation between Lebanon, Jordan and Italy through adopting harmonized and shared procedures and implementing an innovative ICT tool”. 

The main problems facing the modernization of  border points  such as lack of automated processes and scarce use of  IT, Inefficient  administrative  formalities, gaps and overlaps documentary requirements for export (Declaration form based on the Single Administrative Document SAD, packing list, invoice,  certificate of origin issued by the Chamber of Commerce, etc,…),  lack of human and financial resources, will be  faced  with “The introduction of new harmonized and shared procedures and innovative ICT tool” by the project.  It shall facilitate the task of the producers and/or exporters to obtain and transmit documents and certificates requisites for HPP’s export in real time and easy way. 

 

Moreover, it will minimize the time needed for inspection and custom clearance at entry points, as no need any more for documents compilation and such significant time reduction in the export process may affect positively in terms of preserving products’ quality and saving costs for producers and/or exporters as the famous diction says “time is money”. On the other hand, the project results may guarantee more safety and quality of the goods for their buyers and/or consumers. Knowing that custom clearance requires about 4days between Lebanon and Jordan, and the main causes of refusals are the documentation requested for export and labelling.  The training programme addressed to the operators in HPPs export process, as well as new mechanisms provided by the project, will enhance capacities of operators in executing all controls and operations (Inspection of products and fulfilment of exportation documents, Inspection of products at destination Italian ports and custom clearance) with less efforts and more efficiency and transparency.  

 

At long run the impact of the project could be extended to a new categories of beneficiaries out of the direct involved stakeholders range by implementing the same mechanisms (port authorities, maritime carriers, forwarders) and tools to other agricultural products or replicating the same model in other MCs. As consequence the achieved outputs will lead to increase the volume of agro-food trade flow in the Mediterranean Basin.