Brussels, 23/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 22 July, the European Commission announced that negotiation of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) is complete. The EPA, which will have to be signed and ratified before the October 2016 deadline, will enable duty- and quota-free access to the EU market for products from five countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland) while South Africa will benefit from improved conditions under the bilateral agreement that already links it with the EU. The EU will, in turn, benefit from improved market access to the six EPA countries (out of the total 15 in the SADC), especially for its agricultural products. Safeguard clauses are planned to protect sensitive sectors. The EU and South Africa have also reached an agreement to protect 251 EU geographical indications in South Africa, and 105 South African geographical indications in the EU. (AN)