WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
16 June 2000
(00-2416)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
SUMMARY OF THE REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Note by the Secretariat
Addendum
1. At its 10-11 November 1999 meeting, the SPS Committee agreed that the Summary of the
replies to the questionnaire on technical assistance would be regularly updated.  All Members were
invited to submit information on their technical assistance activities for inclusion in a revised
document to be circulated for the regular meetings.
2. The Secretariat received the attached reply to the questionnaire (Canada) and an update of
information from Italy.G/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 2
Technical assistance provided
GENERAL
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada1Sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Implementation of the SPS Agreement: Training on
the WTO Agreement on the Application of SPS Measures, the rights and obligations and
how to improve technical market access conditions for exports (June 1998)Costa Rica;
Nicaragua;
Panama; Guatemala;Honduras; El
Salvador
FOOD SAFETY
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada Processing Technology. Presented a seminar on rapid methods for testing foods at the
TECNO-FIDTA 1996, Buenos Aires, Argentina (September 1996)Argentina
Training. Gave a course on Listeria monocytogenes  at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.
(1995)Brazil
Training. From 1996 to 1999 - Trained staff from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, in
Listeria  methodology and typing (1996-1999)Brazil
Infrastructure. Discussion about the Canadi an Food Inspection Agency with experts
(Visitors to Canada) (September 1998)Brazil
                                                     
1 Although Canada has a long history of technical cooperation, the activities reported are reflective of latter years’.  In addi tion to the activities reported, Canadian Provincial
Governments may also participate in international technical cooperation.G/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 3Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada Processing technology. Course/Seminar on how  to support the Development of law and
regulation. Infrastructure. Development of small and medium size agri-food businesses.
(Visitors to Canada) (1990-2000)Bulgaria
Burkina Faso;
Cameroon Cape
Verde; Côted’Ivoire;
Egypt; Gabon;
Guinea-Conakry;
Haiti; Mauritius;
Madagascar; Mali;Mauritania;
Morocco; Niger;
Romania; Tunisia;
Vietnam
Food Safety and Animal Health. Processing tech nology. On-site visits of processing plants
to make recommendations on HACCP plans (March 1998)Chile
Processing technology and research. Pres ented papers on Rapid Methods of Food
Microbiological Analysis and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points approach to
food safety at the First Seminar on Rapid Methods in Food Microbiology and TheirImportance in Public Health, Bogotá, Colombia. (February 1994)Columbia
Equivalency Agreement. Memorandum of Understanding on fresh and  frozen shrimp Ecuador
Processing technology. Learned about HACCP application and implementation in Canada.
(Visitors to Canada) (September 1999)India
Equivalency Agreement. Memorandum of Understanding on fresh and frozen shrimp
(1996)IndonesiaG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
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Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada Training. Seminar given to representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries
on foodborne disease surveillance systems in Canada and a review of some of the
foodborne disease issues facing PAHO countri es, Washington, D.C., Apr. 22, 1999. (April
1999)Latin America
Research. Headed an RAPD molecular typing study on Listeria monocytogenes  in foods
(1998-2000)Many
Training. Seminar on the Trade Impact of Listeria in Fish Products (May 1999) Many
HACCP. Quality control. Sent experts to help shrimp processing plants improve the quality
of the production to international standards (1999)Morocco
Food Safety and Plant Health. Infrastructure. Training on how to establish a food inspection
agency and a seed potato certification programme. (Visitors to Canada) (1999)Morocco
Recognition of standards. Attended meetings with the Mexican ministry of health to discuss
the status of the Mexican fish inspection system;  reviewed a work plan for the development
of such an agreement; and assessed several fish processing establishments (May 1998)Mexico
Workshop on Clostridium botulinum and C. perfringens. Workshop for Mexican federal
government microbiologists, given at the Laboratorio Nacional de Salud Publica (National
Public Health Laboratory)Mexico
Research. Risk Assessment. Lectures at co nferences and universities on new analytical
methods for toxins in foods to assist risk assessment work.Mexico; Panama;
Tunisia; Pakistan
Training. Presented seminars on Mexican export to Canada in collaboration with Mexicanembassy and Mexican government (December 1998MexicoG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 5Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada Developing national law and re gulations. Updating of food laws to strengthen food safety
and nutritional quality control systems.
Development of a proposal for evaluating the safety of novel foods.
Reviewed nutrient and compositional requirements for human milk substitutes.
Updating of nutritional standards for children.
Reviewed the ninth five-year plan concerning food and nutrition policy and nutritionsurveys.
Workshop on “Nutrition Policy in Public Health” arranged.
Presentation of lecture entitled “Diet and Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease” to
Pakistan National Heart Association
Presentation of seminars to strengthen food and nutrition programs.    (15 March – 30 April
1999)Pakistan
Processing technology. Research.Help to develop a quality control system for a food lab
and ISO Guide 25 (1999-2001)Paraguay
Recognition of equivalence. Audit department of fisheries (responsibilities under March
1997 Agreement on the Equivalence of Fish & Fishery Products Inspection and Control
System)
Sensory training / workshop on fish canning (March 1999 to January 2000)Thailand
Production/Processing Technology. Development of national law and regulations.
Introductory seminar on canned food technology.  Workshops on Food Safety with
emphasis on Good Manufacturing Practices and HACCP.  Reviewed the regulatory
requirements for low-acid and acidified low-acid foods. Reference examples of the U.S. andCanadian Requirements.  Product Quality Establishing quality control and quality assurance
systems (1 month)ThailandG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
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Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
assistance:Provided to:
Canada Technical information sharing. Visited lab in Dartmouth, N.S. for 2 weeks training re
Turkish raisin program. (Visitors to Canada) (October 1998)Turkey
Training. Gave information about agrifood controls and also about conditions and
requirements to export vegetables, fruits, processed food and rice to Canada. (Visitors to
Canada) (June 1999)Uruguay
Specific Work with WHO and PAHO since 1995. Surveillance and control of water supply
and and food safety: Cambodia. 9 - 21 Nov.1997.  Mission Report for the Regional Office
for the Western Pacific, WHO, Manila, Nov.4, RS/97/0845 (November 1997)Cambodia
Specific Work with WHO and PAHO since 1995. Surveillance and control of water supply
and food safety: China. 23 Nov.-5 Dec.,1997.  Mission Report for the Regional Office for
the Western Pacific, WHO, Manila, 3 Sept., RS/97/0743 (November 1997)China
SO-based inspection systems including HACCP; Risk Assessment; Development of
regulations; Technical information sharing; Technical expertise. Provided information on
diagnostic tests used for microbiological analysis and inspection (August 1998)China
Developing national law and regulations. S poke at a seminar on food labelling (November
1998)ChinaG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 7BIOTECHNOLOGY
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Development of national law and regulations. Risk Assessment. Presented seminars and workshops
organized by BioteCanada in collaboration with CFIA (financially sponsored by CIDA). (August1999)Also received training in Health Canada fac ility, Ottawa. (Visitors to Canada) (November 1999)Argentina and Chile
Risk assessment. National regulatory body. Assessed the current status and training needs of the
Chilean plant biosafety regulatory agency Servic io Agricola y Ganadero (SAG), provided technical
assistance to SAG, interviewed potential trainees to travel to Canada, participated in a workshop with
Chilean and Argentinians regulatory officials and presented a paper on “Risk Assessment and RiskManagement of Novel Plants in Canada”at the 4th National Congress on Biotechnology. (September1998)Chile
Technical information sharing. Participation in  the APEC agricultural biotechnology capacity
building workshop (November 1998)Malaysia
Developing law and regulations. ASEAN Seminar on Risk Assessment and Public Awareness of
Agricultural Products Derived from Biotechnology.  Informative presentations on “Regulation ofGMO’s by CFIA” and “The Communications Experience of CFIA in Agriculture Biotechnology”(January 1999)Singapore
Policy development. Development of law and regulations. Met with regulators and government
officials involved in regulation of products of biotechnology and learned about the Canadianregulation system. (Visitors to Canada) (September 1998)Philippines
Development of law and regulations. Presentations on “Issues in Biosafety” and Environmental
Release of High Laurate-Canola Experiences of the CFIA” (February 1999)Thailand; Malaysia
Technical information sharing. Participated in biotechnology symposium and follow-up meetings
with officials in several Ukrainian ministries (October 1998)UkraineG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 8
  ANIMAL HEALTH
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Implementation of the SPS Agreement: Training on
the WTO Agreement on the Application of SPS Measures, the rights and obligations and
how to improve technical market access conditions for exports (June 1998)Costa Rica;
Nicaragua;
Panama; Guatemala;
Honduras; El
Salvador
Research on Bovine and Porcine Brucellosis (September 1998) Argentina
Technical expertise on disease surveillance: Represented Canada at the SENASA-OIEsponsored international meeting on animal identification (November 1998)Argentina
Worked with Argentina on a collaborative research project supported by IICA (November
1998)Argentina
Standards: Advice given to the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Services Laboratory on
the requirements for accreditation to ISO Guide 25 Standards and a residue testing program
(June 1998)Barbados
Risk Assessment. IICA sponsored course on quantitative risk assessment methods (April
1995)Brazil
Infrastructure. Discussion with NCFAD representatives on our Level III and Level IV
containment laboratories, and also discussion with respect to our animal health programs
(Visitors to Canada) (June 1998)Brazil
Research. Assisted Sadia Concordia S.A. in Braz il with training in serotyping of Salmonella
bacteria and donated somatic and flagellar specific anti-Salmonella antisera. (Visitors to
Canada) (1998)BrazilG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 9Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Laboratory standards. Three day workshop at Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG) on lab
standards and quality control (December 1998)Chile
Research. Attended a Pan-American Health  Organization/World Health Organization
meeting on vaccination against Brucellosis and to discuss collaborative research with
scientists at Universidad Austari de Chile and Argentina to field test Brucellosis infected
herds (November 1999)Chile & Argentina
Expert advice. Provided expert advice in the consultation meeting for the recognition of
rabies free municipalities (September 1998)Cuba
Research; Laboratory standards. International workshop on practices of method validation
sponsored by FAO, IAEA, AOAC and IUPAC / attended an expert meeting to write
laboratory guidelines for implementation / and presented a paper in the workshop & chaired
the experts meeting (November 1999)Hungary
Technical expertise. Presented eradication programmes for Avian Leukosis at a symposium
on Marek`s Disease and Avian Leukosis during the EXPOAVIGA Fair (October 1998)Many
Infrastructure. Hosted in the province of Alberta discussions on the development of feeder
cattle associations, trade and disease control. (Visitors to Canada) (April 1999)Mexico
Expert advice. Evaluation of a laboratory for suitability as a a regional rabies reference
centre (August 1999)Mexico
Risk Assessment. Visit to recognize Mexican states free of Velogenic Newcastle Disease
(August 1999)Mexico
Research. Collaborative FPA project with personnel at the U. of Baja and the Dept. of
Agriculture for the diagnosis of Brucellosis in sheep and goats (January 2000)MexicoG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 10
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Technical expertise. Synchronization of rabies variant identification and production of
diagnostic reagents. (Visitors to Canada) (August 1998)South Africa
Research. Scientific exchange and collaborative research. (April 1998) Thailand
Technical information sharing. Antibiotic training in Canada. (Visitors to Canada)
(November 1999)Thailand
Research. Established scientific collaboration on current and future research projects at the
Centre for Animal Parasitology (CAP) and collected reference and training samples for
research and diagnostic use. (December 1999)Thailand
Technical information sharing. Infrastructure. Met with program reps to review various
components of the Canadian food inspection program / tour of Ontario establishments
handling fish, red meat, poultry and the CISC. (Visitors to Canada) (November 1998)Trinidad & Tobago
Research. Assisted a researcher from Makerere University, Uganda by serotyping
Salmonella strains originating in Uganda, by providing training in serotyping and
phagetyping and determination of drug resistance of Salmonella, by donating
anti-Salmonella antisera and media to isolate and identify Salmonella and by providing
advice and guidance. (Visitors to Canada) (1996)Uganda
Technical information sharing. Observed and discussed the tests done in the Brucellosis
diagnostic lab and the complement fixation test unit and obtained copies of protocols.
(Visitors to Canada) (February 1999)ChinaG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 11Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Research. Spoke at the “International Conf erence and Exhibition on Veterinary Poultry”
and visited the laboratory for animal husbandry and veterinary science to discuss
possibilities for collaborative research (July 1999)China
Research. Training. Provided Salmonella culture media and antisera reagents, and advice to
a member of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Debre ZeitInvestigation of the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry farms and processed animal
products in Addis Ababa.
Canadian laboratory also serotyped and phagetyped Salmonella isolates from this study.
(Visitors to Canada) (1999)Ethiopia
Research. Met with Dr Motallebi in order to obtain updated health conditions for cattle and
poultry (September 1998)Iran
Research. Undertook an expert mission in support of the technical projects for the animal
production and health section  of the International Atomic Energy Agency (August 1999)Macedonia
Italy SPS Agreement and International Trade, Veterinary Certification, Risk analysis, Control
and Inspection Procedures, Technical Assistance, Transparency and Notification
ProceduresTraining course Lithuania
Workshop on the assessment & evaluation of processing plants according to EU veterinary
hygiene & technical standards, and investment into their up-gradingTraining course Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary,Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Poland,
Romania, Slovak
Republic, Slovenia,G/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
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  PLANT HEALTH
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Risk Assessment. Training on risk assessment procedures consistent with international
standards.  (Visitors to Canada) (February 1997)Chile
Technical information sharing. Verifying the inspection, testing and certification procedures
used in Canada. (Visitors to Canada) (October 1999)Egypt
Technical expertise sharing. Scientists from CFIA provided protocols and information on
how to carry out testing for Bacterial Ring Rot of potatoes. (1999)Egypt
Saudi Arabia;
Morocco
Law and regulation making. Assistance on the development of new legislation regardingplant protection (1998)Guatemala;
Honduras;
El Salvador
Risk Assessment. Training on analysis of likelihood of pest introduction and biological
modelling (November 1996)India
Risk Assessment. Attended the open-ended working group meeting on Pest Risk
Assessment standards being organized by IPPC (May 1999)Thailand
Risk Assessment. Collaboration on carrying out a pest fact sheet and pest risk assessment
on powdery scab of potatoes (April 1999)Uruguay
Risk Assessment. Training on risk assessment procedures consistent with international
standards.  (Visitors to Canada) (1995-1999)China
Verification of compliance. Implementation of the Canadian import directive for wood
dunnage, pallets, crating or other wood packing materials originating from China regarding
Asian Long Horned Beetle January (1999)ChinaG/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1
Page 13Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of
Assistance:Provided to:
Canada Risk Assessment. Recognition of standards. Visited the centre of expertise for potato
diseases in Charlottetown, to discuss China’s pest risk assessment on Canadian seed
potatoes.  One day visit to Ottawa for discussions on the draft phytosanitary agreement.
(Visitors to Canada) (January 2000)China
Expert advice. Represented Canada on a joint US and New Zealand mission to the Russian
Far East to assist in the development of a plan to prevent infestation of containers and cargo
with Asian Gypsy Moth July 1999Russia
Recognition of standards. Phytosanitary discussions between Canada and Ukraine
(November 1998)Ukraine
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