G/SPS/GEN/1997  
 
4 March  2022 
(22-2002) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATION ON SPS -RELATED ACTIVITIES OF  
THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC)  
(OCTOBER 2021 – FEBRUARY 2022) 
COMMUNICATION FROM ITC 
The following communication, received on 3 March 2022, is being c irculated at the request of 
the ITC. 
 
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The International Trade Centre is continuing its efforts to assist enterprises to meet technical market 
requirements. An update of selected SPS -related activities of interest to WTO Members is provided 
below.  
1  PROJECTS  
1.1  Malaysia Arise Plus Project (February 2021  - January 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.1.  In partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the project aims to support inclusive 
and sustainable trade growth and poverty reduction in Malaysia, while contributing to economic 
integration in the ASEAN region.  
1.2.  A series of workshops have been completed between October 2021 and January 2022 as part 
of technical assistance to reinforce the control mechanism for pesticides, including the control of 
counterfeited pesticides a nd invertebrates as biological control agents. The training aimed at 
registration and enforcement staff of Pesticides Board of the Malaysian Department of Agriculture, 
included evaluation of pesticide registration dossier, safety and bio -efficacy assessmen t, 
management of counterfeit pesticides, and guidelines developed on simplified registration of 
minimum risk pesticides, all based international standards, guidelines and recommendations 
developed by the relevant international organizations (FAO, Codex, IP PC). 70 participants attended 
the training of whom 26 were women.  
1.3.  Work has commenced to train officers of the Plant Biosecurity Division of Department of 
Agriculture (DoA) on identification and pest management of EU -related quarantined pests for 
vegetables , flowers, tropical plants and aquatic plants.  
1.2  Philippines Arise Plus Project (March 2021 – February 2025 / Donor European Union)  
1.4.  In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry , the project supports progressive 
achievement of the ASEAN Economic C ommunity  Blueprint  2025 and realization of the 2nd and 
3rd pillars of the Philippines Development Plan (2017 -2022).  
1.5.  The overall objective of the project is to foster inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction 
in the Philippines. The specific objective  of the project is to improve Philippines' trade performance 
and competitiveness. Among its expected results are putting in place a National Quality 
Infrastructure (NQI) that promotes export competitiveness, and quality management and control 
systems for e xported food products better aligned with international best practices.  G/SPS/GEN/1997  
 
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  1.6.  As part of technical assistance to support Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of 
Agriculture (DA), attached agencies and food industry associations , a series of two trainin g 
workshops on EU regulations related to food safety were held between 28 October and 4 November 
2021. The  training covered main requirements under the Regulation (EC) Nos: 178/2002 (General 
Food Law); 852/2004 (Hygiene of foodstuffs); 853/2004 (specific h ygiene rules for food of animal 
origin); 2073/2005 (microbiological criteria); 2074/2005 (implementing measures); 2075/2005 
(Trichinella testing); provisions on contaminants, OCR 625/2017 (official controls regulation), as 
well as import conditions applica ble to all foods, food of animal origin, and food of non -animal origin. 
Information on EU TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) and RASFF (Rapid Alert system for 
food and feed) was also provided. 135 of the 176 participants of these trainings were women . 
1.3  EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme - MARKUP (July 2018 - July 2022 / Donor 
European Union ) 
1.7.  This project aims to contribute to the economic development of the East African Community 
(EAC) region (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), with the specific objective to improve 
market access of agro -industrial crops and horticultural products such as avocado, cocoa, coffee, 
spices and tea to the European Union, and among the five EAC par tners.  
1.8.  Support to nine avocado producer groups in Kenya is now complete with the groups being 
successfully certified to GlobalG.A.P.  
1.9.  Ongoing support to Quality Champions Hubs and transfer of courses, including a course on 
food safety. Quality and food safe ty/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations 
available on the EAC Quality for Trade Portal.  
1.4  Uzbekistan - Facilitating the Process of Accession to the WTO (February 2020 - 
February 2025 / Donor European Union ) 
1.10.   The project supports Uzbekistan 's development plans to modernize its economy through 
leveraging the process of WTO accession. The specific objective of the action is to create a trade 
environment that is in conformity with the World Trade Organization (WTO).  
1.11.   A report with recommendation s to improve the alignment of the present national food safety 
law to the SPS Agreement has been submitted to the authorities.  
1.5  Myanmar Trade -Related Assistance (Arise Plus – Myanmar)  (July 2019 - June 2023 / 
Donor European Union ) 
1.12.   The ARISE Plus project aim s at building inclusive and sustainable trade growth in Myanmar 
through support to MSMEs in selected value chains enhancing food safety and SPS compliance 
(targeting tea, coffee, honey, horticulture products) and trade policy formulation and 
implementation . 
1.13.   Working is advancing on Myanmar Platform on Quality and Food Safety featuring quality 
requirements for selected product -market combinations (avocado, coffee, honey, and tea targeting 
EU markets) with featured Trainer -cum-Counsellor expert profiles and se rvice provider institutions 
in Myanmar.  
1.6  Tajikistan: Enabling Market access for Agricultural Products through Improved Food 
Safety System (March 2018 - February 202 2 / STDF - PG-447 implemented by ITC in 
collaboration with FAO , in particular for output 1 on  the regulatory control system)  
1.14.   The goal of the project is to improve the export competitiveness of Tajik SMEs and food safety 
through better use of agri -chemicals and veterinary medicines with a focus on honey and apricot 
sectors.  
1.15.   The project partner (FAO ) is working on guidelines regarding the food control and monitoring 
system with a focus on honey and dried apricots. A tool and consolidated guidelines on the control 
and monitoring system were developed, presented and discussed with project partners.  G/SPS/GEN/1997  
 
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  1.16.   In October 2021, a study tour for 12 representatives of the Tajik honey sector (private and 
public) to Ukraine was organised to understand best practices of beekeeping, compliance with 
related legislation and export procedures to the European Union. The study  tour enabled participants 
to learn good practices from one of the largest honey producing countries in the world.  
1.17.   A dedicated set of communication material on the application of veterinary medicines and 
pesticides was developed.  
1.18.   The project officially end ed after four years of implementation on 28 February 2022.  
1.7  SYMST: Systematic Mechanism for Safer Trade ( Lao People's Democratic Republic  and 
Viet Nam) (December 2018 – October 2022 / Donor European Union ) 
1.19.   The overall objective of the project is to improve food safety through better governance in 
Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. The project aims to strengthen the regulatory 
framework for control of plant health and pesticides in the fruits and vegetable sector and other 
plant products through the application of norms and standards to improve market access.  
1.20.   In Lao People's Democratic Republic , support is underway to provide access and make 
information available regarding registered pesticides, ta rget uses, national/Codex MRL setting for 
target commodities for export. A database providing relevant information is also being developed 
under this activity.  
1.21.   Development of draft Ministerial Guidance on 'Measures Responding to Non-Compliance 
Export of Plant Product and Regulated Articles to European Union Import Regulation '. 
1.22.   Support DOA on MRL training ongoing, list of equipment and consumables required for the 
training has been procured.  
1.23.   A series of online consultation s and fie ld training took place in October and November 
including, virtual training on TRACES for targeted exporters. Internal consultation on draft EU 
manual on plant health and disease management and training in targeted provinces; preparation of 
DOA awareness ca mpaign on challenges and rules for export of rice and watermelon; training on 
MRL pesticide analysis for target active substances in Luangnamtha province, Vientiane capital and 
Champassak province.  
1.24.   In Viet Nam, a second training programme on TRACES took pl ace from 14 to 16  September . 
The second event provided a broader training (TRACES) focused on coaching both the economic 
operators and the authorities on the day -to-day use of TRACES. The training also provided assistance 
on technical issues when using and  issuing a phytosanitary certificate or using the administration 
functions of TRACES e.g., managing the users, manage the operators, etc.  
1.25.   The development of the bilingual (English and Vietnamese) document on EU regulations 
related to food safety and phytos anitary for imported plant and food agricultural products for 
inspection commenced. A virtual meeting was organized  on 9 September and attended by PPD and 
relevant stakeholders to discuss the first draft out the document. A virtual meeting was also 
organiz ed on 27 September and attended by PPD and relevant stakeholders, to present the outline 
of the bilingual book titled "EU food safety and plant health regulations for imported plant products ". 
The methodology and timeline of the book were presented to stak eholders.  
1.8  Thailand ARISE Plus Project (November 2020 – October 2023 / Donor 
European  Union)  
1.26.   The new ITC implemented ARISE Plus Thailand project aims to support inclusive and 
sustainable economic growth through international trade in Thailand.  
1.27.   Under this ov erall objective, ITC supports the enhancement and dissemination of organic 
agricultural practices in line with EU standards.  G/SPS/GEN/1997  
 
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  1.28.   A technical guide on the revised EU legal framework will be developed and the adaptation to 
the country context of Thailand will be  discussed as part of the guide. In addition, the new legal 
framework will be compared to the existing Thai and ASEAN organic standards.  
1.29.   The training material on organic production for farmers and producers is being drafted. 
The project will focus on rice and mangosteen organic production in two regions of the country.  
1.30.   An IRCA approved lead auditor training for ISO 9001 was carried out and an awareness 
campaign on organic production as well as the planning of trilateral (Thailand, European Union  and 
other A SEAN states) events for exchange of experiences in organic production and cross -learning 
started.  
1.9  Lao ARISE Plus Project (201 8-2022 / Donor European Union ) 
1.31.   Nine Quality Champions developed under the Arise Plus Lao People's Democratic Republic 
Quality Champions Programme are featured users on the Quality Connect tool, who, once certified, 
will offer their services to SMEs through the national chamber of commerce and industry (LNCCI).  
1.32.   15 Quality Champions were trained on food safety, including HA CCP. 
1.33.   Quality and food safety/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations available 
on the Lao People's Democratic Republic  Quality for Trade P ortal. 
1.34.   First part of training of food inspectors attached to FDD implemented.  
1.35.   Ongoing cooperation be tween the Centre of Medical Science of Thailand and the Food and 
Drug Department of Lao focuses on assistance to strengthen the pesticides and chemical laboratory.  
1.36.   Posters developed by Codex, WHO and others have been identified by the Food and drug 
Departm ent for translation/reproduction to sensitise on COVID -19 and hygiene.  
1.10  Pakistan: Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (June 2019 – 
December 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.37.   The project aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty through the development of rural 
MSMEs in selected districts within two provinces of Pakistan: Balochistan and Sindh.  
1.38.   During the period under report, ITC has been providing support to the food authorities in the 
two provinces on a variety of topics , including food sa fety standards and compliance in milk and 
meat sectors. Furthermore, ITC is providing training to the Department of Plant Protection  in 
SPS compliance , as well as to animal health -related departments on the monitoring of 
slaughterhouses. ITC is also provid ing support to the provinces to develop foot and mouth disease 
(FMD) strategies in line with the recently approved federal policy , and on setting up disease control 
zones in the provinces. Two mobile laboratories are being purchased for the food department s which 
will then be operationalized , and training will be provided to the staff to use them as per best 
international practices. At the enterprise level, ITC continued to provide trainings to MSMEs (farmers 
and processors) in rural Sindh and Balochistan t o improve their awareness on quality, SPS and food 
safety through GAP and GMP modules . ITC is planning for further outreach of these trainings in the 
future.  
1.39.   ITC also developed training material (manuals, slides, case stories, exercises etc.) for the 
training of SMEs (from horticulture and livestock) on quality management systems and on principles 
of food safety and SPS at farm, processor and market levels. The training material will be handed 
over to Pakistani institutions in Sindh and Balochistan to use it to train SMEs in rural areas and in 
this regard, master trainers from these institutions are being trained through extensive train -the-
trainer workshops.  
1.11  EU–Bhutan Trade Support Project (2012 –2023 / Donor European Union)  
1.40.   The specific objective of th e project is to increase export diversification, contributing to the 
implementation of the "Brand Bhutan" initiative, by improving the capacities of trade and investment G/SPS/GEN/1997  
 
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  policy formulation and implementation, and increasing exports in two selected value ch ains, 
i.e. horticulture (ginger/turmeric, mushrooms, and yak dairy) and textile handicrafts.  
1.41.   Training support on food hygiene and food safety to Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory 
Authority (BAFRA) staff and SMEs, is ongoing.  
For more information, plea se contact:  
Khemraj Ramful , Senior Adviser, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 04 87  
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: ramful@intracen.org  
 
Hema Menon , Trade Training Officer, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 0 5 84 
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: menon@intracen.org  
 
ITC EXPORT QUALITY MANAGEMENT  
Website : http://www.intracen.org/eqm  
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/ITCstandards  
 
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