WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/143
8 November 1999
(99-4816)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
SUMMARY OF THE REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE
ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Note by the Secretariat
1. At the 7-8 July 1999 meeting of the SPS Committee, the Secretariat was requested to prepare a
questionnaire addressed to both developed and developing countries with the objective of identifying
any assistance which has been provided to developing countries in the context of the Article 9 of the
SPS Agreement.  The questionnaire (G/SPS/W/101) was circulated on 23 July 1999 and Members
were requested to submit their replies by 24  September 1999, at the latest.
2. The Secretariat received 15 replies to the questionnaire, including replies from six EC member
States.  Attached is a summary of the replies.G/SPS/GEN/143
Page 2 Technical assistance provided
FOOD SAFETY:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Seminars/workshops, mainly on HACCP;  quality assurance;  quality auditing; quality manual
writing;  food safety auditing and verification/validation;  development of national laws and
regulations;  imported food and quarantine requirements;  two regional workshops on
comparison of Member's regulatory policies on the food/therapeutics interface;  training of
senior food inspectors of developing countries in risk analysisTraining
(occasionally funding)Australia
Technical assistance for development of food laws and establishment of appropriate government
infrastructure for food control systems;  development of model for coordination  between APEC
member economies to enhance food control systems in the region;  development of a Regional
Directory of Food Trade Contacts;  five-phase technical assistance programme for Thailand's
Industrial Standards Institute and Food and Drug Administration on food safety auditing.Technical assistance
(occasionally funding)Asia Pacific;  China;
Indonesia;  Malaysia;
Papua New Guinea;
Philippines;  Thailand;
Vietnam
Argentina Food safety inspection systems Training/
technical assistanceVietnam
Finland Establishment of Quality Control Laboratory of Agricultural Products Construction,
equipment, technical
assistance and trainingEgypt
France Food safety management;  fish and fish products hygiene;  poultry meat hygiene;  pigmeat
hygiene;  residues monitoring;  traceability management;  risk assessment;  establishment ofnational regulatory bodies;  establishment of control authorities;  development of national laws
and regulations;  institution building in EC accession candidate countriesTraining;  technical
assistance; technicalexpertiseBrazil;  Chile;  Gabon;
Hungary;  Madagascar;Morocco;  Mexico;
Tunisia;  Poland;
Romania;  Slovenia
Germany Development of national law and regulations;  research;  risk assessment;  establishment of
national regulatory bodiesTraining;  Advice;
technical expertiseDeveloping countries
Italy Project of cooperation on drinkable salt water;  processing technology;  research Training;  Technical
expertisePalestine (Gaza strip)G/SPS/GEN/143
Page 3Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Netherlands Seminars on SPS and quarantine procedures within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting
(ASEM) and its trade facilitation action plan.  (N etherlands is the EC facilitator for SPS and
quarantine procedures and the Asian counterparts are Thailand and China, PR)Advice; sharing of
experiences; partialfundingAsian ASEM members:
Brunei; China;  Indonesia;Japan;  Korea;  Malaysia;
Philippines;  Singapore;
Thailand;  Vietnam
UnitedKingdomImprovement of institutional and policy arrangements for sustainable and efficient management
of public and private agricultural services of Forestry Policy;  improvement of quality millet
meal production;  strengthening of policy strategy definition and institutional reform in respect
of land, agriculture and development; support to the development of capacity in the agriculturesector policy analysis and formulationTraining;  advice;
equipmentLesotho;  Namibia;  South
Africa
Hong Kong,ChinaNil
Japan Training of food safety specialists in Japan or abroad;  inspection micro-organisms etc.;  food
safety administration;  pesticide monitoringTraining;  technical
expertise;  exchange of
informationSeveral developing
countries and Brazil;
China; Philippines;  Syria;
Thailand; Turkey
NewZealandMutual recognition agreements (MRA) for conformity assessment;  risk analysis;  food
regulation (review and enhancement of existing food control and regulatory systems);promotion of Codex activities (in cooperation with  FAO);  assistance for Codex food standards
workshop;  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA) generic food control systems
project to assist Asian developing economiesTraining;  technical
expertise;  technicalassistance;  technical
advice;  grantsAsian developing
economies:  China;  CookIslands;  Fiji;  Indonesia;
Malaysia;  Papua New
Guinea;  Philippines;  SE
Asia;  Samoa;  Thailand;
Vietnam
Panama Nil
Slovak
RepublicNilG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 4 ANIMAL HEALTH:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Training of quarantine personnel;  development of diagnostic facilities;  exchange of technical
information on animal and plant health  status and quarantine methodology;  conduct of joint
pest and disease surveillance and monitoring activities;  consultancy on HACCP-based Quality
Assurance systems;  training on diagnostic techniques (including in the area of exotic animal
diseases recognition) and surveillance;  workshops on import risk analysis;  policy development
and risk analysis in animal quarantine;  infrastructure development;  institution strengthening;
provision of equipment;  development of legislation;  operational requirements and aquatic
health for quarantine officers;  training of Bluetongue scientists.Training (occasionally
funding)
Provision of infrastructure support to quarantine and animal and plant health services to facilitate
disease diagnosis;  technical assistance to the Singapore horse racing industry in relation to
imports and exports;  technical assistance to fish exporters and government certifying officers in
south east Asia;  development of a pilot project on electronic export certification of traded
animal, fish and plant commodities (SANCRT);  development of technical guidelines on
quarantine and health certification, and establishment of information systems for the movement
of live aquatic animals in Asia;  transfer of technology regarding laboratories diagnosticcapacities.Technical assistance
(occasionally funding)Australia
Funding for an animal disease emergency management evaluation and training programme in
Indonesia;  funding of training modules for Chinese quarantine officials on Bluetongue;
harmonisation of quarantine standards;  improvement of office and communication facilities for
quarantine and animal health authorities.FundingThailand;  Papua New
Guinea;  Philippines;
China;  Indonesia;
Vietnam; Malaysia;  Asia
Pacific
Argentina Diagnosis, control and eradication of Fo ot and Mouth Disease Technical assistance
and trainingBolivia;  Colombia;
Trinidad and Tobago
Finland Nil
France Animal health/notifiable diseases management;  risk assessment;  establishment of national
regulatory bodies;  establishment of epidemiological networks/information systems;  emergency
plans;  laboratory procedures;  laboratory accreditation;  development of national laws and
regulations;  veterinary medicines approval monitoring; institution building in EC accession
candidate countriesTraining;  technical
expertise;Hungary;  Morocco;
Tunisia;  Poland;
Romania;  Slovenia
Germany Development of national laws and regulations;  research;  risk assessment;  establishment of
national regulatory bodiesTraining;  advice;
technical expertiseDeveloping countriesG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 5Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Italy Risk assessment;  processing technology;  research Training;
advice;  technicalexpertiseBrazil
Netherlands Seminars on SPS and quarantine procedures within the framework of the Asia Europe Meeting
(ASEM) and its trade facilitation action plan.  (N etherlands is the EC facilitator for SPS and
quarantine procedures and the Asian counterparts are Thailand and China)Advice; sharing of
experiences; partial
fundingAsian ASEM members:
Brunei; China;  Indonesia;
Japan;  Korea;  Malaysia;
Philippines;  Singapore;
Thailand;  Vietnam
UnitedKingdomStrengthening of  management and operation regard ing wildlife in national parks;  environmental
impact assessment of veterinary fences;  control and eradication of contagious diseases;
development of animal health and production policies;  promotion of the integration of wildlifeand livestock and maximisation of the sustainable use of rangelands;  advise on disease control;
improvement of the provision of animal health care;  training on agriculture services;  provision
of basis for the upgrading of laboratory procedures and facilities to comply with EC meat
hygiene regulations and boost export earningsTraining;  Technical
assistance;  funding;
capacity buildingBotswana;  Lesotho;
Namibia;  South Africa;
Swaziland
Hong Kong,
ChinaNil
Japan Research on Hog Cholera;  research on Brucellosis;  Tuberculosis and Newcastle Disease;
research of parasitical disease;  improvement of diagnostic methods for infectious disease;
testing and certifying veterinary drugs;  development of national regulationsTraining; technical
expertise; equipment;
adviceBrazil;  Indonesia;
Mexico;  Syria;  Thailand;
Uruguay
Animal health risk analysis; animal health workshops for government veterinarians on riskmanagement and certification procedures for meat exports to the ECCourses;  workshops;
advice; technicalexpertise;Botswana;  Indonesia;  11
Southern AfricaDevelopment Community
Countries New
Zealand
Joint animal health and plant health actions:  establishment of quality assurances systems;
assistance for plant and animal quarantine;  appraisal and upgrading of quarantine services and
assistance with infrastructure, equipment and human resource development;  short term
attachment for quarantine officers to New Zealand customs and agriculture agencies;  assistance
to protection of agricultural production from foreign pests and diseases and to facilitate theexport of animal and plant productsgrants;  technical
support equipment;
training;  plant and
equipmentChina;  Cook Islands;
Secretariat of the Pacific
Community/ Pacific
Region;  Solomon
Islands;  Vanuatu
Panama NilG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 6Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Slovak
RepublicNil
Thailand Risk assessment;  processing technology;  infrastructure;  establishment of national regulatory
bodiesTraining;  advice;
technical expertise;donation;  grantsLaos;  Cambodia
PLANT HEALTH:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Training for quarantine officers; clearance inspection;  fumigation;  preparation of export
documentation;  preparation of plant quarantine and pesticides legislation; development ofquarantine manuals;  risk analysis;  training on SPS and TBT Agreements as well as on the
IPPC;  plant pest and disease disinfestation treatments for fruits, vegetables and grains.Training (occasionally
funding)
Compilation of scientific information to facilitate exports of developing countries;  monitoring,
recording and reporting diseases and pest risks;  development of quarantine processes;  national
workshops dealing with certain commodities of export interest to some developing countries;capacity building in risk analysis and for plant pests and diseases.Technical assistance
(occasionally funding)Australia
New Technologies for Plant Quarantine Management;  specialist training course on detection
techniques using molecular biology.FundingAsia Pacific;  China, P.R.;
Cook Islands;  Ethiopia;Indonesia;  Iran; Marshal
Islands;  Micronesia;
New Caledonia;  Pacific
Island nations;  Korea;
Palau;  Papua NewGuinea;  Philippines;
Solomon Islands; Samoa;
Thailand;  Tonga;
Vanuatu.
Argentina Plant quarantine Technical assistance,
Training and supportTrinidad and Tobago
Finland Nil
France Development of national law and regulations;  laboratory procedures;  border control and survey:
organization and procedures;  training of phytosanitary inspectors in border points and
laboratories;  institution building in EC's accession candidate countries;Training and
Technical expertiseBulgaria;  Egypt;
Hungary;  Latvia;
Lithuania;  Madagascar;
Morocco;  Poland;
TunisiaG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 7Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided to:
Germany Development of national law and regulations;  research;  risk assessment;  establishment of
national regulatory bodiesTraining;  Advice;
technical expertiseDeveloping countries
Netherlands Seminars on SPS and quarantine procedures within the framework of the Asia Europe Meeting
(ASEM) and its trade facilitation action plan.  (N etherlands is the EC facilitator for SPS and
quarantine procedures and the Asian counterparts are Thailand and China)Advice; sharing of
experiences; partialfundingAsian ASEM members:
Brunei; China;  Indonesia;Japan;  Korea;  Malaysia;
Philippines;  Singapore;
Thailand;  Vietnam
UnitedKingdomWeed control techniques and establishment of communal grazing associations;  accountable
grant with UPOV for costs related to a plant breeders seminarTraining;  funding Southern Africa Region
Hong Kong,
ChinaNil
Japan Disinfestation technology for oriental fruit fly and melon fly infested mangoes;  disinfestation
technology for medfly infested Pitaya;  establishment of research infrastructureTraining;  technical
expertise;  equipment;
donationsArgentina;  Brazil;
Colombia;  Dominican
Republic;  El Salvador;
Fiji;  Indonesia; Mexico;Pakistan;  Peru;  Tonga;
Sri Lanka
NewZealandAssistance for travel costs and professional fees incurred by the Pacific Plant Protection
Organization;  assessment of phytosanitary needs and priorities of developing countries;
assistance in the construction of a High Temperate Forced Air plant; visit of specialist to
Secretariat of the Pacific Community to monitor and discuss plant protection activitiesGrant;  technical
support equipment;
training;  adviceSecretariat of the Pacific
Community/Asia Pacific
Region;  South Pacific
Region;  Tonga
Panama Nil
Slovak
RepublicNilG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 8
Technical assistance requested
ANIMAL HEALTH:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Requested from:
Thailand Development of animal disease control and diagnostic techniques (risk assessment, research);
dairy farming development (processing technology);  improved methods in diagnosis
epidemiology, economic and information management (risk assessment, research);  genetic
improvement of Thai beef cattle and buffaloes (processing technology and research);  regional
coordination unit for the control of FMD in Southeast Asia (risk assessment;  enquiry point;
infrastructure).  Requested technical assistance has been provided and completed, or is
ongoing.Technical expertise;
equipment;  donations;
advice;  training;
grantsJapan;  Australia;  OIE
Technical assistance received
FOOD SAFETY:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided by:
Two days workshop on SPS Agreement Lectures;  technical
expertiseWTO Secretariat Nigeria
Lectures to relevant government agencies;  manufacturers;  importers;  exporters;  pre-shipment
agencies;  foreign embassiesLectures Nigeria National Agency
for Food and Drug
Administration and
Control (NAFDAC)
Regional symposium on Genetically Modified Foods:  benefits and awareness;  risk assessment Technical expertise;
trainingInternational Life Science
Institute (ILSI)Thailand
Project for food sanitation of food sanitation activities (1995 to 1999);  strengthening food
control infrastructure programme (1997 to 1999)Human resource
development;technical expertise;
training tools and
equipment;  grantsJapan - International
Cooperation Agency;FAOG/SPS/GEN/143
Page 9ANIMAL HEALTH:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided by:
Argentina Technical assistance provided in the framework of Project ALA  143/93 European Community-
MercosurAdvice;  training and
technical equipmentEuropean Community
PLANT HEALTH:
Country Summary of main technical assistance subjects/actions: Form of assistance: Provided by:
Argentina Technical assistance provided in the framework of Project ALA  143/93 European Community-
MercosurAdvice;  training and
technical equipmentEuropean Community
Thailand Plant Biotechnology Product Development Centre;  workshop on the use of DNA technologies in
biodiversity, plant breeding and biosafety;  risk assessmentGrants;  glasshouse for
field trials of
transgenic plants;
technical expertise;
trainingRockefeller Foundation;
International Centre for
Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology (ICGEB);
Crawford Fund forInternational Agricultural
Research;  UNIDO;
UNEP
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