G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
2 March  2023 
(23-1444) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
  
SPS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES  
1 SEPTEMBER 1994 TO 31 DECEMBER 20 22 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Revision  
1.  This document provides an update of all the SPS technical assistance (TA) and training activities 
undertaken by the Secretariat from 1 September 1994 to 31 December 20 22. Detailed information 
is provided in the annexed table on the TA activities undertaken  by the Secretariat for the last three 
years (20 20-2022).2 
2.  The main objective of SPS technical assistance and training activities undertaken by the 
WTO Secretariat is to increase participants' awareness about Members' rights and obligations under 
the Agre ement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and 
its implications for national policymaking. The SPS technical assistance activities also provide 
an opportunity to inform participants on the discussions held and latest do cuments considered by 
the SPS Committee. In addition, participants are informed about upcoming SPS workshops and 
technical assistance initiatives available to their countries on SPS matters.  
3.  The programme is adapted to take into account the specific needs identified by the countries, 
the participants' knowledge of the SPS Agreement, the level of development of the countries, and 
any specific concerns relating to the implementation of the SPS Agreement , in order to adequately 
respond to individual requests. SPS technical assistance and training activities typically include 
presentations on the basic provisions of the SPS Agreement, the transparency provisions, 
specific  trade concerns raised at the SPS Committee, the WTO dispute settlement and SPS -related 
cases, and specific issues such as risk analysis, regionalization or equivalence.  
4.  Due to the easing of restrictions related to the COVID -19 pandemic,  the Secretariat organiz ed 
(and participated in)  SPS-related training delivered virtually, in person or in hybrid format for the 
identified period . 
5.  Altogether, 453 SPS training activities have been undertak en by the WTO Secretariat from  
1 September  1994 to 31 December 20 22. In 20 22, 16 SPS training acti vities were undertaken: 
seven  national seminars, and nine other activities (including two new specialized courses on 
Transparency and the SPS Committee respectively, and one Thematic Workshop on Transparency 
held back -to-back with the June SPS Committee meeting ). 
6.  The annexed table  identifies, for the period 2020-2022, the type of technical assistance activity , 
the region  and venue where it took place, its dates , participating countries , language used , and  
whether representatives from the FAO/WHO  Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the World 
Organi sation for Animal Health ( WOAH ), and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 
Secretariat participated in the activity.  
7.  A national seminar  refers to a  WTO-organized  activity undertaken at the national level only. 
A regional workshop  refers to an activity organized by the WTO in which a region or sub -region was 
invited to participate. The " other " category refers to all other SPS TA and training activities that do 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 Detailed information on TA activities from previous years is available from the Secretariat upon request.  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 2 - 
 
  not fall under either of the  first two categories. This includes other types of SPS -specific activities 
organized by the WTO Secretariat as well as activities organized by Members or other bodies in  which 
the WTO Secretariat participated. Training sessions on the SPS Agreement also take place within 
other general WTO training courses, such as Trade Policy Courses, Regional Trade Policy Courses, 
Geneva Week s, Introduction Courses and Agriculture Courses for least -developed c ountries; 
which  are not included in the list o f SPS TA activities in this document.  
8.  The information provided in the Annex below is organized on an annual basis in chronological 
order.  
9.  SPS TA activities are organized in close collaboration with Members, the three international  
standard -setting bodies referenced in the SPS Agreement (Codex, IPPC and WOAH ), as well as with 
regional organizations, when appropriate. Since 1994, the Codex has  participated in 122 activities, 
while the IPPC secretariat participated in 107 activities and the WOAH  in 121 activities.  
10.  To meet the demands for more advanced SPS TA and training activities, a three -week 
Advanced  Course on the SPS Agreement3 has normally been offered each year  as an  in-person 
activity from 2005 to 2019 .4 However, this course  has not been held since 2020 , due to the 
COVID -19 pandemic.  In 2021, in response to COVID -related restrictions on face -to-face activities, 
the Secretariat  organized and held the first edition of its "SPS In -depth Virtual Course". In 2022, 
the Secretariat continued its efforts to revamp its training activities and develop new materials , 
taking account of the easing of restrictions related to the COVID -19 pandem ic. In this regard, 
two new specialized courses targeted at English - and French -speaking African countries were 
developed ; the "SPS Transparency Champions Course" which was held in English, and the Course 
on "Essentials for SPS Committee Participation" whi ch was held in French. The first week of the 
"SPS Transparency Champions Course" was held in person in Geneva, and this was followed by 
virtual sessions via Zoom. The Course on "Essentials for SPS Committee Participation" was held 
virtually via Zoom. Parti cipants in both  of these  courses were invited to virtually attend the 
November 2022 SPS Committee meetings.  
11.  In addition to the above -mentioned SPS TA and training activities, the WTO offers an e-Learning 
course on the SPS Agreement. The course is offered each year in all three WTO languages: English, 
French and Spanish.5 
12.  Since 2010, Members have been informed at the beginning of each year of all  planned  
SPS-related technical assistance activitie s, and interested officials are invited to submit applications 
for specific events. In 20 22, this was done  via document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.12  of 2 March 202 2. 
Approximately 150 applications were received  for 2022 SPS Technical Assistance activities. 
All applicants were requested to provide information that indicated how their professional 
responsibilities were related to the SPS Agreement  and asked specific questions related to their 
courses of interest. T he endorsement of Members' permanent representations to the WTO was 
sought before the final selection of participants. For each course, the  Secretariat endeavoured to 
ensure that the selected participants fulfilled the prerequisites outlined in document 
G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.12 . The final selection included participants from 24 WTO Members and 
Observers in Africa, including 11 least -developed countries.  
13.  The Secretariat considers that this more "demand -driven" approach, based on applications from 
interested officials, together with the pre -requisite of (and in some cases a recommendation for) 
completion of the SPS e-Learning course, has  resulted in a more homogeneous and higher level of 
background knowledge by participants, and permitted the delivery of more advanced and effective 
 
3 This Advanced SPS Course provides in -depth and "hands -on" SPS training. During the course, 
participants must elaborate an action plan to address id entified SPS needs in their countries. 
The implementation of the action plans is monitored after the course, and participants are invited to return to 
Geneva about eight months after the end of the course to present the achievements reached through their 
action plans.  
4 See Chart 7  for a breakdown of participants who have attended the Advanced SPS Course by region.  
5 In addition to the existing e -Learning Course on the SPS Agreement (available in French and in 
Spanish), the WTO e -Learning platform offers a set of four new interactive courses on the SPS Agreement in 
English entitled: SPS Course Series 1 - Overview of the SPS Agreement and Committee; SPS Course Series 2 - 
The SPS Agreement and Science; SPS Course Series 3 - Trade Facilitating Operational Provisions of the SPS 
Agreement; SPS Course Series 4 - Implementation, Administration and Enforcemen t. Please see document 
G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.13 . G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 3 - 
 
  training activities since 2010. The Secretariat will again organize its 20 23 training activities in this 
manner, as indicated in  document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.13 . 
14.  Chart 1 below lists the breakdown of the type of activities undertaken in 2022 and Chart 2 
shows the number of activities per year.  
Chart 1 - SPS T A and Training Activities in 20226 
 
 
Chart 2 - SPS T A and Training Activities per year from 1994  to 20227 
 
 
6 For the 2021 data, the "SPS In -depth Virtual Course" has been included in the ca tegory of Advanced 
SPS Course.  For the 2022 data, the "SPS Transparency Champions Course" and the Course on "Essentials for 
SPS Committee Participation" have been included in the "Other" category.  
7 See previous footnote.  
G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 4 - 
 
  15.  Chart 3 presents a breakdown of the type of activit ies undertaken since 1994: 210 national 
seminars, 102 regional or sub -regional workshops, 125 other  activities and 16 Advanced Courses on 
the SPS Agreement.8 
Chart 3 - Type of SPS T A and Training Activities  from  1994  to 2022 
 
16.  Chart 4 shows the number and type of TA activities per region, while Chart 5 presents the total 
number of participants who have attended SPS TA and training activities per region and per type of 
activity. Overall, a n estimated  total of 19,067 people  have receive d training from the 
WTO Secretariat on the SPS Agreement since 1994.  
Chart 4 - SPS T A and Training Activities pe r Region  from  1994  to 2022 
 
 
8 The 2021 SPS In -depth Virtual Course has been included in the category of "Advanced SPS Course" in 
Chart 3 . 
G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 5 - 
 
  Chart 5 - Participants per Region  from  1994  to 2022 
 
17.  As shown in Chart 6, 30% of the beneficiaries of all SPS TA and training activities undertaken 
by the Secretariat have been from least -developed countries (LDCs), 6 7% from developing 
countries, and 3% from developed countries.  
Chart 6 - Breakdown  of country participation from 199 4 to 20 22 
 
18.  Chart 7 presents a breakdown by region of participants who have attended the Advanced 
SPS Course .9 Over the period 2005 to 20 22, 383 officials have participated from the following 
regions: 36% from Africa; 32% from Latin America and the Caribbean; 18% from Asia and the 
 
9 The 2021 SPS In -depth Virtual Course has been included in the category of "Advanced SPS Course" in 
Chart 7 . 
G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 6 - 
 
  Pacific; 10% from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus; and 4% from Arab 
and Middle East countries .10 
Chart 7 – Breakdown of participants in the Advanced SPS Course by region  
from 2005 to 20 22 
 
19.  Chart 8 presents the language breakdown of all SPS TA and training activities that have been 
undertaken. Overall, 61% of activities have been conducted in English, 21% in Spanish, and 1 3% 
in French. The remaining 5% have been undertaken in other languages,  including Arabic, 
Portuguese, Turkish and Russian .11 
Chart 8 - Language breakdown of SPS T A and Training activities from  1994 to 202 2 
 
10 There has been no change in the 2021 data as the Advanced SPS Course was not held in 2022.  
11 For all the SPS TA and training activities undertaken in other languages, at least one of the official WTO 
languages was also used (with the exception of activities conducted in Portuguese).  
 
  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 7 - ANNEX  
SPS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES  
 
(1 JANUARY 20 20 TO 31 DECEMBER 20 22) 
Year Region  SPS TA 
Activity  Host Location  From  To Participants12 Participants  Participation of 
representatives from 
the standard -setting 
organizations  Language  
LDCs  Developing  Developed  Codex  WOAH  IPPC  
2022  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  23/02/2022  24/02/2022   Thailand   110 No No No English  
2022  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  29/03/2022  29/03/2022  Lesotho  Botswana , 
Eswatini , 
Namibia , 
South  Africa   60 No No No English  
2022  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  31/03/2022  01/04/2022   Pakistan   76 No No Yes English  
2022  Africa  National 
Seminar  Kenya  Nairobi  10/05/2022  12/05/2022   Kenya   44 No No No English  
2022  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  17/05/2022  17/05/2022   Equatorial 
Guinea   8 No No No Spanish  
2022  Global13 Other  Hybrid 
(Switzerland 
and virtual 
delivery via 
video 
conference)  Hybrid 
(Geneva 
and virtual 
delivery via 
video 
conference)  20/06/2022  20/06/2022  Global  Global  Global   250 No No No English, 
French, 
Spanish  
2022  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  04/07/2022  05/07/2022   Mexico   118 No No No Spanish  
2022  Africa  Other  Hybrid  
(Uganda 
and virtual 
delivery via 
video 
conference)  Hybrid  
(Kampala 
and virtual 
delivery via 
video 
conference)  29/08/2022  31/08/2022  Uganda    30 No Yes No English  
 
12 As of 2022, the categories of level of development rely on WTO working definitions as identified in the WTO  Reference Database for analytical purposes ( idb@wto.org ). 
They can be consulted through the ePing SPS&TBT Platform  by clicking on "Facts & figures, "Definitions of groups" in the top menu bar.  
13 Participants were from least -developed, developing and developed Members or Observe rs worldwide.   
  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 8 - Year Region  SPS TA 
Activity  Host Location  From  To Participants12 Participants  Participation of 
representatives from 
the standard -setting 
organizations  Language  
LDCs  Developing  Developed  Codex  WOAH  IPPC  
2022  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  13/09/2022  13/09/2022   Viet Nam   7 No No No English  
2022  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  National 
Seminar  Mongolia  Ulaanbaatar  19/09/2022  21/09/2022   Mongolia   17 No No No English  
2022  Africa  Other  Switzerland  Geneva  03/10/2022  07/10/2022  The Gambia , 
Lesotho , Liberia , 
Mozambique , 
Sudan , 
Tanzania , 
Uganda  Botswana , 
Ghana , Kenya , 
Nigeria , 
South  Africa , 
Zimbabwe   18 Yes Yes Yes English  
2022  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  13/10/2022  14/10/2022   Chile; 
Hong Kong, 
China; Korea, 
Republic of; 
Malaysia; 
Mexico; Peru; 
Singapore; 
Chinese Taipei; 
Thailand; 
Viet Nam Australia , 
Canada , 
Japan , 
New Zealand , 
Russian  
Federation, 
United States  144 No No No English  
2022  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  15/11/2022  24/11/2022  Benin , 
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo , Mali, 
Togo Cameroon , 
Congo , 
Côte d'Ivoire , 
Egypt , Gabon , 
Morocco , Tunisia   11 No No No French  
2022  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Peru Lima 22/11/2022  24/11/2022   Peru  24 No No No Spanish  
2022  Africa  National 
Seminar  Tanzania  Dodoma  29/11/2022  01/12/2022  Tanzania    37 No No No English  
2022  Africa  National 
Seminar  Togo Lomé  29/11/2022  01/12/2022  Togo   32 No No No French  
2021  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  (Sub) 
Regional 
Workshop  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  22/01/2021  22/01/2021   Costa Rica, 
El Salvador, 
Guatemala, 
Honduras, 
Nicaragua, 
Panam a  25 No  No No Spanish  
2021  Africa  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  24/03/2021  24/03/2021  Djibouti    37 No  No  No  French  
2021  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  22/04/2021  22/04/2021  Lesotho    15 No  No  No  English   
  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 9 - Year Region  SPS TA 
Activity  Host Location  From  To Participants12 Participants  Participation of 
representatives from 
the standard -setting 
organizations  Language  
LDCs  Developing  Developed  Codex  WOAH  IPPC  
2021  Asia and 
the 
Pacific  (Sub) 
Regional 
Workshop  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  17/05/2021  21/05/2021  Bangladesh, 
Bhutan, 
Myanmar, 
Nepal, 
Timor -Leste  China; India; 
Indonesia; 
Hong Kong, 
China; Korea, 
Republic of; 
Malaysia; 
Maldives; 
Philippines; 
Singapore; 
Sri Lanka; 
Thailand   75 No  No  No  English  
2021  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery 
(via video 
conference)  27/05/2021  27/05/2021  Madagascar    12 No  No  No  French  
2021  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  23/06/2021  23/06/2021   Paraguay   14 No  No  No  Spanish  
2021  Global15  Other  Virtual 
delivery (via 
video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  12/07/2021  13/07/2021  Global  Global   Global  1294 Yes Yes Yes English, 
French, 
Spanish  
2021  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  30/08/2021  30/08/2021   Peru  16 No No No Spanish  
2021  Global  SPS In -
Depth 
Virtual 
Course  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  20/09/2021  08/10/2021  Bangladesh, 
The Gambia, 
Mali, Nepal, 
Uganda, Zambia  Belarus, 
Botswana, 
Brazil, China, 
Côte d’Ivoire, 
Egypt, 
El Salvador, 
Honduras, Iran, 
Israel, Nigeria, 
Paraguay, 
Saint Lucia, 
Chinese Taipei, 
Thailand , 
Uruguay, 
Zimbabwe   23 Yes Yes Yes English  
2021  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  07/10/2021  07/10/2021   Ecuador   42 No No No Spanish  
 
14 The participants' list was not available for this virtual activity.  
15 Participants were from least -developed, developing and developed Members or Observers  worldwide.  
16 The participants' list was not available for this virtual activity.   
  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 10 - Year Region  SPS TA 
Activity  Host Location  From  To Participants12 Participants  Participation of 
representatives from 
the standard -setting 
organizations  Language  
LDCs  Developing  Developed  Codex  WOAH  IPPC  
2021  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  11/10/2021  11/10/2021  Ethiopia    33 No No No English  
2021  Arab and 
Middle 
East 
Countries  (Sub) 
Regional 
Workshop  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video 
conference)  22/11/2021  25/11/2021  Comoros, 
Sudan, Yemen  Bahrain , 
Kingdom of;  
Egypt ; Iraq; 
Jordan ; Kuwait , 
the State of;  
Lebanese 
Republic ; 
Morocco ; Qatar ; 
Saudi Arabia , 
Kingdom of ; 
Tunisia   30 No No No English  
2020  Africa  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  15/05/2020  15/05/2020  Burundi  Tunisia   2 No No No French  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  19/05/2020  19/05/2020   Colombia, 
Ecuador, 
Nicaragua   7 No No No Spanish  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  03/06/2020  03/06/2020   Paraguay   10 No No No Spanish  
2020  North 
America  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  05/06/2020  05/06/2020    United States 
of America  4 No No No English  
2020  Global  Other  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  08/07/2020  14/07/2020   Chile, China, 
Indonesia, 
Malaysia, 
Mexico, Peru, 
Philippines, 
Russian 
Federation, 
Thailand, 
Viet Nam Australia, 
New Zealand  97 No No No English  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  27/07/2020  31/07/2020   Mexico   218 No No No Spanish  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  08/09/2020  08/09/2020   Dominican 
Republic   115 No No No Spanish   
  G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.18  
 
- 11 - Year Region  SPS TA 
Activity  Host Location  From  To Participants12 Participants  Participation of 
representatives from 
the standard -setting 
organizations  Language  
LDCs  Developing  Developed  Codex  WOAH  IPPC  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  18/09/2020  18/09/2020   Guatemala   5 No No No Spanish  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  06/10/2020  06/10/2020   El Salvador   2 No No No Spanish  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  National 
Seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  10/11/2020  03/12/2020   Brazil   183 No No No English  
2020  Central 
and 
Eastern 
Europe 
and 
Central 
Asia National 
seminar  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  30/11/2020  04/12/2020   Belarus   38 No No No English  
2020  Latin 
America 
and the 
Caribbean  (Sub) 
Regional 
Workshop  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  Virtual 
delivery  
(via video -
conference)  30/11/2020  04/12/2020   Argentina, 
Brazil, Chile, 
Colombia, Costa 
Rica, Cuba, 
Dominican 
Republic, 
Ecuador, 
El Salvador,  
Guatemala, 
Honduras, 
Mexico, 
Nicaragua, 
Panama, 
Paraguay, Peru, 
Uruguay   57 No No No Spanish  
 
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