G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
19 October  2022 
(22-7847) Page: 1/8 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
SUBMISSION BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated  17 October  2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the United States of America . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  In 1999, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary  
Measures  (SPS Committee ) initiated a process to gath er information on technical assistance that 
Members have requested, received, or provided in support of the implementation of the 
SPS Agreement since it came into force on 1 January 1995 ( see G/SPS/W/101) . In response to this 
interest, the United States (G /SPS/GEN/181 and addenda) as well as other donors, including inter 
alia Canada (G/SPS/GEN/1426), the European Union (G/SPS/GEN/1139 and addenda), and Japan 
(G/SPS/GEN/1160 and addenda), have submitted periodic reporting on technical assistance provided 
in support of implementation of the SPS Agreement.  This submission marks the fifteenth such 
submission by the United States.  
1.2.  The compilation of US technical assistance provided to developing countries and newly acceding 
countries in this report shows the assi stance between 1 October 201 9 and 30 September 20 20. 
In this report, the United States provides details on technical assistance projects in the fields of food 
safety, animal health, plant health, and agricultural biotechnology  collectively valued at more t han 
USD 90 million . Forms of assistance include regional trade capacity building workshops, hands -on 
training programs, fellowships and exchanges, and site visits to US research and academic 
institutions.  
1.3.  The United States continues to value  the provision of technical assistance in support of 
implementation of the SPS Agreement.  This is a timely topic as the Committee undertakes the work 
program of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Declaration for the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference: 
Responding to Modern SPS Challenges (WT/MIN(22)/27).  
1.4.  US technical assistance programs assist developing countries, least developing countries, and 
newly acceding countries in developing and implementing effective, transparent, a nd science -based 
regulatory systems to protect human, animal, and plant health while facilitating trade in agricultural 
products.  These programs seek to foster a clear understanding of key SPS provisions in international 
and bilateral trade agreements. Th e United States continues to develop and implement demand -
driven assistance within a framework of mutual respect and accountability which, from our 
experience, provides the strongest framework for delivering enduring results.  
1.5.  The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) implements many of these technical assistance 
activities in partnership with other US Government agencies, international organizations, 
US universities, agri -businesses, and private consultants.  This report includes a list  of the key 
US Government agencies involved in the provision of technical assistance to developing countries, G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 2 - 
 
  least developing countries, and newly acceding countries, as well as a list of representative activities 
conducted in the specified reporting peri od. The lists are not exhaustive.  
2  KEY US AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
2.1.  Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS)  – APHIS is a lead US government 
agency in international SPS standard setting activities in the areas of animal h ealth and plant health. 
APHIS international technical and regulatory capacity building activities are conducted on the basis 
of requests from other countries or from US government agencies involved in international technical 
assistance. APHIS has staff pos itioned globally in 46 overseas offices assisting in both import and 
export issues. APHIS partners with international agricultural organizations, such as the World 
Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC),  the 
Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Inter -American Institute for 
Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) to achieve and advance science -based SPS objectives globally.  
2.2.  Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP)  – CLDP is a division of the US Department 
of Commerce that helps achieve US foreign policy goals in developing and post -conflict countries 
through commercial legal reforms. Partnering with the federal judiciary, other US government 
agencies, and international organiza tions, CLDP designs and implements conferences and 
workshops, utilizes long and short -term advisors, and trains foreign delegations in the United States 
and other countries to improve commercial legal frameworks. These frameworks strengthen 
standards, food  safety, and animal and plant health agencies; utilize international best practices to 
reduce impediments to trade; increase transparency regarding specific SPS concerns; and develop 
early notification systems for emerging impediments to bilateral and regi onal trade.  
2.3.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  – EPA works closely with the USDA Foreign 
Agricultural Service and other US agencies to provide scientific and policy expertise for the 
establishment of standards and requirements regarding sound pesticide and chemical management 
practices based on science. EPA, considered one of the world 's leading authorities on the regulation 
of pesticides, has worked extensively with other countries both bilaterally and through international 
fora to promote harmonized ma ximum residue limits.  
2.4.  Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  – FDA is the agency within the Department of Health 
and Human Services responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, 
and security of domestically produced and importe d foods, as well as human and veterinary drugs, 
food additives, and supplements. FDA maintains an international presence and works with many 
other US agencies to provide public health and food safety technical expertise to our trading 
partners.  
2.5.  Food Safety  and Inspection Service (FSIS)  – FSIS is the USDA 's public health agency, 
responsible for ensuring that the nation 's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is 
safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. FSIS has significant expertise in helping 
foreign governments understand the regulatory system of the United States.  
2.6.  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  – FAS has the primary responsibility for coordinating 
and implementing USDA 's international trade policy, promoti on, and capacity building activities. 
FAS provides technical assistance through fellowships and scientific exchange programs, such as the 
Cochran and Borlaug fellowship programs, as well as through the dispatch of USDA advisors and 
experts from other US fo od regulatory agencies to assist foreign policymakers, regulators, scientists, 
and the private sector to address complex, trade -related issues such as SPS compliance and 
applications of agricultural biotechnology.  
2.7.  US Agency for International Development (U SAID)  – USAID is the lead US government 
agency delivering development assistance worldwide. USAID provides assistance to support country, 
regional, and global strategies that facilitate trade and strengthen SPS systems. Technical assistance 
builds the capa city needed to support policy and systems change, enabling implementation of the 
WTO SPS Agreement and adherence to regional and international SPS standards.  
  
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 3 - ILLUSTRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA  
TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES , LEAST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  AND NEWLY ACCEDING COUNTRIES  
BETWEEN 1 OCTOBER 201 9 AND 30 SEPTEMBER 20 20 
Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) led 
Regional Expert Level Working Groups on Customs, 
Standards/Technical Barriers to Trade, 
Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures, Intellectual Property 
Rights, and Women's Economic Empowerment.  Advice, Training  Department of Commerce  Central Asia Region  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The CLDP facilitates capacity building workshop on best 
practices for Moldovan agriculture and trade officials on 
best practices in transparent and effective implementation 
of the WTO SPS Agreement.  Advice, Training  Department of Commerce  Moldova  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Food Safety Network program is intended to 
strengthen impact, leverage resources, and improve 
coordination of capacity bu ilding for food safety, animal 
health, and plant health.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), 
US Agency for International Development 
(USAID)  Global  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Contributions to the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF) support a variety of SPS activities 
worldwide.  Technical Assistance  Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), 
US Agency for International  Development 
(USAID)  Global  
Food Safety  Engagement on food safety technical regulations to 
support bilateral and regional adoption of science -based, 
trade -facilitating regulations and practices.  Advice and Training  Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  Latin America and 
Caribbean Region  
Food Safety  Program focuses on improving food safety in Pakistan to 
help expand its trade, including capacity to accept 
imported US products by strengthening the national food 
safety systems and ensu ring laws and regulations are 
based on and aligned with internationally recognized food 
safety principles and standards.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Pakistan   
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 4 - Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Program focuses on increasing Bangladesh’s ability to 
sustainably adopt and implement its obligations under the 
SPS Agreement. The program strengthens the National 
Plant Protection Organization’s phytosanitary capacity and 
the government’s function to comply with pesticide 
international trade standards.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Bangladesh  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Cochran Fellowships Program supports short -term, 
U.S.-based training opportunities to agricult ural 
professionals from developing and middle -income 
countries.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Global  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Scientific Cooperation Research Program supports joint 
research, education, and extension projects between US 
and international agricultural professionals.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Global  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Part of the Global Food Security Program (GFSP), the 
Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, the Initiative to End 
Hunger in Africa (IEHA), and the African Growth 
Opportunity Act (AGOA). The Sub -Saharan Africa Sanitary 
and Phyto sanitary (SPS) program includes capacity 
building in plant health, animal health, and food safety 
systems.  The objective is to harmonize SPS regulations 
with international standards to enhance food security and 
increase export opportunities for horticultu ral, animal, 
and processed food products through scientific and 
regulatory capacity building.  Advice, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Sub-Saharan Africa 
Region  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Faculty Exchange Program supports agricultural 
educators from institutions of higher learning in 
developing countries who come to the US for one 
academic semester to acquire new knowledge and 
enhance their ability to teach and build curricula at the 
university level.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Sub-Saharan Africa 
Region  
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Strengthening the cacao value chain in Colombia by 
strengthening key agricultural institutions in the public 
and private sectors concerning cacao, in order to improve 
the net income of cacao producers and associations.  Advice, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Colombia   
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 5 - Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Borlaug Fellowship Program promotes food security 
and economic growth by providing training and 
collaborative research opportunities to fellows from 
developing and middle -income countries. Borlaug fellows 
are generally scientists, researchers, or polic ymakers who 
are in the early or middle stages of their careers. Each 
fellow works one -on-one with a mentor at a US 
university, research center or government agency, usually 
for 8-12 weeks.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Servic e (FAS)  Global  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Engagement with Ukraine on the adoption of science -
based, trade -facilitating SPS regulations.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Ukraine  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Food for Progress Program helps developing countries 
and emerging democracies modernize and strengthen 
their agricultural sectors. US agricultural commodities 
donated to recipient countries are sold on the local 
market and the  proceeds are used to support agricultural, 
economic or infrastructure development programs. Food 
for Progress has two principal objectives: to improve 
agricultural productivity and to expand trade of 
agricultural products.  Technical Assistance  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Bangladesh; Dominican 
Republic; Uganda  
Food Safety  Global Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) Capacity Building 
Program focusing on harmonization of pesticide MRL 
standards and registration process in Latin America, 
Africa and Asia Advice, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), 
US Environmental Protection Agency ( US 
EPA) Global  
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Engagement on trade related technical regulations to 
support bilateral and regional adoption of science -based, 
trade -facilitating regulations and practices.  Advice, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Latin America and 
Caribbean Region  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  The Scientific Exchanges Program aims to educate a new 
generation of agricultural scientists and foster 
collaborative research internationally. The program can 
also help open markets and decrease or eliminate trade 
barriers, which ultimately creates new opportunities for 
US agricultural exports.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Global  
Animal Health, 
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Engagement with Georgia on the adoption of science -
based, trade -facilitating SPS regulations.  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Foreign Agricu ltural Service (FAS)  Georgia   
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 6 - Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Food Safety  The Producers to Market Alliance (PMA) program seeks to 
improve the capacity of rural producers to respond to the 
market requirements in selected conflict -affected areas 
where success is key to advancing Colombia's peace.  Technical Assistance  US Agency for International Development 
(USAID)  Colombia  
Food Safety  The Lebanon Investment in Quality program aims to 
increase the competitiveness of selected agro -food 
subsectors.  Technical Assistance  US Agency for International Development 
(USAID)  Lebanon  
Food Safety  Feed the Future Bangladesh Improving Trade & Business  
Enabling Environment  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Technical 
Assistance, Training  US Agency for International Development 
(USAID)  Bangladesh  
Plant Health  Central Africa Regional National Plant Protection 
Organization (NPPO)  and Partners Taskforce and P re 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM)  15 Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Angola, Burundi, 
Cameroon, Central 
African Republic, Chad, 
Democratic Republic of 
Congo, Equatorial 
Guinea, Gabon, 
Republic of Congo, 
Rwanda, and Sao Tome 
and Principe  
Plant Health  The Greater Caribbean Region Safeguarding and Trade 
Support Initiative  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Bahamas (the), 
Trinidad and Tobago  
Plant Health  Fruit Fly surveillance: Regional early warning, detection, 
surveillance and management of emerging pests of 
concern  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Mozambique  
Plant Health  Quarantine Pest Surveillance: Regional early warning, 
detection, surveillance and management of emerging 
pests of concern  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Mauritius, Mozamb ique 
Animal Health  Harmonization Workshop on Avian Influenza (AI) 
surveillance in wild birds  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Mauritania, Senegal  
Animal Health  Review of Regulated Garbage at Panama International 
Airport  Advice, Subject Matter 
Expert, Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Panama  
Animal Health  In Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training 
(ISAVET) Program and Risk Analysis Workshop  Training  Animal an d Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS)  Botswana, South Africa   
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 7 - Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Plant Health, 
Food Safety  Support for biotechnology experts  to engage the SPS 
committee on biotech approval practices through 
Thematic Session on Approval Procedures  Subject Matter Expert  US Department of State  Paraguay  
Food Safety  Presented to government officials on regulatory oversight 
and verification sampling program for Salmonella in raw 
and ready to eat poultry products  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Morocco  
Food Safety  Shared information with industry on export certification 
and ports of entry procedures  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Mexico  
Food Safety  Meeting with government officials from a few Caribbean 
countries (St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent) to share 
information on regulatory oversight/food safety system  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and  Inspection Service (FSIS)  Caribbean  
Food Safety  Presention to government officials on its regulatory 
oversight and role in the interagency process  Subject Matter Expert, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Kenya  
Animal Health, 
Food Safety  Middle East seminar on poultry health, avian influenza, 
and food safety  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service (APHIS), Food Safety and 
Inspection Service (FSIS)  Middle East and North 
Africa  
Food Safety  Presentation to government officials on the equivalence 
process  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Central America  
Food Safety  Equivalence information session  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Global  
Food Safety  Technical assistance to government officials related to 
equivalence  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Servi ce (FSIS)  Dominican Republic  
Food Safety  Technical assistance and training to foreign governments 
on equivalence requirements pertaining to chemical 
residue monitoring programs  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Global  
Food Safety  Technical assistance to government officials on 
equivalence   Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Honduras  
Food Safety  As part of the Philippine Risk  Profiling Project for 
conducting food safety risk assessments, provided 
presentations to University of the Philippines on 
conducting risk assessments for food safety benchmarks  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspect ion Service (FSIS)  Philippines   
  G/SPS/GEN/181/Add.15  
 
- 8 - Sector  Activity Description  Form of assi stance  Implementing Subagency  Provided to  
Food Safety  Technical assistance to government officials on the 
equivalence request  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Paraguay  
Food Safety  Technical assistance to government officials on 
equivalence  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Mexico  
Food Safety  Technical assistance to government officials regarding the 
equivalence process  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Costa Rica  
Food Safety  Provided multiple presentations to industry groups on 
regulatory oversight and export procedures  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assist ance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)  Western Hemisphere  
Food Safety  Regulatory Approaches for Agricultural Applications of 
Animal Biotechnology seminar  Subject Matter Expert, 
Technical Assistance, 
Training  Food Safety and Inspection Service 
(FSIS), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)  Global  
 
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