PRESS/ 922 
 
10 March 2023  
(23-1807) Page: 1/2 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Canada commits CAD700,000 to strengthen developing countries' 
food safety systems  
Canada is extending its partnership with the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) by 
committing CAD 700,000 (approximately CHF 485,000) to help agricultural producers from 
developing and least developed countries (LDCs) meet international food safety, animal and plant 
health standards.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "I tha nk Canada for this contribution and its 
long-standing partnership with the STDF. The funds received will continue to support the STDF's 
pioneering work in food safety, animal and plant health by equipping farmers, traders, and 
producers with the tools need ed to access global food markets more easily. Compliance with 
international standards enhances food security in both importing and exporting countries by 
facilitating trade in agricultural products and by raising incomes and reducing poverty in farming 
communities."  
 
The Honourable Marie -Claude Bibeau, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri -Food,  said: "The 
Government of Canada is committed to helping our partners in developing countries to comply 
with international standards for food safety, and animal and plant health. Our commitment today 
to the STDF to improve sanitary and phytosanitary systems will benefit farmers around the world, 
including Canadian farmers. If developing countries use the same global standards, it will help 
them meet the United Nat ions goals of better feeding the world. " 
 
The new contribution from Canada will support the implementation of innovative and collaborative 
capacity -building projects, based on international standards referenced in the WTO Agreement on 
Sanitary and Phytosan itary (SPS) Measures and established by the Codex Alimentarius , the  
World Organization for Animal Health , and the International Plant Protection Convention . 
 
By convening and connecting diverse stakeholders from agriculture, health, trade and 
development, and drawing on their technical expertise and knowledge, the STDF is identifying and 
promoting good pra ctices to influence and catalyse SPS improvements more widely. This includes 
recent work on Good Regulatory Practices  to ensure SPS measures are fit for purpose, do not  
impose unnecessary costs or administrative burden, and are more easily enforced.  
 
Canada, through Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada, the government department responsible for 
the federal regulation of agriculture, has contributed around CHF 13.3 million to various WTO trust 
funds since 2002, including more than CHF 6.6 million to the STDF, not including this latest 
disbursement.  PRESS/ 922 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Developing and least developed countries from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the 
Caribbean are encouraged to apply to the STDF for SPS project and project preparation grants. 
The next deadline for submission of funding proposals is 11 August 2023. Information on how to 
apply is available here. 
 
To date, the  STDF has funded more than 240 projects benefiting LDCs and other developing 
countries.  
 
The STDF is a global multi -stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, 
established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nat ions, the World 
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization 
(WHO) and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership.  
 
The STDF responds to evolving needs, drives inclusive trade and contributes to sustaina ble 
economic growth, food security and poverty reduction, in support of the United Nations 
Global  Goals.  
 
 
END