PRESS/ 894 
 
10 December 2021  
(21-9238) Page: 1/2 
    
 
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Germany gives CHF 2.8 million to help developing countries meet 
SPS standards, combat COVID -19 
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has contributed EUR 
2,675,000 (approximately CHF 2.8 million) for 2021 -2024 to the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF) to help developing and least -developed countries (LDCs) m eet 
international food safety, animal and plant health standards for trade. The contribution will also 
help these countries to respond to the challenges posed by COVID -19 and to recover from the 
pandemic.  
 
The German contribution will be used to develop a nd support projects that will strengthen the 
ability of small -scale farmers, producers, traders and governments to access global and regional 
markets for food and agriculture products, in line with the STDF's Strategy for 2020 -2024. This 
investment in food  safety, animal and plant health capacity is critical for developing countries, not 
only to support economic recovery but also longer -term resilience against COVID -19 and similar 
shocks, as highlighted in the STDF's latest film "Shaping A Safer World".  
 
The COVID -19 crisis provides a clear reminder of the ease and speed at which pests and diseases 
can spread worldwide and the inter -connectedness of global supply chains. It also underlines the 
value of the STDF's multi -stakeholder approach for addressing cr itical health and trade challenges, 
including meeting sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. By investing in safe trade systems 
and scaling up assistance for developing countries, including through its projects, the STDF is 
supporting their economic r ecovery.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "I thank Germany for its continued generosity. 
The STDF is a concrete example of Aid for Trade in action, working at specific issues such as SPS 
compliance and agriculture which are highly relevant f or many developing countries."  
 
Germany's Ambassador to the WTO, Dr Bettina Waldmann, said: "Germany recognizes the need to 
support developing and least developed countries that have been and still are particularly affected 
by the negative impacts of the COVID -19 pandemic. The STDF is a very useful tool to facilitate the 
integration of such countries into international trade. A special thanks to all who work towards that 
aim day after day. Together we can achieve something meaningful."  
 
The STDF is a global multi -stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, 
contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. The STDF 
promotes improved food safety, animal and plant health capacity in develop ing countries. This 
helps imports and exports to meet SPS requirements for trade, based on international standards. PRESS/ 894 
 
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  By bringing together the SPS expertise and skills of its founding partners, donors and other 
organizations, the STDF provides a unique forum  to exchange information and encourage 
collaboration and synergies, enabling the stakeholders involved to achieve more effective and 
sustainable results together than would be possible alone.  
 
The STDF founding partners are the Food and Agriculture Organi zation (FAO) of the United 
Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and the WTO. It also includes the secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and the International Plant Protecti on Convention (IPPC).  
 
 
END