G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
3 June 2022 
(22-4230) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This document provides a brief update on the work of the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF) since the last meeting of the Committee in  March  2022. Delegates are encouraged 
to visit the STDF website2 to view and become  familiar with STDF activ ities and projects, download 
STDF briefing notes and other publications, and subscribe to STDF's mailing list (at the bottom of 
the STDF homepage) to receive regular updates on its work.  
1.2.  The work of the STDF is guided by the STDF Strategy (2020 -2024), whic h aims to further 
strengthen STDF's role as a global platform for dialogue and learning on SPS capacity development.3 
The STDF also finances the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative 
SPS projects, with the potential to influence a nd catalyse SPS  improvements. The  STDF Strategy is 
accompanied by a new  Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework, which is being 
integrated into STDF projects.4 
2  STDF WORKING GROUP  
2.1.  The STDF Working Group  allows  members  to share and learn from each other's work, helping 
to disseminate, influence and scale up good practices in SPS capacity development more widely . The 
next meeting of the STDF Working group will be held on 7 -8 June 2022  and will be chaired by 
Ms Kelly McCor mick from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) . 
3  STDF EVENTS  
3.1.  On 21 March 2022 , an STDF  webinar  was jointly organized with Canada and France  to celebrate 
the International Francophonie Day . This event  highlight ed projects in Burkina Faso ( STDF/PG/566 ) 
and Cameroon ( STDF/PG/593 ) that aim to  strengthen SPS capacity for market access  and safe trade . 
3.2.  On 28 April 2022 , the STDF organized a joint session with the Global Alliance for Trade 
Facilitation (GATF) on SPS electronic certification , as part of UNCTAD's E -commerce week.5 This 
session provided an overview of the status of SPS eCert and its use by developing countrie s and 
opportunities and ways to scale up SPS e -Certification and its implementation in different regions.6 
3.3.  On 10 May 2022 , a joint ADB/STDF virtual seminar was held on Good Regulatory Practices  
(GRPs)  to improve SPS measures. In this seminar, speakers sha red different experiences of 
countries in Asia using GRPs, challenges they faced, results achieved, and lessons learnt. 
Presentations and background material can be found on the event homepage.7 
 
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 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org . 
3 See: https://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Strategy_2020 -2024.pdf . 
4 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_MEL_Framework_Final_English.pdf . 
5 See: https://unctad.org/eweek2022 . 
6 See: https://unctadeweek2022.pathable.co/meetings/virtual/3De3hXH5K4WP7CM9k . 
7 See: https://adb.eventsair.com/grponspsmeasures/ . G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  3.4.  From 3 to 6 May 2022 , the STDF organized a  series of four inter -connected webinars that 
brought  together representatives of STDF partners and stakeholders on the ground, to explore the 
challenges of climate change for food safety, animal and plant health, and identify opportunities to 
respond to emerging ris ks and facilitate safe trade.  Further background on the webinars , including 
panellists and presentations , can be found on the dedicated webpage.8 
a. Webinar Recording 1: Climate Change and Animal Health  
b. Webinar Recording 2: Climate Change and  its effect on the  Plant Health  
c. Webinar Recording 3: Effects of Climate Change and  its relatedness with  food Safety  
d. Webinar Recording 4: Climate Change and the SPS Issues – Looking ahead  
4  STDF KNOWLEDGE WORK  
4.1.  The aim of STDF's knowledge work is to identify and promote good practices and improve 
SPS capacity development outcomes. Some of this work takes place in virtual practitioner groups 
that bring together stakeholders for in -depth discussions on topics that cut across the areas of food 
safety, animal and plant health, and trade.  
4.1  Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access: P -IMA 
4.2.  The P-IMA framework is an evidence -based approach to help inform and improve SPS planning 
and decision making , and mobilize publi c, private and/or donor resources for SPS investments. 
The framework is currently being applied through project preparation grants in Armenia, Ecuador, 
and Ghana  and was recently applied in several COMESA Members States through an STDF project 
(see Annex 1 ). 
4.3.  Delegates who would like to know more about, or benefit from , the P-IMA framework can visit 
the STDF website9 or contact Ms Roshan Khan (roshan.khan@wto.org ) in the STDF  Secretariat.  
4.2  Public Private Partnership (PPP)  
4.4.  The Secretariat has published examples of PPPs that strengthen food safety, animal health 
and/or plant health capacity and facilitate trade on a dedicated PPPs webpage  10. These include PPPs 
related to  boosting exports of table grapes fro m India, using ICT mobile applications for pest 
surveillance in Nicaragua, upgrading quarantine control in Djibouti, amongst others . Additional case 
stories are under finalization and will be shared in due course. A PPP practitioner Group meeting was 
held on 8 March 2022 , where STDF partners and developing country experts share d PPP experiences  
including  on the India and Djibouti case stories .11  
4.5.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's PPP work can visit the STDF website12 
or contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
4.3  Good Regulatory Practice  (GRP)  
4.6.  STDF's GRP work provide s guidance to ensure that SPS  measures are "fit for purpose" and 
avoid th e creation of non -tariff barriers. In November 2021, STDF published  "Good regulatory 
practices to improve SPS measures: A practical guide".13 French and Spanish versions of the Guide 
were made  available  on the STDF website  in April 2022 . Targeted  at SPS regulators in developing 
countries, the Guide offers support to use GRPs to improve SPS measures and facilitate safe trade. 
It includes practical guidance on how to use GRPs to support the design, development  and review 
of SPS measures (even when r esources are limited), examples of how GRPs are being used in 
different countries, and links to available resources on GRPs published by STDF partners and others.  
 
8 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/exploring -impact -climate -change -global -food-system . 
9 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/prioritizing -sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
10 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/pu blic-private -partnership -ppp-case-stories . 
11 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -public -private -partnerships -ppps-practitioner -group . 
12 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/public -private -partnerships . 
13 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org /good -regulatory -practice . G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  4.7.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's GRP work can visit the STDF website14 
or contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
4.4  Electronic SPS certification  (eCert)  
4.8.  The STDF promote s and support s the transition to paperless SPS systems  in developing 
countries . Paperless SPS systems can improve traceability throughout SPS supply chains, cut trade 
times and costs, reduce fraudulent certificates, and build trust among trading partners. An effective 
paper-based certification system needs to be in place, with adequate institutional capacity and clarity 
on roles and responsibilities, to be able to move to an electronic SPS certification system. 
The recently completed  STDF project on "e Phyto" (STDF/PG/504 ) will be evaluated in 2022  drawing 
wider lessons learned for SPS eCert . This evaluation will also consider  the findings of the  "eVet" 
project  (STDF/PG/609 ). 
4.9.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's work on SPS e -Cert can visit the 
STDF  website15 or contact Mr Simon Padilla in the STDF Secretariat ( simon.padilla@wto.org ). 
5  STDF FUNDING MECHANISM  
5.1.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 65%  of its project resources to Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs) and Other Low-Income Countries (OLICs), going beyond its target to devote at 
least 40% of its resources to these countries. 48% of the numb er of STDF projects and PPGs has 
gone to Africa, 25% to Asia -Pacific, 17%  to Latin America -Caribbean, and 1% to other regions 
(Middle East and Europe). 9% of all STDF projects and PPGs are classified as global, benefiting all 
developing countries. An overv iew of on -going projects and PPGs and beneficiaries is provided in 
Annex 1 . 
5.1  Project developmen t 
5.2.  The STDF provides advice and support on issues related to SPS project development and 
finances project preparation grants (PPGs). PPGs, normally up to US$50,000 , are available to help 
applicants articulate their SPS needs and develop technically sound and sustainable project 
proposals. PPGs can be requested to: (i) apply SPS capacity evaluation and prioritization tools; 
(ii) prepare feasibility studies before pro ject development to assess the potential impact and 
economic viability of proposals in terms of costs and benefits; and (iii) develop project proposals for 
funding by donors and/or the STDF.  
5.3.  A total of 117 PPGs  has been approved by the STDF since  its incep tion. Information on all on -
going and completed PPGs is available on the STDF website.16 
5.2  Project implementation  
5.4.  Financing for projects is also available from the STDF. The STDF Working Group gives 
favourable consideration to projects that: (i) identify, develop and disseminate good practice in 
SPS-related technical cooperation, including the development and application of innovative and 
replicable approaches; (ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constraints; and/or 
(iii) implement colla borative approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade. 
Beneficiaries must contribute to the project from their own resources, either in the form of financial 
or in-kind contributions (such as staff time, use of premises, vehicles, or ot her existing assets).  
5.5.  A total of 106 projects  have been approved by the STDF since its inception . Information on 
all on -going and completed projects is available on the STDF website.17 A selection of completed 
STDF projects is subject to an independent ex -post evaluation  according to the STDF  evaluat ion 
guidelines .18 
 
14 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/good -regulatory -practice . 
15 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/SPS -eCert . 
16 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . 
17 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . 
18 See: https://www.standardsfac ility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_214_Evaluation_Guidelines_2021_Final.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  5.3  How to apply for funding?  
5.6.  Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be received at 
least 60 working days in advance of each Working Group meeting to be considered at that meeting. 
The next deadline for the submission of applications is 12 August 2022 . Further information on the 
system, eligibility criteria, etc. is available on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS:  
1. Browse the webpages for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on:  
https://www.standardsfacility.org/funding  
2. View examples of previous projects:  
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  
3. Carefully read the guidance note for applicants:  
https://www.standardsfacility.o rg/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote_Rev.Feb -22_EN.docx  
4. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region.  
5. Send a brief concept note of your potential project for feedback on eligibility and likelihood of 
funding  (STDFSecretariat@wto.org ). 
6. Fill out an application form and submit it electronically before the deadline:  
• PPGs: https://wto.formstack.com/forms/ppg_application  
• PGs: https://wto.formstack.com/forms/pg_application  G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  ANNEX  1 
ONGOING STDF PROJECTS AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGS)  
1  COUNTRY PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Country  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Armenia  STDF/PPG/761  Applying the P -IMA framework to promote export of 
agricultural products  
Bhutan  STDF/PPG/734  Strengthening capacity for border inspection and control of 
plants, animals and their products  
Burkina Faso  STDF/PG/566  Reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize  
Burundi  STDF/PPG/773  SPS needs assessment for private and public actors in the 
Burundian horticultural sector  
Cameroon  STDF/PG/593  Improving SPS capacity in the Penja pepper value chain  
Ecuador  STDF/PPG/709  Applying the P -IMA framework  
Ethiopia  STDF/PG/477  Improving sanitary capacity to facilitate livestock exports  
Ghana  STDF/PPG/786  Supporting implementation of the National Policy for Aflatoxin 
Control in Food and Feed using the P -IMA framework  
Guinea  STDF/PG/498  Strengthening the phytosanitary system  
India STDF/PG/517  Strengthening the spice value chain and improving market 
access  
Jamaica  STDF/PG/759  Ensuring food safety capacity of the pepper value chain to 
access strategic export markets  
Kyrgyz Republic  STDF/PG/569  Enhancing capacity for food safety management in the fruit 
and vegetable industry  
Mali STDF/PG/611  Promotion of Codex standards and codes of practice 
particularly in the smoked fish industry  
Mongolia  STDF/PG/534  Piloting an improved animal identification and registration 
system  
Nigeria  STDF/PG/817  Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) to improve the plant 
health system in Nigeria  
Niue STDF/PPG/616  Supporting the establishment of a bee sanctuary  
Papua New Guinea  STDF/PG/553  Expanding cocoa trade  
Philippines  STDF/PPG/722  Piloting the use of Regulatory Impact Assessment in the 
agriculture and fisheries sector  
Peru STDF/PPG/767  Feasibility study on implementation of zoning as means to 
control infectious diseases in aquaculture  
Senegal  STDF/PG/672  Meeting sanitary standards to improve the safety of shellfish 
and boost market access  
Solomon Islands  STDF/PG/521  Laboratory capaci ty building to support fish exports  
Sri Lanka  STDF/PPG/721  Strengthening food safety and quality compliance in spices  
Sudan  STDF/PG/435  Upgrading the sesame seed value chain  
Tajikistan  STDF/PG/447  Improving food safety in honey and apricots to boost exports  
Togo STDF/PG/375  Strengthening the SPS system  
Uganda  STDF/PG/543  Enhancing the capacity of the fruit and vegetable sector to 
comply with EU phytosani tary requirements  
Zambia  STDF/PG/481  Strengthening phytosanitary capacity for plant exports in 
Zambia  
Zambia  STDF/PPG/789  Building phytosanitary capacity for small -scale cross -border 
traders in Zambia  
 G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  2  REGIONAL PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Africa  
Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, 
South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, 
Zimbabwe  STDF/PG/694  Enhancing trade through regulatory harmonisation 
and biopesticide -based residue mitigation in the 
SADC  Region  
Benin, Burkina  Faso, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, 
Guinea  Bissau, Niger, Mali, 
Senegal, Togo  STDF/PPG/770  Voluntary food quality control in West Africa through 
digitisation  
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Malaw i, Mozambique, Rwanda, 
South Sudan, Tanzania, 
Uganda, Zambia , Zimbabwe  STDF/PPG/809  Regional approach towards addressing invasive 
quarantine pests of potato in East and Southern 
Africa  
Cameroon, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Congo, 
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon  STDF/PPG/768  Harmonizing phytosanitary legislation in Central 
Africa  
COMESA members  STDF/PG/606  Mainstreaming SPS investments into CAADP and 
other frameworks in COMESA member states  
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, 
South  Africa  STDF/PPG/765  Establishing an ISO 17025 a ccredited mobile 
laboratory for food safety testing in the SADC region  
Mali, Senegal  STDF/PG/665  Piloting the use of voluntary Third -Party Assurance 
(TPA) Programme in Africa to improve food safety 
outcomes for public health and trade  
Mozambique, South Africa  STDF/PG/567  Establishing and maintaining fruit production areas 
free and under low prevalence of fruit fly pests  
Asia and Pacific  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, 
Indonesia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Nepal, 
Sri Lanka  STDF/PG/634  Asia pesticide residue mitigation through the 
promotion of biopesticides and enhancement of 
trade opportunities  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/619  Safer spices: boosting food safety and market 
access for the peppercorn value chain  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democra tic Republic, Malaysia, 
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, 
Thailand, Viet Nam  STDF/PG/432  Promoting IT solutions for surveillance and pest 
reporting  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Myanmar, 
Thailand, Viet  Nam STDF/PPG/755  Enhancing seed trade in the Asia -Pacific region 
through phytosanitary compliance and public private 
partnerships  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic,  
Philippines, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/7 98  Improving pig biosecurity and African swine fever 
control  
Latin America and Caribbean  
Argentina, Plurinational State of  
Bolivia, Colombia, Costa  Rica, 
Ecuador, El  Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Peru, Paraguay  STDF/PPG/753  Latin American residue mitigation through the 
promotion of biopesticides  
Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican 
Republic, El  Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Panama  STDF/PG/495  Accreditation of diagnostic tests for animal diseases  
Belize, Honduras  STDF/PG/682  Piloting the use of Third -Party Assurance (TPA) 
Programme in Central America to improve food 
safety outcomes for public health and trade  
CARICOM countries  STDF/PPG/733  Piloting the use of the P -IMA framework in the 
CARICOM region  
Colombia, Costa  Rica, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama  STDF/PPG/716  Food safety risk analysis capacity building in Latin 
America  
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru (and 
Trinidad and Tobago)  STDF/PG/577  Improving coordination to support management of 
cadmium levels in cocoa in Latin America and the 
Caribbean  G/SPS/GEN/2031  
 
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  Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Colombia, Ecuador  STDF/PG/681  Improving institutional capacity to mitigate trade 
barriers due to high cadmium levels in cacao  
Dominican Republic, Haiti  STDF/PG/751  Strengthening the phytosanitary and food safety 
system in key value chains  
Global  
All developing countries  STDF/PPG/782  Remote inspection practices in food safety for 
improved trade  
 
3  EVALUATIONS (ON-GOING  AND PLANNED)  
Country(ies)  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project name  
Argentina, Plurinational State of 
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, 
Peru, Uruguay  STDF/PG/502  Rolling out phytosanitary measures to expand 
market access  
Developing countries  STDF/PG/504  ePhyto: Enhancing safe trade in plants and plant 
products  
Developing countries  STDF/PG/609  Facilitating e -veterinary certification based on single 
window system  
__________