G/SPS/GEN/1958  
 
13 October  2021 
(21-7738) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATION ON SPS -RELATED ACTIVITIES OF  
THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC)  
(JULY -SEPTEMBER  2021 ) 
COMMUNICATION FROM ITC 
The following communication, received on 12 October  2021, is being c irculated at the request of 
the ITC. 
 
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The International Trade Centre is continuing its efforts to assist enterprises to meet technical market 
requirements. An update of selected SPS -related activities of interest to WTO Members is provided 
below.  
1  PROJECTS  
1.1  Malaysia Arise Plus Project (February 2021  - January 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.1.  In partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the project aims to support inclusive 
and sustainable trade growth and poverty reduction in Malaysia, while contributing to economic 
integration in the ASEAN region. Work with the Department of Agricu lture (DOA) has commenced 
towards reinforcing the control mechanism for pesticides, including the control of counterfeited 
pesticides, and use of invertebrates as biological control agents (IBCAs). Training is being 
programmed currently to improve awarenes s and understanding on EU legislations, including 
sustainable practices, in fish and fisheries sector.  
1.2  Philippines Arise Plus Project (March 2021 – February 2025 / Donor European Union)  
1.2.  In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry , the project supports progressive 
achievement of the ASEAN E conomic Community  Blueprint 2025 and realization of the 2nd and 
3rd pillars of The Philippines Development Plan (2017 -2022).  
1.3.  The overall objective of the project is to foster inclusive economic growth and pove rty reduction 
in The Philippines. The specific objective of the project is to improve The Philippines' trade 
performance and competitiveness. Among its expected results are putting in place a National Quality 
Infrastructure (NQI) that promotes export compe titiveness, and quality management and control 
systems for exported food products better aligned with international best practices.  
1.4.  Training of  the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Agriculture, attached 
agencies and food industry assoc iations is being organized between 28 October and 4 November 
2021. The  training will cover EU Regulations on processed food; EU standards development, 
adoption and promotion; risk profiling and risk assessment; EFSA EU Directives, and transposition 
thereof  into national  regulations . A needs assessment of the above -mentioned Philippine national 
agencies will follow to build their capacities to be accredited as EU -recognized competent authorit ies. G/SPS/GEN/1958  
 
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  1.3  EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme - MARKUP (July 2018 - July 2022 / Donor 
European Union ) 
1.5.  This project aims to contribute to the economic development of the E ast African Community 
(EAC)  region (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), with the specific objective to improve 
market access of agro -industrial c rops and horticultural products such as avocado, cocoa, coffee, 
spices and tea to the European Union, and among the five EAC partners.  
1.6.  Support to nine avocado producer groups in Kenya is now complete with the groups being 
successfully certified to GlobalG. A.P. 
1.4  Uzbekistan - Facilitating the Process of Accession to the WTO (February 2020 - 
February 2025 / Donor European Union ) 
1.7.  The project supports Uzbekistan's development plans to modernize its economy through 
leveraging the process of WTO accession. The spec ific objective of the action is to create a trade 
environment that is in conformity with the World Trade Organization (WTO).  
1.8.  A series of online training workshops on implementing ISO 17025, ISO 17065 and auditing 
integrated management systems were held bet ween 15 June and 9 July 2021. Work is ongoing on 
the review of the food safety law to support improve d alignment to the SPS Agreement.  
1.5  Myanmar Trade -Related Assistance (Arise Plus – Myanmar)  (July 2019 - June 2023 / 
Donor European Union ) 
1.9.  The ARISE Plus project aims at building inclusive and sustainable trade growth in Myanmar 
through support to MSMEs in selected value chains enhancing food safety and SPS compliance 
(targeting tea, coffee, honey, horticulture products) and trade policy formulation and 
implementation.  
1.10.   An initial version of the Myanmar Platform on Quality and Food Safety was developed featuring 
quality requirements for selected product -market combinations (avocado, coffee, honey, and tea 
with a target of the EU market). Trainers -cum-counsell ors are featured with expert profiles on the 
Myanmar Quality Connect tool , as well as service provider institutions.  
1.6  Tajikistan: Enabling Market access for Agricultural Products through Improved Food 
Safety System (March 2018 - February 202 2 / STDF - PG-447 implemented by ITC in 
collaboration with FAO , in particular for output 1 on the regulatory control system)  
1.11.   The goal of the project is to improve the export competitiveness of Tajik SMEs and food safety 
through better use of agri -chemicals and veterinary medicines with a focus on honey and apricot 
sectors.  
1.12.   The project partner (FAO) is working on guidelines regarding the food control and monitoring 
system with a focus on honey and dried apricots. In this regard , a series of online seminars were 
held. 
1.13.   A stud y tour for 12 representatives of the Tajik honey sector (private and public) to Ukraine 
is being organi zed to understand best practices of beekeeping, compliance with related legislation 
and export procedures to the European Union.  
1.14.   Advisory visits of previ ously developed trainers and experts to final beneficiaries in the honey 
and apricot sectors were carried out to observe and advise on the implementation of good practices, 
control procedures and discuss proposed changes in the control and monitoring syste ms. A total of 
50 visits to three project regions were conducted.  
1.15.   A dedicated set of communication material s on the application of veterinary medicines and 
pesticides are being developed.  
1.16.   Market linkages with buyers were established in  the honey and aprico ts sectors between Tajik 
and international buyers.  G/SPS/GEN/1958  
 
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  1.7  SYMST: Systematic Mechanism for Safer Trade ( Lao People's Democratic Republic  and 
Viet Nam) (December 2018 – October 2022 / Donor European Union ) 
1.17.   The overall objective of the project is to improve food saf ety through better governance in 
Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. The project aims to strengthen the regulatory 
framework for control of plant health and pesticides in the fruits and vegetable sector and other 
plant products through the appli cation of norms and standards to improve market access.  
1.18.   In Lao People's Democratic Republic , support is underway to provide access and make 
information available regarding registered pesticides, target uses, national/Codex MRL setting for 
target commoditi es for export. A database providing relevant information is also being developed 
under this activity.  
1.19.   An internal consultation meeting took place on the draft Ministerial Guidance on 'Measures 
Responding to Non -Compliance Export of Plant Product and Regula ted Articles to European Union 
Import Regulation'.  
1.20.   Preparation is underway to support DOA on MRL training . The  list of equipment and 
consumables required for the training has been finalized , and procurement of required items has 
commenced.  
1.21.   A series of online consultation and field training are planned in October and November 
including, virtual training on the EU Trade Control and Expert System ( TRACES ) for target export 
company; internal consultation on  a draft EU  manual on plant health and disease management , and 
training in targeted provinces; preparation of DOA awareness campaign on challenges and rules for 
export of rice and watermelon; training on MRL pesticide analysis for target active substances in 
Luangnamtha province, Vientiane capi tal and Champassak province.  
1.22.   In Viet Nam, the first virtual training on TRACES took place (23 July 2021) in Hanoi with 
88 participants , and 12 government officials and companies. This workshop gave an overview of the 
EU regulations in terms of exports and certification of fruits, vegetables, and other plant products 
on the use of TRACES for Vietnamese authorities and operators. A second t raining programme on 
TRACES took place on 14 -16 September. The second event provided a broader training focused on 
coaching both the economic operators and the authorities on the day -to-day use of TRACES. 
The training also provided assistance on technical issues when using and issuing a phytosanitary 
certificate or using the administration functions of TRACES e.g., managing the users, manag ing the 
operators, etc.  
1.23.   The development of the bilingual (English and Vietnamese) document on EU regulations 
related to  food safety and phytosanitary for imported plant and food agricultural products for 
inspection commenced. A virtual meeting was organized on 9 September and attended by the Plant 
Protection Department ( PPD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Develop ment and relevant 
stakeholders to discuss the first draft o f the document. A virtual meeting was also organized on 
27 September and attended by PPD and relevant stakeholders, to present the outline of the bilingual 
book titled "EU food safety and plant hea lth regulations for imported plant products", 
the methodology and timeline of the book was presented to stakeholders.  
1.8  Thailand ARISE Plus Project (November 2020 – October 2023 / Donor 
European  Union)  
1.24.   The new ITC implemented ARISE Plus Thailand project, aim s to support inclusive and 
sustainable economic growth through international trade in Thailand.  
1.25.   Under this overall objective, ITC supports the enhancement and dissemination of organic 
agricultural practices in line with EU standards.  
1.26.   An online training ser ies on ISO/IEC 17065 covering requirements and organic standards, 
implementation for organic certification and group certification was carried out in July/August 2021. 
The training series comprised three 3 -day sessions and was conducted by the Management S ystem 
Certification Institute (MASCI) in Thailand. The plan is  to repeat the session during the first half of G/SPS/GEN/1958  
 
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  2022. In addition, a supplementary session on the new Thai organic legislation and standards 
(currently in the final stages of development) will b e conducted for the same training participants.  
1.27.   Planning for the development of training material on organic production for farmers and 
producers has started. The project will focus on rice and mangosteen organic production in two 
regions of the country.  
1.28.   Based on results of the workshop on the new EU organic legislation, a technical guide will be 
developed. The guide will highlight the changes and requirements with regard to the new legislation.  
1.29.   Upcoming activities are an International Register of Certifica ted Auditors ( IRCA) approved 
lead auditor training for ISO 9001, an awareness campaign on organic production , as well as the 
planning of trilateral (Thailand, European Union and other ASEAN states) events for exchange of 
experiences in organic production a nd cross -learning.  
1.9  Lao ARISE Plus Project (201 8-2022 / Donor European Union ) 
1.30.   Nine Quality Champions developed under the Arise Plus Lao People's Democratic Republic 
Quality Champions Programme are featured users on the Quality Connect tool, who, once certif ied, 
will offer their services to SMEs through the national chamber of commerce and industry (LNCCI).  
1.31.   A draft gap assessment report on the SPS/TBT National Enquiry Point and  the National 
Notification Authority has been completed, and a validation workshop has taken place with key 
stakeholders. The next steps will be a training and sensitization workshop at the end of October.  
1.32.   Cooperation has been established between the Centre of  Medical Science of Thailand and 
the Food and Drug Department of Lao  People's Democratic Republic  to provide assistance to 
strengthen the pesticides and chemical laboratory. Posters developed by Codex, WHO and others 
have been identified by the Food and Drug Department for translation/reproduction to sensiti ze on 
COVID -19 and hygiene.  
1.10  Pakistan: Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (June 2019 – 
December 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.33.   The project aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty t hrough the development of rural 
MSMEs in selected districts within two provinces of Pakistan: Balochistan and Sindh.  
1.34.   During the period under report, ITC has been providing support to the food authorities in the 
two provinces on a variety of topics , includi ng food safety standards and compliance in milk and 
meat sectors. Furthermore, ITC is providing training to the Department of Plant Protection in 
SPS compliance , as well as to animal health -related departments on the monitoring of 
slaughterhouses. ITC is a lso providing support to the provinces to develop foot and mouth disease 
(FMD) strategies in line with the recently approved federal policy , and on setting up disease control 
zones in the provinces. Two mobile laboratories are being purchased for the food departments which 
will then be operationalized , and training will be provided to the staff to use them as per best 
international practices. At the enterprise level, ITC continued to provide trainings to MSMEs (farmers 
and processors) in rural Sindh and Bal ochistan to improve their awareness on quality, SPS and food 
safety through GAP and GMP modules . ITC is planning for further outreach of these trainings in the 
future.  
1.11  EU–Bhutan Trade Support Project (2012 –2023 / Donor European Union)  
1.35.   The specific objectiv e of the project is to increase export diversification, contributing to the 
implementation of the "Brand Bhutan" initiative, by improving the capacities of trade and investment 
policy formulation and implementation, and increasing exports in two selected v alue chains, 
i.e. horticulture (ginger/turmeric, mushrooms, and yak dairy) and textile handicrafts.  
1.36.   Under the sub -output on "Export and quality management capacities of stakeholders - from 
farmers to exporters - along the horticulture value chain built and  coordination improved", 
ITC provides a hands -on step -by-step training programme on food hygiene and food safety based 
on Codex HACCP for Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) staff and SMEs G/SPS/GEN/1958  
 
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  spread over 10 -12 months. The programme starte d in March for a pool of 14 trainers -cum-
counsellors (TcCs) (12 from BAFRA) and 12 enterprises in ginger, turmeric, mushrooms and yak 
dairy products. This support is in progress.  
For more information, please contact:  
Khemraj Ramful , Senior Adviser, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 04 87  
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: ramful@intracen.org  
 
Hema Menon , Trade Training Officer, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 0 5 84 
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: menon@intracen.org  
 
ITC EXPORT QUALITY MANAGEMENT  
Website : http://www.intracen.org/eqm  
Twitter : http://www.twi tter.com/ITCstandards  
 
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