G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
4 March  2021 
(21-1849) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
WTO SPS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES IN 20 21: 
GENERAL INFORMATION, SELECTION PROCESS AND APPLICATION FORM  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Revision  
1.  The Secretariat of the WTO plans to organize a number of  specific technical assistance activities 
on the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS  Agreement) in 
2021. Please note that due to the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, all activities currently planned for 
2021 are scheduled to be delivered through videoconference or virtual platforms. These activities 
include: the SPS e-Learning course, national SPS seminars, a thematic SPS  workshop, regional 
SPS workshops2 and the SPS I n-depth  Virtual Course .3  
2.  These activities will primarily  focus on the provisions of the SPS Agreement, implementation 
matters  and the latest discussions taking place in the SPS Committee.4 The overall objective of the 
SPS technical assistance activities is to enhance the knowledge and expertise of government o fficials 
from WTO developing country Members and Observers, so they can better understand and 
implement the SPS Agreement, benefit from its provisions, and strengthen their capacity to engage 
in the work of the SPS  Committee . For additional information on technical assistance activities 
related to the SPS  Agreement, please consult the WTO website at http://www.wto.org/sps/ta . 
3.  This document provides detailed information about SPS -specific WTO technical assistance 
activities planned for 20 21, including information on dates, and where applicable, eligibility and 
selection criteria of participants, instructions for submission of applications, deadlines and pre -
requisites when required.   
4.  This document is structured accord ing to the different types of SPS -specific technical assistance 
activities provided by the WTO:  
• e-Learning Course on the SPS Agreement  
• National SPS Seminars  
• Thematic SPS Workshop  
• Regional SPS Workshops  
• Other SPS Workshops  
• SPS In-depth  Virtual Course  
 
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 Regional SPS Workshops will be organized in 20 21 upon request from regional organizations . Please  refer 
to additional details in Section 4 of this document.  
3 In addition to these SPS -specific technical assistance activities, the WTO offers general training courses 
where the SPS Agreement is taught, suc h as Introduction Courses for Least -Developed Countries, Regional Trade 
Policy Courses and Advanced Trade Policy Courses.  
4 The SPS Committee is scheduled to meet three times in 20 21: 25-26 March; 15-16 July; and 
4-5 Novem ber. Informal meetings of the SPS Committee and other SPS -related workshops might be scheduled 
during the weeks when the SPS Committee meetings take place. These dates are subject to change.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  5.  The structure, content, target audience, pre -requisites, exercises and materials of these 
SPS-specific activities will follow the WTO Progressive Learning Strategy (PLS).5 Therefore, 
each activity is identified according to a scale ranging from "Level 1" (the  least advanced, 
introductory activities) to "Level 3" (the most advanced, in -depth training activities). 
This measurement will, inter alia, assist in making candidates aware of the expected level of the 
activity before they apply, and facilitate the Secre tariat's assessment of whether a candidate's profile 
and experience match the level of the activity when carrying out the selection process. This will 
ultimately help ensure that the participants in a particular activity are able to most effectively follow  
and contribute to the discussions, and that they have a harmonized level of understandin g of 
the SPS Agreement. Further  information on the WTO PLS and a table with the level of each of 
the SPS-specific technical assistance activities can be found in Annex  I. 
1  E-LEARNING COURSE ON THE SPS AGREEMENT  
Level of this activity : 1    3 
6.  The WTO offers an e-Learning Course on the SPS Agreement (SPS e-Learning Course)  throughout 
the year , via the WTO  e-Learning Platform (https://wtolearning.csod.com ). This course aims to 
enable government officials from around the world to learn, through an interactive tool, about the 
basic provisions and principles of the SPS Agreement, the work of the SPS Committee and 
the SPS disputes b rought to the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism. During the entire course, 
participants receive personal tutoring from an assigned staff member of the WTO Secretariat who is 
responsible for clarifying and responding to any SPS -related question.  
7.  In addition  to the existing e -Learning Course on the SPS Agreement (available in French and in 
Spanish), the WTO e -Learning platform offers a set of four new interactive courses on the 
SPS Agreement  in English6 entitled:  
a. SPS Course Series 1  - Overview of the SPS Ag reement and Committee;  
b. SPS Course Series 2 - The SPS Agreement and Science;  
c. SPS Course Series 3 - Trade Facilitating Operational Provisions of the SPS Agreement;  
d. SPS Course Series 4 - Implementation, Administration and Enforcement.7 
8.  Successful completion of the SPS e-Learning Course s (in either of the WTO working languages)8 
is a pre -requisite for participation in other SPS technical assistance activities , such as the 
SPS In-depth  Virtual Course . However, successful completion of the SPS e-Learning Course  does 
not guarantee  selection for SPS -related training events. Government officials who have already 
successfully completed the SPS  e-Learning Course, in any of the available languages, are not 
required to undertake it again.  
9.  While the WTO e-Learning material  can be freely accessed in  the WTO e-Learning Platform by 
the public once registered, eligible  participants can participate in a  monitored course, access the 
module  exams , obtain a WTO certificate  and take part in the interactive activiti es. 
10.  Government officials from developing WTO Members and Observers wishing to register for the 
SPS e-Learning Course must access the WTO e-Learning Platform  (https://wtolearning.csod.com ). 
In order to register f or a course, two forms are to be filled -in and submitted:  
a. Online Registration Form:  available at https://wtolearning.csod.com . This registration 
form needs to be completed online;  
 
5 The primary aim of the PLS is to promote higher levels of learning and to encourage the developme nt 
of participants ' autonomy, with a view to building and sustaining the long -lasting human and institutional capacity 
of beneficiary countries to participate most effectively in the rules -based multilateral training system.  
6 As announced in document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10/Add.2 . 
7 This set of four  new courses are  currently only available in English ; Spanish and French versions are 
forthcoming . 
8 In the case of the English version, this would require completion of the set of four Courses. Please 
note that the content of the set of Courses is equivalent to that of the existing French and Spanish versions.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  b. Nomination Form:  the candidate should be confirmed by the responsible government 
authorities. The Nomination Form is available  in the Platform  
(https://wtolearning.csod.com ) once a participant has registered in the section 
"My Nomination Form " under "My Courses". The completed Nomination Form must be 
uploaded in the Platform ( https://wtolearning.csod.com ) in the same section.  
11.  For further information and instructions about the registration process for the SPS e-Learning 
Course , the WTO e -Learning team  can be contacted at  elearning@wto.org . 
2  NATIONAL SPS SEMINARS  
Level of this activity : 1    3 
12.  WTO developing country Members and Obs ervers are entitled to request national seminars with 
a view to address specific training needs on the SPS Agreement and its implementation. In  this 
regard, the programmes for national seminars are elaborated by the beneficiary country in  
consultation with  the WTO Secretariat. It is possible to address both the SPS and TBT Agreements, 
or the SPS Agreement and the Agreement on Agriculture  or the Trade Facilitation Agreement , in a 
single national seminar.  
13.  National SPS seminars may have a lower (more introductory) or higher (in -depth, advance 
training) level, depending on the training needs identified by the requesting Member, and the level 
of knowledge and experience of the participants. It is also possible  to organize two national activities 
back-to-back for different participants, for example, one at an introductory level and another at an 
advanced level. A national seminar can also be organised in the form of a targeted training on the 
use of SPS online t ools, such as the SPS Notification Submission System (SPS NSS); the 
SPS Committee eAgenda; or the ePing alert system.9  
14.  The Secretariat will aim to tailor the structure and content of these seminars according to each 
specific request and through consultat ions with the beneficiary Member during the preparation phase 
of the seminar. In addition, the Secretariat encourages Members to clearly outline the objectives of 
national seminars in the submitted training requests, in order to allow the Secretariat to re spond 
more effectively to the training needs of Members.  
15.  To request a national seminar on the SPS Agreement, Members and Observers must complete 
and submit a Technical Assistance National Request through the Technical Assistance Management 
System, which is  available through the weblink  https://tamis.wto.org/user/login .10 
16.  The Technical Assistance National Request must be submitted along with an official letter  of 
request  by the  contact point to the WTO (e.g. m ission in Geneva) , addressed to the Director of the 
Institute for Training and Technical Co -operation (ITTC). The request and the official letter should 
be submitted online via the weblink  https://tamis.wto. org/user/login . 
17.  The Secretariat encourages Members and Observers to submit their request s for national 
SPS seminars as early as possible (preferably in the first half of the year) to ensure proper 
coordination and preparation for these activities.11 
3  THEMATIC SPS WORKSHOP  
Level of this activity: 1    3 
18.  The Secretariat will organize a special Thematic SPS Workshop , to be held in Geneva, 
Switzerland.  The workshop will focus on risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.  
The workshop will take place on Monday, 12  July an d Tuesday, 13 July 2021 , immediately prior to 
the SPS informal and regular meetings to be held during the same week.  
 
9 Please see document G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.15/Add.1  for examples  of targeted training sessions.  
10 The system is available in the three WTO working languages, English, French and Spanish. Login 
usernames and passwords are the same as for the WTO website.  
11 While every effort will be made to accommodate the requests of Members and Observers, the 
Secreta riat cannot guarantee that it will have the necessary resources to undertake  all national seminars 
requested during the year.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  19.  The objective of the workshop is to bring together officials responsible for participation in and 
implementation of the SPS Agreement, the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), 
the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), and the World Organisation for Animal Health 
(OIE) for an in depth discussion, on risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.  
20.  The workshop will be open to participation by all delegates from WTO Members and Observers 
attending the SPS Committee meeting in Ju ly 2021, as well as government officials through their 
respective delegations . 
4  REGIONAL SPS WORKSHOPS  
Level of this activity:  1    3 
4.1  Overview  
21.  The WTO Secretariat organizes regional workshops on the SPS Agreement with the purpose of 
making participants fully aware of the WTO SPS Agreement, its implementation, and the possible 
implications at the regional and national levels.  Funding is available through the Doha Development 
Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) for these workshops.  
22.  Regional workshops also serve as an opportunity for government officials working on 
SPS matters in different developing countries to establish contact with their counterparts in ot her 
developing countries of the region, facilitating the exchange of information and the sharing of best 
practices related to the implementation of the SPS Agreement.  
23.  These regional workshops may include r epresentatives from Codex, IPPC and OIE as resource  
persons contributing their knowledge and experience in their areas of expertise. In addition, relevant 
international organizations, international and regional development institutions and organizations, 
as well as other technical assistance organizations and bilateral donors involved in SPS matters, may 
be invited to inform participants of their latest activities.  
4.2  Regional SPS Workshops in 20 21 
24.  In order to  deliver more effective and tailored regional workshops, the WTO Secretariat will be 
working collaboratively with regional organizations  to specifically address SPS-related  training needs 
identified within regions. Using this approach, the WTO Secretariat will schedule  regional 
SPS workshops in 2021 upon request from regional organizations.12 
25.  To request a regional workshop on the SPS Agreement, regional organizations (or a Member in 
conjunction with a regional organization ) must submit an official letter in dicating the purpose and 
expected outcome of the workshop, their expected contribution , as well as  the proposed dates  and 
venue . This formal request should be addressed to the Director of the Institute for Training and 
Technical Co -operation (ITTC)  and sent by e-mail to ittcregionaldesk@wto.org . 
26.  Regional SPS workshops that are requested during the year will be made available on the 
WTO website at http://www.wto.org/sps /ta. Programmes, pre -requisites and selection criteria will 
be defined for each requested activity.  
5  OTHER SPS WORKSHOPS  
27.  The WTO Secretariat will participate in other SPS technical assistance activities at the request 
of other organizations, where possible.  
 
12 While every effort will be made to accommodate the requests of regional organizations , the Secretariat 
cannot guarantee that it will have the necessary resources to undertake  all regional workshops  requested during 
the year.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  6  SPS IN-DEPTH VIRTUAL  COURSE  
Level of this activity: 1    3 
6.1  Overview  
28.  The 2021 SPS In-depth  Virtua l Course will be held in English during September -October 2021.  
29.  The course will be comprised of a series of virtual sessions dedicated to an in -depth analysis of 
aspects related to the implementation of the SPS Agreement and topical SPS issues. In addition , 
participants will engage in group discussions and joint work.  
A number of external experts, including from Codex, IPPC and OIE, will  be invited to participate in 
these sessions.  
6.2  Selection Process  
30.  The Secretariat will select participants for the SPS In-depth Virtual Course. The target audience 
for this course are government officials, in particular those:  
a. holding direct responsibilities in SPS areas, e.g. specialists on food safety, animal health, 
plant protection or officials from a relevant Ministry in charge of coordinating SPS  matters 
and international trade;  
b. possessing a proven advanced level of understanding of the provisions and structure of 
the WTO, and the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement; and  
c. fluent in oral and written English . 
31.  All candidates are required to have successfully completed the WTO SPS e -Learning Course by 
the time of their application. Applications from candidates who have not successfully completed the 
SPS e-Learning Course will not be considered. See Section 1 regardin g enrolment in the e -Learning 
Course.  In addition, candidates must be government officials at the time of applying for the course 
and during the course.  
32.  Candidates will be selected using criteria such as the fulfilment of pre -requisites, prior selection 
of other candidates from the Member, as  well as balance among the selected candidates.  
33.  Government officials from WTO Members and Observers wishing to apply for the SPS In-depth 
Virtual Course must consult the instructions provided in Annex II, and complete and submit the 
online application form available at: https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2021 -wto-
sps-indepth -virtual -course/ . 
34.  The Secretariat will inform Members' and Observers' contact points to the  WTO (e.g. mission in 
Geneva) of the proposed selection of candidates from their government before the final selection.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  ANNEX I  
PROGRESSIVE LEARNING STRATEGY1 
SPS-SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA) ACTIVITIES  
1.  In order to respond to the need for greater coherence and complementarity in WTO capacity -
building, the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) has developed a progressive 
strategy to promote higher leve ls of learning and encourage the development of participants ' 
autonomy . This is with a view to build and sustain the long -lasting human and institutional capacity 
of beneficiary countries  to participate mo re effectively in the rules -based multilateral tra ding system.  
2.  In this regard, two broad categories of participants in WTO capacity -building have been 
identified:  
a. "Generalists"  are government officials who will need a broad knowledge of the WTO to 
conduct their work, such as capital -based officials dealing  with WTO issues or delegates 
posted to Geneva missions with general responsibility for WTO affairs;  
b. "Specialists"  are government officials who will require in -depth knowledge in a specific 
area, such as officials working on a specific issue in a particula r Ministry in their capital 
(for example, those who are dealing with SPS issues).  
3.  Following this strategy, each SPS -specific technical assistance activity has been categorized 
based on a scale of three training levels, ranging from "Level 1" (the least adv anced, introductory 
activities) to "Level 3" (the most advanced, in -depth training activities).  
Progressive Learning Strategy  
Level  SPS-specific TA Activity  
1 and 2  e-Learning Course on the SPS Agreement2 
2 National SPS Seminars3 
2 and 3  Thematic SPS Workshop  
2 and 3  Regional SPS Workshops4 
3 SPS In -depth V irtual Course  
 
 
 
 
1 Additional information on the WTO's progressive learning strategy (PLS) is available in JOB/TC/7.  
2 While an introduction to the SPS Agreement is included in the Level 1 e-Learning  course "Introduction 
to the WTO", the e-Learning "Course  on the SPS Agre ement " is the most introductory -level training available 
specifically on the SPS Agreement.  
3 National SPS seminars may have a lower (more introductory) or higher (in -depth, advance training) 
level, depending on the training needs identified by the requesting Member, and the level of knowledge and 
experience of the participants. The Secretariat will aim to tailor the structure and content of these seminars 
according to each specific request and through consultations with the beneficiary Member during the pre paration 
phase of the seminar.  
4 The training provided in regional SPS workshops will, in general, be more advanced than the training 
given in national SPS seminars, as it will also focus on regional challeng es and coordination matters. 
In determining the level of each regional workshop, the Secretariat will take into account the level of 
implementation of  the SPS Agreement by the participating countries (for instance, through participation in the 
SPS Committee, number of notifications, etc.), as well as the overall level amongst the selected candidates.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.11  
 
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  ANNEX II 
2021 SPS IN-DEPTH VIRTUAL  COURSE  
Title of the 
activity  2021 SPS In-depth Virtual  Course (in English ) 
Dates  September -October 2021  
Venue  Geneva, Switzerland  
Eligible WTO 
Members and 
Observers  WTO least -developed and developing country Members and Observers  
Pre-requisites  Successful completion of the WTO e-Learning Course on the SPS 
Agreement.  
Candidates are required to have successfully completed the WTO SPS 
e-Learning Course  by the time of their application , in any of the WTO 
working languages .1 Applications from candidates who have not 
successfully completed the SPS e-Learning Course will no t be considered. 
The e-Learning Course is available at: https://wtolearning.csod.com . 
Fluent in oral and written English . 
Application  Candidates must fill -in and submit the online application form which is 
available at:  
 
https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2021 -wto-sps-indepth -
virtual-course/  
 
Candidates should complete and submit the online application form by 
Monday, 26 July 2021 .  
 
Incomplete forms or forms sent after the deadline will not be considered.  
Results of the 
selection  Only selected  candidates will be informed about  the results of the selection 
by end August 2021. 
Logistical information will be provided in due course to the selected 
candidates . 
 
__________  
 
 
 
1 In the case of the English version, this would requ ire completion of the set of four Courses. Please 
note that the content of the set of Courses is equivalent to that of the existing French and Spanish versions. 
Government officials who have already successfully completed the SPS e -Learning Course, in any of the 
available languages, are not required to undertake it again.