G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
3 March  2022 
(22-1996) Page: 1/8 
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 November  2021.  Delegates are 
encouraged to visit the STDF website2 to view and become  familiar with STDF ac tivities 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 STDF 's work.  
1.2.  The work of the STDF is guided by the STDF Strategy (2020 -2024) , which 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 influ ence and 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 
1.3.  The Secretariat continues to learn, adapt, and actively monitor the implications of the COVID 
pandemic across all STDF's  work streams  and has conducted  a new survey on the impacts of COVID  
on STDF -funded project implementation . The results of this survey  will be released  in March 2022.5 
2  STDF POLICY COMMITTEE  
2.1.  The STDF Policy Committee  (i.e., STDF's highest body), met on 14 October 2021.6 
Members  prioritized c limate change and the environment as topics for future STDF thematic work. 
They also approved minor revisions to the STDF Operational Rules , bringing them up  to date and 
in line with the STDF Strategy.7 
2.2.  The Policy Committee agreed on a transition mechanism that will apply to countries that have 
graduated from Least Developed Country ( LDC) status  to ensur e a smooth graduation process. 
These  countries will continue to benefit from the "10% contribution requ irement for LDCs" for a 
period of three years - after leaving the LDC category.  
3  STDF WORKING GROUP  
3.1.  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 capacit y development more widely . 
At its last meeting on 19-21 October  2021, members approved STDF's Work Plan and budget for 
20228, as well as two new project and four project preparation grants (PPGs) .9 Members elected 
 
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.standardsfa cility.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://www.standardsfacility.org/updates -covid-19. 
6 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/policy -committe e-summary -reports . 
7 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_139rev.5_EN.pdf . 
8 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Work_Plan_2022.pdf . 
9 See for the summary report:  https://www.standardsfacility.org/working -group -documents . G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
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  Mrs Kelly McCormick from the U S Food and Drug Admin istration (FDA)  as chairperson of the 
Working  Group in 2022.  
4  PAST AND PLANNED STDF EVENTS  
4.1.  On 30 November 2021, the STDF organized jointly with the IPPC Secretariat an o utreach event 
on the PCE Facilitators project  (STDF/PG/401 ). Findings and recommendations of the project 
evaluation were shared and discussed to build on the project's results  and further support the PCE's 
use in developing countries.10 
4.2.  On 8 December 2021, the STDF organized jointly with the World Bank/IFC  a webinar on 
"Food Safety Reform: Learning from the Best " to hear from national agencies and international 
organizations on  the role of the public and private sector in designing soluti ons to ensure and 
strengthen food safety.11 
4.3.  A roundtable held on 13 January 2022 jointly organized by the Government of Comoros, 
the WTO and the STDF , brought together government officials and development partners to discuss 
technical assistance and capaci ty building needs relat ed to Comoros'  accession to the WTO . Donors 
and partners were encouraged to support Comoros in addressing financing gaps to build up its 
SPS system .12  
4.4.  The following STDF events are being planned :13 
a. 21 March 2022 : webinar  organized jointly with France and Canada to celebrat e the 
"Journée Internationale de la Francophonie ", highlighting projects in Burkina Faso 
(STDF/PG/566 ) and Cameroon ( STDF/PG/593 ) to strengthen their SPS capacity for market 
access . 
b. 27 April 2022 : webinar  organized jointly with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation on 
SPS electronic certification , as part of UNC TAD's E -commerce week.14 
c. 2-6 May 2002 : series of short webinars  organized jointly with STDF partners on climate 
change and SPS risks . Three webinars will be dedicated to climate change and food safety, 
animal health and plant health, respectively . The last  webinar will be a  panel session , 
aiming to identify  common challenges and recommendations for future work in this area.  
5  STDF KNOWLEDGE WORK  
5.1.  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, 
set up in 2020, that bring together stakeholders for in -depth discussion s on topics that cut across 
the areas of food safety, animal and plant health, and trade.  
5.1  Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access: P -IMA 
5.2.  The P-IMA framework is an evidence -based approach to help inform and improve SPS planning 
and decision making , and mobilize public, private and/or donor resources for SPS investments. 
The framework is being applied in several developing countries through project and project 
preparation grants ( see Annex 1). The Secretariat hosted a P -IMA practitioner group on 
15 December 2021 , where the main learnings, opportunities, and next steps regarding the 
 
10 See: https://www.s tandardsfacility.org/joint -stdfippc -outreach -event -pce-facilitators -project . 
11 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/food -safety -reform -learning -best. 
12 See: WTO | 2022 News items - Comoros discusses accession, post -accession technical assistance with 
development partners . 
13 More information on how to register will be available on STDF's website soon: 
https://www.standardsfacility .org/events . 
14 See: https://unctad.org/eweek2022 . G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
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  application of P -IMA in East Africa , under the STDF -funded project STDF/PG/606 , were presented. 
A summary  report of t his meeting can be found on the P -IMA Practitioner Group webpage.15 
5.3.  Delegates who would like to know more about, or benefit from , the P-IMA framework can visit 
the STDF website16 or contact Ms Roshan Khan (roshan.khan@wto.org ) in the STDF  Secretariat.  
5.2  Public Private Partnership (PPP)  
5.4.  The Secretariat has published examples of PPPs that strengthen food safety, animal health 
and/or plant health capacity and facilitate tr ade on a dedicated PPPs webpage  17. These include PPPs 
related to  boosting exports of table grapes from 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. SPS  delegates are encouraged to 
share other PPP examples via the survey ( available in English, French and Spanish) on the website.  
The next PPP practitioner group will be convened on 8 March 2022,  where STDF partners and 
developing country experts will share some of their successful PPP stories .18 
5.5.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's PPP work can visit the STDF website19 
or contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
5.3  Good Regulatory Practice  (GRP)  
5.6.  STDF's GRP work aims to provide guidance to ensure that SPS  measures are "fit for purpose" 
and a void the creation of non -tariff barriers. In November 2021, STDF published  "Good regulatory 
practices to improve SPS measures: A practical guide".20 Targeted at SPS regulators in developing 
countries, the Guide offers support to use GRPs to improve SPS mea sures 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 resources are limited), examples of how GRPs are being used in 
different countries, and links to ava ilable resources on GRPs published by STDF partners and others.  
The Guide was presented to SPS delegates during a side event on 3 November 2021, and the 
recording is available on the STDF website  21. French and Spanish versions of the Guide are being 
finalized, and further outreach and training sessions are planned in 2022 . 
5.7.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's GRP work can visit the STDF website22 
or contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
5.4  Electronic SPS certification  (eCert)  
5.8.  The STDF promote s and support s the transition to paperless SPS systems  in developing 
countries . The Secretariat regularly hosts SPS e -Cert Practitioner Group meetings to identify 
opportunities for collaboration, promote synergies and disseminate good practices.23 The fifth 
meeting of the Electronic Certification Advisory Committee (ECAC) was held on 23 November 2021 
and included a presentation by C odex on its draft guidance document on  Paperless Use of Electronic 
Certificates. A summary report of this meeting can be  found on ECAC webpage.24 
5.9.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's work on SPS e -Cert can visit the 
STDF  website25 or contact Mr Simon Padilla in the STDF Secretariat ( simon.padilla@wto.org ). 
 
15 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_P -
IMA_practitioner_group_summary_15Dec2021.pdf . 
16 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/prioritizing -sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
17 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/public -private -partnership -ppp-case-stories . 
18 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -public -private -partnerships -ppps-practitioner -group . 
19 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/public -private -partnerships . 
20 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_GRP_Guide _EN.pdf . 
21 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -guide -good-regulatory -practices -improve -sps-measures . 
22 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/good -regulatory -practice . 
23 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sps -ecac. 
24 See: Summary_ECAC_5th_Virtual_Meeting_Nov -21_Final.pdf (standardsfacility.org)  . 
25 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/SPS -eCert . G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
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  6  STDF FUNDING MECHANISM  
6.1.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 65%  of its 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 number 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 overview of on -going projects and PPGs and beneficiaries is provided in Annex 1 . 
6.1  Project developmen t 
6.2.  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 an d 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 project development to assess the potential impact and 
economic via bility of proposals in terms of costs and benefits; and (iii) develop project proposals for 
funding by donors and/or the STDF.  
6.3.  A total of 117 PPGs  have been approved by the STDF since  its inception. Information on all 
on-going and completed PPGs is availab le on the STDF website.26 
6.2  Project implementation  
6.4.  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 co operation, including the development and application of innovative and 
replicable approaches; (ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constraints; and/or 
(iii) implement collaborative 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 other existing assets).  
6.5.  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.27 A selection of completed 
STDF projects is subject to an independent ex -post evaluation  according to the STDF  evaluat ion 
guidelines .28 
6.3  How to apply for funding?  
6.6.  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.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote2021_EN.docx  
 
26 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . 
27 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . 
28 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_214_Evaluation_Gui delines_2021_Final.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
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  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_applica tion 
• PGs: https://wto.formstack.com/forms/pg_application  G/SPS/GEN/1994  
 
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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  
Afghanistan  STDF/PPG/669  Promoting compliance with international SPS requirements in 
food of animal origin and feed for food-producing animals  
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  
Egypt  STDF/PPG/720  Assessing the establishment of a HPAI Free Compartment  
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 capacity building to support fish exports  
Sri Lanka  STDF/PPG/721  Strengthening food safety and quality compliance in sp ices 
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 phytosanitary 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/1994  
 
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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, 
Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, 
South Sudan, Tanzania, 
Uganda, Zambia , Zimbabwe  STDF/PPG/809  Regional approach towards addressing invasive 
quarantine pests of potato in East and Souther n 
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 accredited mobile 
laboratory for food safety testing in the SADC region  
Mali, Senegal  STDF/PG/665  Piloting the use of voluntary Third -Party Assurance 
(TPA) Progra mme 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 fr uit 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 ch ain 
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic 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/1994  
 
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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 in spection 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/503  Rolling out a system approach globally  
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  
__________