G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
3 March  2023 
(23-1455) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)  is a global partnership that promotes 
improved food safety, animal and plant health capacity in developing countries and helps imports 
and exports to meet SPS requirements for trade, based on international standards. Guided by a 
five-year Strategy (2020 -2024) , it operates as a funding mechanism and global platform for 
dialogue, learning and good practice on SPS capacity development . In 2023, the STDF Working 
Group, which convenes all STDF part ners, donor organizations and beneficiaries from across 
agriculture, health, trade and development , is chaired by Ms Gillian Mylrea from the World 
Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) . 
1.2.  This document provides a brief update on STDF's activities and project s. Delegates are 
encouraged to visit the STDF website  to view and become familiar with STDF activities and projects, 
download STDF briefing notes and other publications, and subscribe to STDF's mailing list  to receive 
regular updates on its work . 
1.3.  On 21 March 2023  (from 3 to 6pm, CET) the STDF will organize a workshop  for SPS delegates, 
as part of the work of Group 5 working on implementation of the MC12 SPS Declaration, in close 
collaboration with the co -stewards (Australia and Ecuador) and other members of this group. 
This event will put a spotlight on selected STDF proj ects and facilitate a discussion on broader lessons 
and experiences. M oving forward , what would Members like to see happen to improve SPS capacity 
at the national and regional level?  To join virtually, delegates are encouraged to register here. 
2  GOOD PRACTICE  
2.1.  The STDF identifies and promotes good practices to improve SPS capacity development 
outcomes  focusing on thematic topics that cut across the are as of food safety, animal and plant 
health, and trade . This work draws on the input of all STDF partners, donor members and 
beneficiaries and aims to influence SPS capacity development work more broadly. Outputs includ e 
user-friendly knowledge products ( briefing notes, publications, short videos , etc.), global and 
regional client -facing events, and the creation of practitioner group s on selected topics.  
2.1  Prioritization of SPS Investments for Market Access (P -IMA)  
2.2.  The STDF promotes an evidence -based approach to inform and improve SPS planning and 
decision making. It has developed a framework , which is being applied in STDF and other projects, 
leading to additional SP S investments and generating market access for specific agri -food products. 
The STDF is currently conducting an external review of this framework to assess how (and to what 
effect) it has delivered results and wider impacts.  
2.2  Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs ) 
2.3.  The STDF promotes GRPs, i.e., processes and tools to help improve the quality and 
effectiveness of SPS measures to protect human, animal, or plant life or health, without creating  
 
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.  G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
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  unnecessary barriers to trade. Using GRPs, such as internal coordination of regulation, stakeholder 
engagement or regulatory impact assessments, improves compliance with the SPS Agreement, 
including greater alignment with international standards. STDF's GRP Guide  (also available in French  
and Spanish ) provides a handbook for using GRPs when designing, developing, and reviewing 
SPS measures, to ensure that they are "fit for purpose".  
2.3  Reducing trade costs  
2.4.  The increasing attention on trade facilitation , as a means to stimulate economic growth and 
competitiveness, is generating a renewed focus on SPS measures, how they are applied to imports, 
exports and transit goods, and the extent to which SPS measures unnecessarily increase the costs 
of doing business. Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which applies to 
all border agencies, is key in this regard.  
2.5.  As part of this agenda, the STDF promotes and supports the transition to paperless 
SPS systems in developing countries, including the use of electronic SPS certificates  (SPS e -cert), 
to improve traceabilit y in SPS supply chains, cut trade times and costs, reduce fraudulent 
certificates, and build trust among trading partners. In 2022, Madagascar  briefed the WTO LDC 
Sub-commit tee on the benefits of ePhyto implementation. An external evaluation of STDF's ePhyto 
project  (STDF/PG/504 ) is currently underway, drawing key findings, recommendations and lessons 
relevant for future wo rk in this area, including in for food safety and veterinary certification.  
2.4  Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)  
2.6.  The STDF promote PPP approaches  in building SPS capacity to leverage ex pertise and resources 
and support longer -term impact and sustainability. The STDF website includes several case stories  
of PPPs to strengthen SPS capacity, including STDF projects. The STDF recently hos ted a webinar 
showcasing experiences in Tanzania  where the Ministry of Agriculture, based on a Memorandum of 
Understanding, has delegated responsibi lity for selected plant health inspection services to 
GreenCert, a subsidiary company under the Tanzania Horticulture Association (TAHA).  
3  FUNDING  
3.1.  The STDF provides funding for the development and implementation of collaborative and 
innovative SPS projects.  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. Of all STDF projects, 48 % has benefited 
Africa, 25% to Asia -Pacific, 1 8% to Latin America -Caribbean, and 9% to other regions (Middle East 
and Europe). 9% of all STDF projects are classified as global, benefiting all developing countries. 
An overview of all on -going project and pr oject preparation grants is provided in Annex 1 . 
3.1  Project development  
3.2.  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 project 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 STDF or other donors. Since its inception, the STDF has approved a total of 124 PPG 
applications.  
3.2  Project implementa tion 
3.3.  The STDF also finances projects that promote compliance with international SPS standards and 
requirements. Preference is given to projects that: (i)  identify, develop and disseminate good 
practice in SPS -related technical cooperation, including the de velopment and application of 
innovative and replicable approaches; (ii) apply regional and cross -cutting approaches to address 
SPS constraints; and (iii) implement collaborative approaches across food safety, animal and plant 
health, and trade. Beneficiari es must contribute to STDF projects from their own resources, either G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
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  in the form of financial or in -kind contributions such as staff time, use of premises, vehicles or other 
existing assets.  Since its inception, the STDF has approved 114 projects applicati ons. 
3.3  How to apply for funding?  
3.4.  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 submissio n of applications is 11 August 2023  (for consideration in 
November 2023) . Further information on the system, eligibility criteria, etc. is available on the STDF 
website . 
RECOMMENDED STEPS  TO APPLY FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STDF  
1. Browse the funding webpage  for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on PPGs and PGs.  
2. View examples of previous projects:  
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  
3. Carefull y read the Guidance Note for Applicants  
4. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region  
5. Send a brief concept note of your potential project for comments to: 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  
4  MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING  
4.1.  The STDF Strategy is accompanied by a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Framework  
to track progress in terms of achieving results, provide feedback on the management of the Facility 
and to distil, learn from and communicate key experiences and lessons across STDF’s work 
programme.   
4.2.  In December 2022, the STDF published a report, which evaluates how (and to what effect) 
gender equality  is addressed and mainstreamed in STDF's work. The report  also draws key findings, 
conclusions and practical recommendations for improving gender mainstreaming in the future. A 
gender action plan is currently being developed to implement the recommendation s.  
4.3.  In 2023, the STDF will initiate a cross -cutting assessment of STDF's work focused on the 
environment (including biodiversity, invasive species and climate change) to learn how to address 
environmental aspects more effectively in STDF projects and SPS c apacity development more 
broadly.  
4.4.   The STDF programme is evaluated every five years. The latest evaluation  was conducted 
in 2018-2019. The next evaluation is scheduled to commence in September 2023 and will be 
structured around the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, 
sustainability, and impact.  G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
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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  
Bangladesh  STDF/PPG/831  Prioritizing SPS Investment in Bangladesh  
Bhutan  STDF/PPG/734  Improved border inspection and control of plant, animal and 
related products for biosecurity and food safety  
Burkina Faso  STDF/PPG/859  Enhancing sesame & cashew nuts exports in Burkina Faso  
Burundi  STDF/PPG/773  SPS needs assessment for private and public actors in the 
Burundian horticultural sector  
Cabo Verde  STDF/PPG/869  Strengthening food safety control capacities in Cabo Verde  
Ecuador  STDF/PPG/709  Applying the P -IMA framework  
Egypt  STDF/PPG/720  Assessing the Establishment of a HPAI Free Compartment in 
Egypt  
Ghana  STDF/PPG/786  Using evidence for aflatoxin control in Ghana 
Grenada  STDF/PG/880  Improving SPS capacity for Soursop exports in Grenada  
Guinea  STDF/PG/498  Strengthening the phytosanitary system  in Guinea  
India STDF/PG/517  Strengthening the spice value chain and improving market 
access  
Indonesia  STDF/PPG/860  Reducing histamines in Pole -and-Line an d Handline caught 
Tuna in Indonesia  
Jamaica  STDF/PG/759  Ensuring food safety capacity of the pepper value chain in 
Jamaica 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  
Nigeria  STDF/PPG/817  Phytosanitary Capacit y Evaluation (PCE) to improve the plant 
health system in Nigeria  
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 in Peru  
Senegal  STDF/PG/672  Meeting sanitary standards to improve the safety of shellfish 
and boost market access  
Sri Lanka  STDF/PPG/721  Strengthening food safety  and quality compliance in select Sri 
Lankan spices  
Uganda  STDF/PG/543  Enhancing the capacity of the fruit and vegetable sector to 
comply with EU phytosanitary requirements  
Uganda  STDF/PPG/847  Sustainably managing aflatoxins in maize using systems 
approach in Uganda  
Uganda  STDF/PPG/846  Comparing post -harvest technologies for Uganda's fresh fruits 
and vegetables to reduce pests  
Zambia  STDF/PPG/789  Building phytosanitary capacity for small -scale cross -border 
traders in Zambia  
 G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
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  2  REGIONAL PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Africa  
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, 
Tanzania, Uganda  STDF/PG/807  Managing scale insects in fresh fruits in East Africa  
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, 
Rwanda, South Sudan, 
Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, 
Zimbabwe  STDF/PG/809  Managing invasive potato pests in Eastern and 
Southern Africa  
Benin, Burkina  Faso, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, 
Guinea  Bissau, Niger, Mali, 
Senegal, Togo  STDF/PPG/770  Assessing the use of digital and it tools for food 
trade facilitation in West Africa 
Botswana, Mozambique, South 
Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, 
Zimbabwe, Kenya  STDF/PG/694  Enhancing trade through regulatory h armonization 
and biopesticide -based residue mitigation in the 
SADC Region  
Cameroon, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Congo, 
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon  STDF/PPG/768  Harmonizing phytosanitary legislation in Central 
Africa  
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, 
South  Africa  STDF/PPG/765  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  assurances 
(vtpas) in West Africa 
Mozambique, South Africa  STDF/PG/567  Fruit fl y free: pest -free and low prevalence areas to 
support fruit production and exports  
Rwanda, Uganda  STDF/PG/842  Piloting a vTPA programme in East Africa to improve 
food safety in horticulture and fisherie s 
SADC member states  STDF/PPG/694  overcoming barriers to trade through regulatory 
harmonization and related research on biopesticides 
in the SADC  Region  
Asia and Pacific  
Bangladesh, India, Iran, Laos 
PDR, Malaysia, Pakistan, 
Philippines, Samoa, Thailand  STDF/PPG/858  
Piloting One Health to manage aflatoxin in Asia  
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  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao 
PDR, Nepal, Philippines, 
Thailand, Viet Nam  STDF/PG/755  Strengthening phytosanitary compliance to boost 
seed trade in the Asia Pacific  
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 
Democratic Republic, 
Philippines, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/7 98 Improving pig biosecurity and African swine fever 
control  
Latin America and Caribbean  
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, 
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic , 
Ecuador, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru  STDF/PG/753  Mitigating pesticide residues in Latin America using 
biopesticide  
Argentina, Colombia, Costa 
Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru  STDF/PG/716  Improving capacity of food safety risk analysis Latin 
America  
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  
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Peru STDF/PG/838  Strengthening regional pest surveillance, monitoring 
on banana farms in the Andean Community  
CARICOM countries  STDF/PPG/733  Piloting the use of the P -IMA framework in the 
CARICOM region  G/SPS/GEN/2102  
 
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  Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
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  
Colombia, Ecuador  STDF/PG/681  Mitigating 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 ) 
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  
__________