G/SPS/GEN/1607  
 
12 February 2018  
(18-0925) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
UPDATE ON THE OPERAT ION OF THE STANDARDS  AND 
TRADE DEVELOPMENT FA CILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
This document provides  a brief update on activities and projects of the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF) since the last meeting of the SPS Committee in November 2017. 
Delegates who would like to know more about the STDF are encouraged to visit the STDF website 
to view the projects and download STDF briefing notes and publica tions.2 Delegates are 
encouraged to subscribe to the STDF mailing lis t (http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
1  GOOD REGULATORY PRAC TICE  
1.1.  The STDF  carried out  a survey to  analyse how Good Regulatory Practice (GRP)3 can be used 
to improve the quality and effectiveness of SPS measur es in developing countries, in order to 
ensure health protection and facilitate safe trade . The purpose was to gather information on if and 
how SPS agencies in developing countries are applying GRPs to strengthen the development, 
implementation and review of SPS measures.  
1.2.  The STDF Secretariat received 118 responses to the survey from officials of government 
ministries/agencies/departments responsible for food safety , animal and plant health in 
64 countries/territories. Preliminary results show  that GRPs (e .g. public consultations, use of 
international standards, etc.) are being used by some countries to support the development of SPS 
measures, albeit with slightly more focus on assessing the risks to health, rather than the 
expected trade impacts. Responses  also suggest that less attention is given to reviewing or 
evaluating whether existing SPS measures are achieving the intended objectives.  
1.3.  The Secretariat is currently further analysing the data collected by sector, region etc. for a 
further discussion at the upcoming STDF Working Group in March 2018. Options for further STDF 
work on this topic are outlined in a background note, which is available on the STDF website, as 
well as the survey and a summary report of the main findings.4 
2  FMD CONTROL:  OPTIONS, CO STS AND BENEFITS  
2.1.  On 1 November 2017 , on the margins of the previous SPS Committee meeting, the STDF 
organized  an Information Session on options, costs and benefits of Foot -and-Mouth Disease (FMD) 
control in the context of li vestock trade. This session pres ented findings of two studies, which were 
conducted in 2017 by the Royal Veterinary College, as part of STDF Project Preparation Grants 
(PPGs) in Tanzania and Zimbabwe:  
 Feasibility of establishing a fresh meat producing compartment in Zimbabwe 
(STDF/PPG/550) ;5 and 
                                                
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 Good regulatory practices are defined as internationally recognized processes, systems, tools and 
methods to improve the quality of regulations and ensure that regulatory outco mes are effective, transparent, 
inclusive and sustained (World Bank, 2015).  
4 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/good -regulatory -practi ce. 
5 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PPG -550. G/SPS/GEN/1607  
 
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   Cost-Benefit Analysis for establishing a Foot and Mouth Disease Free Zone or Compartment 
in Tanzania (STDF/PPG/516) .6 
2.2.  The session  highlighted some of the challenges in setting up disease -free zones in developing 
countries (e.g. limited  border controls and gaps in animal identification and traceability throughout 
supply chains). It emphasized that more resources are needed to help developing countries 
improve their veterinary services to better control FMD and other livestock diseases  to gain market 
access . More information on the session , including the presentations, is available on the STDF 
website.7 
3  STDF RESULTS BOOK  
3.1.  The STDF regularly prepare s and issue s project results stories, highlighting the results and 
impacts of STDF projects worldwide in Africa, Asia and  Latin America .8 The STDF recently 
completed a book, which highlights the results and impact s of a wide range of STDF projects that 
have been implemented over the last decade in the areas of food safety, animal and plant health 
and trade. The results book will be published and available on the STDF website shortly.  
3.2.  As part of its role to share available know -how and SPS -related good practice, the STDF 
regularly issues briefing notes on issues of interest. In 2017, briefing notes w ere issued on: 
(i) how STDF projects are improving the private sector's capacity to implement SPS measures and 
take advantage of trade opportunities9; (ii) SPS e -cert10; and (iii) SPS capacity evaluation tools in 
action.11. In addition, the Secretariat regul arly issues e -news items, most recently on the STDF 
funded e -phyto project, implemented by FAO and IPPC.12 Delegates are encouraged to subscribe 
to the STDF mailing list ( http://www.standardsfacility.org ) to receive regular updates on the STDF.  
3.3.  STDF's YouTube channel includes links to all STDF films such as "Safe Trade Solutions" and 
"Cocoa: a sweet value chain". It now also includes links to many other relevant SPS film material 
including two new videos prese nting: (i) the results and impact of an  STDF -funded project in 
Bangladesh " Building capacity of small -scale shrimp and prawn farmers "; and (ii) " Knowledge 
solutions on how safe wood packaging supports trade ". This film shows how the STDF supported 
four Afr ican countries in complying with international wood packaging standard (ISPM 15).  
4  VIRTUAL LIBRARY  
4.1.  The STDF Virtual Library13 is an online information repository providing quick and easy online 
access to a variety of information resources focused on SPS technical cooperation and capacity 
building. Countries are encouraged to submit relevant documents to the Secretariat 
(STDFSecretariat@wto.org ) for inclusion in the Library including: project documents and final 
reports, training materials, project evaluations/reviews, SPS capacity needs assessments, cost -
benefit analyses, case studie s, relevant research papers and other articles on SPS capacity 
building. The Library complements and includes links to other information systems and databases 
developed and maintained by STDF partners, donors and other organizations.  
5  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT  
5.1.  The STDF provides advice and support to applicants 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 technicall y 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 donors and/or the STDF.  
                                                
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PPG -516. 
7 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/costs -and-benefits -fmd-control -context -livestock -trade . 
8 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/stdf -results -series . 
9 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/partnering -private -sector . 
10 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/going -paperless -sps-e-certification . 
11 See: http:/ /www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Briefing_14.pdf . 
12 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/mailchimp_archive . 
13 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/library . G/SPS/GEN/1607  
 
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  5.2.  A total of 88 PPGs  have been approved and funded by the STDF since its inception. 
Information on on -going and completed PPGs is available on the STDF  website.14 
5.3.  In 2017, the STDF received 29 applications for PPGs. The STDF Working Group approved five 
new PPGs in March 2017 and two new PPGs in October 2017. Depending on financial resources 
available in the STDF trust fund, the STDF Working Group may appr ove additional PPGs for funding 
at its next meeting on 20-21 March 2018 . 
6  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATI ON 
6.1.  Grant financing for projects is also available from the STDF. Favourable consideration is given 
to projects that: (i) identify, develop and dissemination good p ractice 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 collaborative 
approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade.  
6.2.  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.  
6.3.  A total of 85 project s have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on -going and completed projects is available on the STDF website.15 
6.4.  In 2017, the STDF received 25 applications for projects. The STDF Working Group approved 
four new projects in March  2017 and five new projects in October 2017. Depending on financial 
resources available in the STDF trust fund, the STDF Working Group may approve additional 
projects for funding at its next meeting on 20-21 March  2018. 
6.5.  Since its in ception, the STDF has devoted 61 % of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and 
other low income countries (OLICs), as shown below in Figure 1. The STDF continues to meet its 
target to devote at least 40% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs. In particular, 
the all ocation of PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs remains high (i.e. 75% of the overall budget for 
PPGs).  
Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$)  
 
                                                
14 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . 
15 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . Least 
Developed 
Countries  
US$38.8  M  
56 Projects  
67 PPGs  Other 
Developing 
Countries  
US$27.2 M  
29 Projects  
21 PPGs  
Other Low 
Income 
Countries  
US$4.2 M  
6 Projects  
6 PPGs  TOTAL 
FUNDING  
US$ 70.2 G/SPS/GEN/1607  
 
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  Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number)  
 
6.6.  Figure 2 above indicates that 49% of the number of STDF projects and PPG s has gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 24% to Asia -Pacific, and 16% to Lati n America and the Caribbean. 
In addition, 11%  of STDF projects and PPGs are classified as global.  
6.7.  Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be receive d at 
least 60 working days in advance of each Working Group meeting in order to be considered at that 
meeting. The next deadline for the submission of applications is 10 August 2018 . Further 
information on eligibility criteria, application forms, etc. is a vailable on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN SEEKING PG OR PPG FUNDING 
OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE STDF:  
 
1. Browse the webpages for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on: 
 PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/project -preparation -grants    
 PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/project -grants   
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:  
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote _English_FINAL_2015.pdf  
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: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PPGApplicationForm_English_FINAL_2015.doc  
 PGs: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/PGApp licationForm_English_FINAL_2015.doc  
__________  Africa  
49%  Asia -Pacific  
24%  
Latin America 
and the 
Caribbean  
16%  
Other 
Regions  
11%  TOTAL  
173 
Projects