G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
17 June 2016  
(16-3322) Page: 1/9  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 UPDATE ON THE OPERATION OF THE STANDARDS AND 
TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  OVERVIEW 
1.1.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a global partnership that supports 
developing countries to implement international food safety, animal and plant health standards, 
guidelines and recommendations to gain and maintain access to markets. More specifically, the 
STDF raises awareness on the importance of enhancing SPS capacity, mobilizes additional resources and strengthens collaboration between providers of SPS assistance. The STDF also 
provides support and funding for the development and implementation of projects that promote 
compliance with international SPS requirements. 
1.2.  The STDF was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 
(FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Other organizations involved in 
SPS-related technical cooperation, donors contribu ting funds to the STDF and developing country 
experts also participate actively in the Facility's  work. The Secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and the International Plant Protec tion Convention (IPPC) also participate. 
1.3.  Delegates who would like to receive more information on the STDF are invited to visit the 
STDF website and subscribe to the STDF electronic mailing list.
2 The next STDF Working Group 
meeting will be held on 20-21 October 2016. 
2  NEW STDF FILM "COCOA: A SWEET VALUE CHAIN" 
2.1.  The STDF has produced a new film entitled " Cocoa: a sweet value chain ".3 The film follows 
the journey of the cocoa bean from a tropical plantation to one of the world's most loved products, 
chocolate. The film highlights how in today's global value chain, SPS capacity helps to make sure 
that cocoa plants are free from pests and diseases and that chocolate is safe for consumers. Moreover, the film draws attention to the various actors who play a role in in keeping the cocoa 
value chain safe, from the small-holder farmers in West Africa to the chocolate manufacturers in 
Europe. The film recently premiered at the Wold Cocoa Conference in the Dominican Republic and 
is now available for screenings and training sessions. 
3  SPICING UP DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE - JOINT STDF/UNIDO INFORMATION 
SESSION, 21 JUNE 2016 
3.1.  The STDF in collaboration with UNIDO is organizing an information session
4 on 21 June 
2016  at WTO headquarters in Geneva. The session will focus on a joint STDF/UNIDO project in Sri 
Lanka entitled "Enhancing the compliance and prod uctive capacities and competitiveness of the 
cinnamon value chain in Sri Lanka".5 Delegates are welcome to attend the session to find out how 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to thei r rights and obligations under the WTO. 
2 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/ . 
3 See: http://standardsfacility.org/video-gallery. 
4 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/STDF_UNIDO_Cinnamon_event . 
5 For more information on the STDF/UNIDO project see: http://www.standardsfacility.org/PG-343 . G/SPS/GEN/1497 
 
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  SPS requirements triggered a transformational ch ange in Sri Lanka's cinnamon sector and how 
registration of a Geographical Indication for Ceylon Cinnamon sparked a solid public-private 
partnership. Based on the Sri Lankan experience , the session will explore approaches which can 
leverage thematic assistance to foster integrated value chain development. 
4  SEMINAR ON ELECTRONIC SPS CERTIFICATION, 28 JUNE 2016 
4.1.  The STDF will organize a seminar on Electronic SPS Certification on Tuesday 28 June 2016 at 
WTO headquarters in Geneva. The overall objective of the seminar is to share information and 
experiences about the use of electronic certific ation (e-Cert) in the SPS area, identify key 
challenges and opportunities for developing countries and consider possible avenues to support the transition from paper based to automated SPS cross-border trade procedures. A provisional 
programme for the seminar is available on the STDF website.
6 
4.2.  Due to limited seating capacity, participation in the seminar is subject to prior registration. 
Participants will be registered on first come first served basis until maximum capacity is reached. To register and access more information on the Seminar, please visit the STDF website.
7 A full 
podcast of the Seminar (including links and video recording of presentations made by speakers) 
will be posted on the STDF website after the seminar. 
5  STDF 2015 ANNUAL REPORT PUBLISHED "ENHANCING SPS CAPACITY, DELIVERING 
RESULTS" 
5.1.  The STDF published online its annual report for 2015.8 The Report provides a succinct 
overview of how the STDF's global partnership delivered results in 2015 to support SPS capacity building to help developing countries gain and maintain access to markets. Results were achieved 
thanks to the strong support of STDF partners  (FAO, OIE, World Bank, WHO and WTO), the IPPC 
and Codex Secretariats; 11 donors who contributed US$4.7 million in 2015; six developing country experts, and observer organizations (including the African Union, CABI, IICA, IDB, ITC, OECD, 
OIRSA, UNIDO, UNCTAD), as well  as a wide global network. 
6  PRIORTIZING SPS INVESTMENTS FOR MARKET ACCESS 6.1.  The STDF user guide "Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access (P-IMA): A framework 
to inform and improve SPS decision-making processe s" was published in March 2016. To date, this 
framework has been used to prioritize SPS investment options in 10 developing countries (Belize, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia) that 
differ considerably in the scale and diversity of their food and agricultural exports, and the range 
and magnitude of SPS capacity-building needs. Th e experiences highlight several benefits of the 
P-IMA framework, for instance to facilitate pub lic-private dialogue on SPS matters, increase 
political awareness about the benefits of strength ening SPS capacity, inform and improve national 
SPS planning and decision-making processes, su pport project design and leverage additional 
funding resources. 
6.2.  The STDF organized an information session  on the P-IMA framework on the margins of the 
SPS Committee in March 2016.The objective of the information session was to briefly present the 
new P-IMA user Guide and share experiences from selected countries that have used this approach. Presentations made at the informatio n session are available on the STDF website, 
together with the P-IMA user guide and a briefing note.
9 
7  JOINT EIF/STDF ANALYSIS ON SPS ISSUES IN DTIS STUDIES 
7.1.  The STDF and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Secretariats10 have undertaken a 
joint study that analyses the coverage of SPS issues in EIF Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies 
                                               
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/Provision_programme_290516.pdf . 
7 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/STDF-eCert-Seminar . 
8 See: http://standardsfacility.o rg/sites/default/files/STD F_Annual_Report_2015_FINAL.pdf . 
9 Idem. 
10 The EIF is a trade capacity building programm e for Least Developed Coun tries (LDCs). For more 
information, see: http://www.enhancedif.org/en/about/how-does-it-work . G/SPS/GEN/1497 
 
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  (DTIS)11 and identifies good practice for future studies and their implementation. The study 
highlights good practices and makes several practical and strategic recommendations to improve the analysis on SPS issues in the DTIS process, enhance capacity to implement SPS-related actions and to promote synergies between EIF and STDF-related processes. This includes 
recommendations to make better use of relevant  SPS-related evaluations including food safety 
assessment tools, and to consider ways to engage international organizations involved in SPS capacity building (such as the FAO) in EIF processes. An EIF/STDF briefing note, highlighting the 
scope, findings and recommendations of this joint work is available on the STDF website.
12 The 
study will be made available shortly on the STDF website. 
8  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 8.1.  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 technically sound and sustainable project proposals. PPGS can be reques ted 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 pr oposals in terms of costs and benefits; and 
(iii) develop project proposals for funding by donors or the STDF. 
8.2.  A total of 74 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.
13 The STDF 
Working Group may approve additional PPGs for f unding at its next meeting on 20-21 October 
2016. 
9  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 
9.1.  Project grant financing up to a maximum of US$1,000,000 is available from the STDF. 
Favourable consideration is given to projects that: (i) identify, develop and dissemination good 
practice 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. 
9.2.  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. 
9.3.  A total of 75 projects  have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on-going and completed PGs is available on the STDF website.
14 The STDF Working Group may 
approve additional projects for funding at its next meeting on 20-21 October 2016, depending on 
the resources available in the STDF trust fund. 
9.4.  Annex 1 provides an overview of on-going STDF projects and PPGs. Since its inception, the 
STDF has devoted 64% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and other low income countries 
(OLICs), as shown below in Figure 1. Hence, the STDF continues meeting its target to devote at 
least 40% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs. In particular the allocation of PPG 
resources to LDCs and OLICs remains high (i.e. 78% of the overall budget for PPGs). 
                                               
11 The DTIS is a cornerstone of the EIF in LDCs to mainstream and integrate trade into national 
development plans. The DTIS sets the basis for all su bsequent interventions and establishes pr iorities to 
increase exports from LDCs. 
12 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Briefing_no12_EN.pdf . 
13 See: http://www.standardsfacility. org/projectpreparationgrants . 
14 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . G/SPS/GEN/1497 
 
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  Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$) Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number) 
              
 
9.5.  Figure 2 above indicates that 50% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 21% to Asia, and 17% to Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, 
11% of STDF projects and PPGs can be classified as global. 
9.6.  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 in order to be considered at that meeting. The next deadline for the submission of applications is 19 July 2016 . Further 
information on eligibility criteria, application forms, etc. is available on the STDF website. 
Recommended steps to follow when seeking PG or PPG funding opportunities with the STDF: 
1. Browse our PPG http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  and PG 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  webpages for examples of previous 
projects. 
2. Carefully read our guidan ce note for applicants: 
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/f iles/STDFGuidanceNote_E nglish_FINAL_2015.pdf  
3. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region. 
4. Send us a brief concept note of your potential project for feedback on eligibility and 
likelihood of funding ( STDFSecretariat@wto.org ). 
5. Fill out an application form ( http://www.standardsfacility.org/application-forms ) and 
submit it electronically before the deadline. 
 
  G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
- 5 - ANNEX 1 
OVERVIEW OF ONGOING STDF PROJECTS  AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS 
PROJECTS 
Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/242 Strategy to  strengthen the SPS 
system in Comoros Comoros  United Nations Development 
Programme (UNDP) 17-Sep-12 16-Sep-16 $1,033,673 
STDF/PG/303 Regional Total Diet Study for Sub-
Saharan Africa Benin, Cameroon, 
Nigeria, Mali Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO) 01-Apr-14 31-Mar-17 $1,063,708 
STDF/PG/316 Strengthening phytosanitary 
inspection and diagnostic services in Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO) 01-Sep-14 28-Feb-17 $1,000,000 
STDF/PG/321 Building trade capacity of small-
scale shrimp and prawn farmers in 
Bangladesh  Bangladesh Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO) 01-Apr-12 30-Jun-16 $568,750 
STDF/PG/337 ASEAN Pesticide Residue Data 
Generation Project ASEAN member states Associ ation of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN) 01-Dec-12 30-Nov-16 $607,000 
STDF/PG/343 Competency development scheme 
for the cinnamon sector in Sri 
Lanka Sri Lanka United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO) 01-Jul-12 30-Apr-16 $630,000 
STDF/PG/344 Establishment of a Regional Virtual 
Food Inspection School in Central America and Dominican Republic Central America, 
Dominican Republic Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) 01-Jul-12 30-Jun-16 $905,225 
STDF/PG/345 Feed and Food Security Programme 
for Latin America and the 
Caribbean Argentina, Brazil, Chile, 
Costa Rica, Mexico, 
Paraguay, Peru, 
Uruguay Asociación de las Industrias de 
Alimentación Animal de América 
Latina y Caribe (FEEDLATINA) 15-Feb-14 14-Feb-17 $991,100 
STDF/PG/346 Breaking barriers, facilitating trade 
in COMESA member states COMESA members Common Market for Eastern and 
Southern Africa (COMESA) 01-Nov-14 31-Oct-17 $902,690 
STDF/PG/354 Improving Safety and Quality of 
Fruits and Vegetables in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka International Trade Centre (ITC) 01-Mar-13 31-May-16 $562,484 
STDF/PG/359 African Pesticide Residue Data 
Generation Project Benin, Cameroon, 
Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia African Union Inter-African Bureau 
for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) 01-May-13 30-Apr-17 $446,150  
  G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
- 6 - Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/381 CocoaSafe: SPS capacity building 
and knowledge sharing for the 
cocoa sector in South East Asia  Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Papua New Guinea  International Cocoa Organization 
(ICCO) 01-Nov-13 30-Apr-16 $604,491 
STDF/PG/401 Training of Phytosanitary Capacity 
Evaluation (PCE) Facilitators Developing countries International Plant Protection 
Convention (FAO-IPPC) 01-Apr-14 30-Sep-16 $655,436 
STDF/PG/432 Demonstrating the impact on trade 
and regional plant protection of 
streamlined information systems 
for pest surveillan ce and reporting 
(Asia/Pacific countries) Asia Pacific countries Australia Department  of Agriculture 
and Water Resources (DAWR) TBD TBD $997,595 
STDF/PG/436 Strengthening regional capacity in 
Latin America to meet pesticides export requirements Bolivia, Plurinational 
State of; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Guatemala; Honduras; Nicaragua; Panama; Peru Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) 01-Oct-13 30-Sep-16 $346,450 
STDF/PG/460 Implementation of ISPM 15 Botswana, Cameroon, 
Kenya, Mozambique International Institute of Social 
Studies (ISS) - Erasmus University of 
Rotterdam 01-Feb-15 31-Jan-17 $285,159 
STDF/PG/486 Improving food safety and 
compliance with SPS measures to increase export revenues in the oilseeds value chain in Myanmar Myanmar International Trade Centre (ITC) 17-Aug-15 16-Aug-18 $736,671 
STDF/PG/489 Technical assistance on SPS and 
the value-chain, to improve market 
access for small-scale / artisanal 
fisheries in West Africa Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, 
Mauritania, Senegal United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO) 01-Sep-15 31-Aug-17 $910,714 
STDF/PG/495 Accreditation of laboratory 
diagnostic tests for animal diseases in OIRSA member countries Belize, Costa Rica, 
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Panama Organismo Internacional Regional de 
Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA) 01-Mar-16 28-Feb-19 $793,300 
STDF/PG/502 Regional Strengthening for the 
Implementation of Phytosanitary 
Measures and Market Access in 
COSAVE member countries Argentina; Bolivia, 
Plurinational State of; 
Brazil; Chile; 
Paraguay; Peru; 
Uruguay Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) 01-Nov-15 31-Oct-18 $985,700  
  G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
- 7 - Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/504 Global electronic trade facilitation: 
Enhancing safe trade in plants and 
plant products through innovation (e-phyto)  Global International Plant Protection 
Convention (FAO-IPPC) TBD TBD $1,000,000 
STDF/PG/515 Honey Chain Traceability in 
Guatemala Guatemala Directorate for Food Safety - Ministry 
of Agriculture, Livestock and Food 
(MAGA) of Guatemala 15-Dec-15 14-Dec-17 $45,400 
  
  G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
- 8 - PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGs) 
Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
STDF/PPG/375 Development of a project for the 
establishment of a National SPS Strategy in Togo Togo Antoine Nguz 15-Jun-16 15-Dec-16 $38,000 
STDF/PPG/379 Promoting the effective 
participation of SADC member 
states in the WTO SPS Committee SADC member states Kevin Walker (consultant) 15-Jul-13 Upon approval $25,000 
STDF/PPG/392 Integrating SPS in Sierra Leone: A 
whole chain approach to developing the national food safety management system Sierra Leone Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO) 01-Nov-13 Upon approval $39,000 
STDF/PPG/431 Aflatoxin management in chillies in 
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan Agricultural Research 
Council (PARC) 01-May-15 Upon approval $34,000 
STDF/PPG/435 Strengthening SPS compliance of 
sesame production in Sudan for enhanced access to international markets Sudan United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO) 01-Jun-15 Upon approval $50,000 
STDF/PPG/447 Development of a project proposal 
to address SPS capacity needs 
focusing on the national food 
safety system  in Tajikistan Tajikistan International Trade Centre (ITC) 01-Oct-15 30-Sep-16 $40,600 
STDF/PPG/453 Building capacity and facilitating 
enabling mechanisms for harmonizing Aquaculture Certification ASEAN member states Network of Aquaculture Centres in 
Asia Pacific (NACA) 01-Jun-14 Upon approval $48,000 
STDF/PPG/477 Improving sanitary capacity and 
facilitating export of livestock and 
livestock products in Ethiopia Ethiopia Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
Development Sector, Veterinary 
Service Directorate 11-May-15 Upon approval $37,500 
STDF/PPG/481 Strengthening the phytosanitary 
capacity of the ho rticulture sector 
in Zambia Zambia Ruth Frampton (consultant) 01-Nov-15 Upon approval $31,380 
STDF/PPG/516 Cost-Benefit Analysis for 
Establishing a Foot and Mouth 
Disease Free Zone or Compartment 
in Tanzania Tanzania TBD TBD TBD $50,000 
STDF/PPG/517 Capacity Building in Indi an Spices India TB D TBD TBD $35,760  
  G/SPS/GEN/1497  
 
- 9 - Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
STDF/PPG/534 Preparation for a project proposal 
to develop traceability and 
identification of livestock in 
Mongolia Mongolia TBD TBD TBD $49,750 
STDF/PPG/535 Spillover Effects of Export-Oriented 
SPS Technical Assistance on the Domestic Food Safety Situation Global TBD TB D TBD $75,000 
STDF/PPG/539 Development of a project for a 
biosecurity classification system 
and registration for SPS 
Laboratories in Guatemala Guatemala TBD TBD TDB $49,812 
STDF/PPG/550 Feasibility study for establishment 
of a fresh meat producing compartment in Zimbabwe Zimbabwe TBD TBD TBD $48,000 
STDF/PPG/553 Training of champion coffee and 
cocoa farmers in Papua New 
Guinea (PNG) to adopt good 
agriculture practices (GAP) and to 
ensure compliance with SPS 
requirements to enhance trade Papua New Guinea TBD TBD TBD $30,560 
 
 
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