G/SPS/GEN/1426  
 
3 July 2015  
(15-3433)  Page: 1/8  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
COMMUNICATION FROM CANADA 
The following communication, received on 30 June 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Canada. 
 
_______________ 
 
 1.  Canada would like to provide an update rega rding the provision of technical assistance from 
January to December 2014
1. Technical assistance has been provided to developing and least 
developed countries in accordance with Article 9 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. The assistance was primarily aimed at facilitating the development and implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures based on sound science. 
The attached table reflects Canadian technical assistance to developing and least developed 
countries in 2014. While every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in the table presents all relevant technical assistance projects, it may not constitute a complete 
compilation of technical assistance delivered given the number of Canadian government 
departments and agencies and the variety of delivery programs involved. 
2.  The monetary value of the technical assistance committed amounted to approximately CDN 
$27.93 million between January and December 2014. It should be noted that, in many cases, the 
organizations providing the assistance also made ad ditional in-kind contributions to these projects. 
3.  Assistance was provided to more than 25 countries – in Africa, Latin America and the 
Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific region . Assistance was directed to both individual 
countries, groups of countries, and to international organizations. 
4.  Canada's assistance addressed three of the four broad categories listed in G/SPS/GEN/206: 
information; training; and "soft" infrastructure development (but not "hard" infrastructure 
development). Assistance from Canada covered most of the "typical areas of competence" listed 
under the headings of food safety, animal health and plant protection, in the Annex of G/SPS/GEN/206. 
5.  Note that in 2014, the fourth installment ( $1 million) of a multi-year, multi-million dollar 
contribution was made by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) on 
behalf of Canada to the Standards and Trade De velopment Facility (STDF). A total of $5 million 
over the period 2011-2014 was provided to the STDF as a financial contribution to the Facility's 
work in the coordination of international SPS activities and SPS capacity building in developing and 
least developed countries. 
6.  In all, 34 projects are listed for the period January to December 2014. 
                                               
1 Canada has provided technical assist ance updates for 2013 (G/SPS/GEN/1342), 2012 
(G/SPS/GEN/1318), 2011 (G/SPS/GEN/1196), 2010 (G/SPS/GEN/1149), 2009 (G/SPS/GEN/1099), 2008 
(G/SPS/GEN/1027), 2007 (G/SPS/GEN/1008), 2005-2006 (G/SPS/GEN/765), 2000-2004 (G/SPS/GEN/728), and for years prior to 2000 (G/SPS/GEN/143/Rev.1/Add.1). G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 2 - 
 
  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY CANADA 
JANUARY 2014 - DECEMBER 2014 
Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Animal 
Health Provision of scientific 
advice on development and validation of tests for bovine tuberculosis. (1 January – 31 December 2014) Information Mexico Jose .Lopez@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health OIE Laboratory Twinning 
Project to transfer 
diagnostic capacity on 
Avian Influenza to 
Colombia 
(1 January – 
31 December 2014)  Training Colombia Andrea.Ellis@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Contribution to the World 
Organization for Animal Health (OIE) World Fund to support the Global Conference on Aquatic Animal Health in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (20–22 January 2014) Training OIE Andrea.Ellis@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Two week training on 
polymerase chain 
reaction (PCR)-based 
diagnostic tests for 
animal disease in Level 3 
laboratory at National 
Centre for Animal 
Disease in Winnipeg 
(10–21 March 2014)  Training Guyana Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Sustainable Livestock 
Production, Health and Environment in the Bolivian Altiplano. Funding to Bolivian Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Proteccion del Medio Ambiente Tarija (PROMETA) for collaborative work with the Tarija Departmental Government and Ministry of Health to support development of the 
camelid sector and 
sustainable livestock practices in the Bolivian Altiplano, addressing, in particular, reducing the high prevalence of Sarcocystosis in llamas (17 March 2014 – 17 September 2017) Funding Bolivia, 
Plurinational State of rbazzani@idrc.ca 
Animal 
Health Two week training on 
Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) 
diagnostic tests in Level 
3 laboratory at National 
Centre for Animal 
Disease in Lethbridge 
(5–16 May 2014) Training Argentina Kingsley.Amoako@inspection.gc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 3 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Animal 
Health Provision of Bovine 
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Proficiency Panel (brain tissue sections) and diagnostic reference materials for BSE testing (7 May 2014) Information  Brazil Kingsley.Amoako@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Provision of Bovine 
Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) 
Proficiency Panel (brain 
homogenates) 
(20 May 2014) Information  Brazil Kingsley.Amoako@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health One week training on 
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) diagnostic tests in Level 3 laboratory at National Centre for Animal Disease in Lethbridge (7–11 July 2014) Training Mexico Kingsley.Amoako@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Study tour to Canada by 
the Technical Advisor 
Animal Feeds, 
Department of 
Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries to gain 
information on 
regulatory modernization 
in animal feeds 
(8–19 September 2014) Training South Africa Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Meeting with Korean 
Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) pathologist on emerging 
trends in Chronic 
Wasting Disease (CWD) diagnosis, transmission and quality assurance (30 September – 3 October 2014) Information Korea, 
Republic of Catherine.Brisson@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Three week training on 
Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy (BSE) 
diagnostic tests in Level 
3 laboratory at National 
Centre for Animal 
Disease in Lethbridge 
(10-31 October 2014) Training Brazil Kingsley.Amoako@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Funding to the 
Agricultural Research Council in South Africa and the University of Alberta in Canada to develop i) multiple single dose vaccines that protects cattle, sheep, and goats from four or 
five main diseases 
(depending on the target region); and ii) a vaccine against African Swine Fever for use by small scale livestock farmers (1 November 2014 – 31 March 2018) Funding South Africa ktiessen@idrc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 4 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Animal 
Health Funding to the Kenyan 
Agricultural and 
Livestock Research 
Organization (KARI) and 
the Vaccine and 
Infectious Disease 
Organization (VIDO) in 
Canada to develop an 
affordable vaccine for 
Contagious bovine 
pleuropneumonia using a 
novel, genomics-based 
approach that is 
effective, safe, and easily 
produced, stored, and 
transported 
(1 December 2014 – 
31 March 2018) Funding Kenya psanginga@idrc.ca 
Animal 
Health Meeting with Small 
Ruminants Project under Canada-Americas Trade Related Technical Assistance (CATRTA) Program and the administration of the Conference Board of Canada to gain information on potential for Canadian exports to improve productivity and product quality in sheep and goats through better genetics (8 December 2014) Information Colombia  Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Provision of diagnostic 
reference materials for 
scrapie testing and 
consultation on 
laboratory quality 
assurance with the 
National Agricultural 
Laboratory of the 
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock and Food 
Supply (MAPA) 
(10 December 2014) Information Brazil Catherine.Brisson@inspection.gc.ca 
Plant 
Health Contribution to the Trust 
Fund of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to assist IPPC member developing countries to enhance their level of effective participation in the development of global phytosanitary standards by the IPPC (31 March 2014) Funding IPPC Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Plant 
Health Presentation via single 
video conference link on 
Canada’s Seed Program 
to Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) Seed 
Project in Dhakar 
(30 April 2014) Information Senegal Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 5 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Plant 
Health Program of information 
on Canadian policy and procedures for the registration of pesticides in Canada to a delegation re presenting 
the National Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA) (21–22 May 2014) Information Brazil  Maha.H ammoud@phac-aspc.gc.ca 
Plant 
Health In-kind contribution 
provided to the 
Secretariat of the IPPC 
as virtual assignment of 
Canadian government 
staff (25% of their time) 
to provide support to the 
Standard Setting Unit 
(1 January 2014 – 
30 June 2014) 
(1 November – 
31 December 2014) Contribution Secretariat 
of the IPPC Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Reducing Biosecurity 
Threats from infectious diseases of pandemic potential. The project is part of an umbrella initiative funded by the Global Partnership Program of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). A key aim of 
this support is to 
strengthen regional capacity to understand, detect, prevent and respond to emerging pandemic threats in Southeast Asia . Specific 
to food safety, one pathogen being considered in this research is Salmonella (28 February 2014 – 31 August 2016) Funding Southeast 
Asia abeeche@idrc.ca 
Food 
Safety Contribution to the Food 
and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) / 
World Health 
Organization (WHO) 
Fund for enhanced 
participation in Codex by 
participants from eligible 
developing countries in 
Codex meetings held 
1 January – 31 March 
2014 
(31 March 2014) Funding All eligible 
developing 
countries in 
Codex Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 6 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Food 
Safety Contribution to the 
Global Food Safety Partnership (GFSP) facilitated by the World Bank towards the delivery of capacity building in food safety regulatory development, food safety systems and laboratory support services in developing countries and emerging economies eligible for GFSP support 
(31 March 2014) Funding Global Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Financial contribution to 
the Inter-American 
Institute for Cooperation 
on Agriculture (IICA) in 
support of the 
participation of the 
countries of Latin 
America and the 
Caribbean (LAC) in the 
meetings of the Codex 
Committee in 2014 
(31 March 2014) Funding Bahamas, 
Barbados, 
Costa Rica, 
Haiti, 
Jamaica, 
Nicaragua, 
Suriname, 
Trinidad 
and Tobago Daryl.Nearing@agr.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Material sent for 
collecting and shipping samples to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratory for Salmonellosis in Guelph, Ontario (1 April 2014 – 31 March 
2015) Information Ethiopia, 
Sudan Anil.nichani@phac-aspc.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Serotyping and 
phagetyping of 
Salmonella samples 
received from developing 
countries 
(1 April 2014 – 31 March 
2015) Information Ethiopia, 
Sudan Anil.nichani@phac-aspc.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Study Tour by the 
Jamaica Exporters’ Association to Canada to meet with organizations and learn of changes or potential changes to importation regulations of foods to Canada (21 May 2014) Information Jamaica Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food 
Safety Study Tour on Import-
Export Entry Point 
Protocols in Canada as a 
capacity building activity 
under Canada-Americas 
Trade-Related Technical 
Assistance (CATRTA) 
program 
(23-27 June 2014) Information Colombia, 
Peru Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 7 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Food 
Safety Funding to University of 
Zimbabwe and Action Contre La Faim to promote storage technologies reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize grain and reducing exposure of humans to these toxins (1 October 2014 – 1 April 2017) Funding Zimbabwe jnjuki@idrc.ca 
Food 
Safety Speaker on Safe Food for 
Canadians Act (SFCA) 
and food regulatory 
modernization provided 
to Regional Workshop on 
an action plan for 
increased food safety 
capacity building in Latin 
America hosted by the 
Inter-American Institute 
for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) in San 
Jose 
(4-5 November 4 2014) Information Chile, 
Colombia, 
Costa Rica, 
Paraguay, 
Peru Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health and Food Safety Contribution to 
Veterinarians Without Borders in support of strengthening animal health leadership and capacity in developing countries in order to develop and influence best management practices in animal health and food 
safety/security affecting 
global markets, and to form partnerships and networks that contribute to a global intelligence system to recognize risks and needs in animal health and food safety/security and associated public health issues (29  October 2014) Funding Global Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health 
and Food 
Safety Dairy Production: 
Connecting Issues and 
Finding Interventions for 
Small-Scale Farming in a 
Southeast Asian Context. 
This research study will 
determine the risk 
effects of current small 
scale dairy farm 
conditions to 
environmental, animal 
and human health using 
an ecohealth approach in 
Cipanas and Warnasari 
districts in Pangalengen, 
West Java, Indonesia 
(1 January 2012 - 
1 October 2016) Funding Indonesia abeeche@idrc.ca G/SPS/GEN/1426 
 
- 8 - 
 
  Sector Description of 
Particular Programme Form of 
Assistance Provided 
to Contact 
Animal 
Health, Plant Health and Food Safety Canada-Indonesia Trade 
and Private Sector Assistance. Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD) funded multi-year program to facilitate trade and investment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project will work with the Indonesian government, private sector 
organizations and trade 
policy experts to address regulatory constraints related to Indonesian SME development and access to markets (14 August 2014 – 31 August 2019)  Capacity 
Building Indonesia Francisca.Indarsiana@international.gc.ca 
 
__________