G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
12 October  2016 
(16-5487) Page: 1/7 
Committee on S anitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
UPDATE ON THE  OPERATION OF THE STA NDARDS AND  
TRADE DEVELOPMENT FA CILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
1  OVERVIEW  
1.1.  The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF ) supports developing countries in  
building capacity to implement international food safety, animal and plant health standards, 
guidelines and recommendations and gain and maintain access to markets. More specifically, the 
STDF raises awareness on the importance of enhancing  SPS capacity 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 i nternational SPS 
standards and requirements.  
1.2.  The STDF is a partnership established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U nited 
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 contributing funds to  the STDF and developing country 
experts participate actively in the Facility's work. The Secretariats of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and the International Plant Protection Conv ention (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 lis t.2 The next STDF Working Group 
meeting will be he ld on 20-21 October  2016 . 
2  STDF SEMINAR ON ELECTRONI C SPS CERTIFICATION  - JUNE 2016  
2.1.  The STDF  seminar on 28 June 2016 brought together over 150 participants from 
WTO Members, international organizations and global business. Speakers shared the latest 
knowledge and good practice on automated systems operating worldwide and their impact on 
facilitating t rade by cutting time and costs.  Electronic SPS certification can contribute t o faster 
movement of food and agricultural products and to reduced  transaction costs.  It can do this 
through improving compliance with regulations and policies, reducing errors an d fraud, supporting 
risk management and enhancing trust among partners.  Processes, institutions and legislation need 
to be in place  to support the transition  from paper  to electronic certification systems . 
2.2.  A podcast of the  seminar , as well copies of the presentations, are available on the 
STDF  website .3 A short background paper will be issued by the end of this year to provide 
clarification on terminology and an overview of electronic systems currently available in the areas 
of food safety, animal and pla nt health.  
                                                
1 This doc ument 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.or g/. 
3 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/STDF -eCert -Seminar . G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
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  3  JOINT EIF/STDF ANALY SIS ON SPS ISSUES IN  DTIS STUDIES  
3.1.  The STDF and the Enhanced Integra ted Framework (EIF) Secretariat4 have undertaken a 
joint study that analyses the coverage of SPS issues in EIF Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies 
(DTIS)5 and identifies good practice for future studies and their implementation. The  study 
highlights good practice  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 capacity evaluation tools  and to 
consider ways to actively engage SPS agencies and ministries at natio nal level as well as 
international organizations (such as FAO) in the DTIS proce ss. An EIF/STDF briefing note, 
highli ghting  the scope, findings and recommendations of this joint work is available on the EIF and 
STDF website s.6 The study will be made availa ble in November 2016  on the EIF and STDF 
website s. 
4  PRIOR ITIZING SPS INVESTMEN TS FOR MARKET ACCESS  (P-IMA)  
4.1.  In 2016, t he STDF published the user guide "Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access 
(P-IMA): A framework to inform and improve SPS decision -making processes". An information 
session on P -IMA was organized for SPS delegates on the margin s of the SPS Committee in 
March  2016, which generated a lot of interest. To date, this framework has been used to prioritize 
SPS investment options in ten developi ng countries that differ considerably in the scale and 
diversity of their food and agricultural exports, and the range and magnitude of SPS capacity -
building needs.7 The experiences hi ghlight several benefits , for instance to facilitate public -private 
dialogue on SPS matters, increase political awareness about th e benefits of strengthening 
SPS capacity, inform and improve national SPS planning and decision -making processes, support 
project design and leverage additional funding resources.  
4.2.  The P-IMA user gui de, as well as a short briefing note , is available  for download  on the 
STDF  website .8 Delegates from developing countries who would like to have more information on 
how to use and benefit from the P -IMA framework are encouraged to contact the Secretari at. 
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 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 v iability of proposals  in terms of costs and benefits; and  
(iii) develop project proposals for  funding by donors or the STDF.  
5.2.  A total of 74 PPGs  have been approved and funded by the STDF since its inception. 
Information on on -going and completed PPGs is ava ilable on the STDF website.9 The STDF Working 
Group may  approve additional PPGs for funding at its next meeting on 20-21 October  2016. 
6  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATI ON 
6.1.  Project grant financing up to a maximum of US$1,000,000 is available from the STDF. 
Favourable con sideration 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 add ress S PS constraints; 
                                                
4 The EIF is a trade capacity building programme for Least Developed Countries ( LDCs). For more 
information, see: http://www.enhancedif.org/en/about/how -does-it-work. 
5 The DTIS is the  cornerstone of the EIF in LDCs to mainstream and integrate  trade into national 
development plans. The DTIS sets the basis for all subsequent interventions and establishes priorities to 
increase exports from LDCs . 
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Briefing_no 12_EN.pdf . 
7 Belize, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Uganda, Viet  Nam and Zambia.  
8 See http://www.standardsfacility.org/prioritizi ng-sps-investments -market -access -p-ima. 
9 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
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  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 s taff time, use of premises, veh icles or other existing 
assets.  
6.3.  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.10 The STDF Working Group may 
approve a dditional projects for funding at its next meeting on 20-21 October  2016, depending  on 
the resources available in the STDF trust fund.  
6.4.  Annex 1  provides an overview of on -going STDF projects and PPGs . Since its in ception, the 
STDF has devoted 64% of its pro ject and PPG resource s to LDCs and other low income countries 
(OLICs) , as shown below in Figure 1. Hence, t he 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 LDC s and OLICs remains high (i.e. 78% of the overall budget for PPGs).  
Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$)  Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number)  
              
 
6.5.  Figure 2 above indica tes that 5 0% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs ha s gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 21 % to Asia, and 17 % to Latin America an d the  Caribbean.  In addit ion, 
11% of STDF projects and PPGs can be classified as global.  
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 in order to be considered at that 
meeting. The next deadline for the submission of applications is 26 December  2016 . Further 
information on el igibility criteria , application forms, etc. is available o n the ST DF 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 guidance note f or applicants:  
http://standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote_English_FINAL_2015.pdf  
3. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/r egion.  
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.  
                                                
10 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . 
 
  G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
- 4 - ANNEX 1  
OVERVIEW OF ONGOING STDF PROJECTS  AND PROJECT PREPARAT ION 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 15-Mar-17 $1,033,673  
STDF/PG/303  Regional Total Diet Study for Sub -
Saharan Afr ica Benin, Cameroon, Mali, 
Nigeria  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 Organi zation 
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 
(awai ting final 
project report)  $568,750  
STDF/PG/337  ASEAN Pesticide Residue Data 
Generation Project  ASEAN member states  Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN)  01-Dec-12 30-Nov-16 $607,000  
STDF/PG/343  Competency development scheme 
for the cinnamon sec tor in Sri 
Lanka  Sri Lanka  United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO)  01-Jul-12 30-Sep -16 
 $630,000  
STDF/PG/344  Establishment of a Regional Virtual 
Food Inspection School in Central 
America and Dominican Republic  Central America, 
Dominica n Republic  Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)  01-Jul-12 30-Jun-16 
(awaiting final 
project report)  $905,225  
STDF/PG/345  Feed and Food Security Programme 
for Latin America and the 
Caribbean  Argentina, Brazil, Chile, 
Costa Rica, M exico, 
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 30-June-16 
(awaiting final 
project report)  $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  
STDF/PG/381  CocoaSafe: SPS capacity building 
and knowledge sharing for the 
cocoa sector in South East Asia  Indone sia, Malaysia, 
Papua New Guinea  International Cocoa Organization 
(ICCO)  01-Nov-13 30-Apr-16 
(awaiting final 
project report)  $604,491   
  G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
- 5 - Ref. No.  Title Beneficiary  Implementing  entity  Start Date  End Date  STDF 
Contribution 
(US$)  
STDF/PG/401  Training of Phytosanita ry 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 surveillance 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 req uirements  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 Wes t 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, Cos ta 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 
Measur es 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  
STDF/PG/504  Global electronic tr ade 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 Fo od Safety - 
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
and Food (MAGA) of Guatemala  15-Dec-15 14-Dec-17 $45,400   
  G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
- 6 - 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  (consult ant) 15-Jul-13 Upon approval  $25,000  
STDF/PPG/392  Integrating SPS in Sierra Leone: A 
whole chain approach to 
developing the nation al food safety 
management system  Sierra Leone  Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO)  01-Nov-13 Upon ap proval  $39,000  
STDF/PPG/431  Aflatoxin management in chillies in 
Pakistan  Pakistan  Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO)  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 syste m  in Tajikistan  Tajikistan  International Trade Centre (ITC)  01-Oct-15 Upon approval  $40,600  
STDF/PPG/453  Building capacity and facilitating 
enabling mechanisms for 
harmonizing Aquaculture 
Certification  ASEAN member states  Network of Aquaculture Centres i n 
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 Direc torate  11-May-15 Upon approval  $37,500  
STDF/PPG/481  Strengthening the phytosanitary 
capacity of the horticulture 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 07-Sep-16 31-Mar-17 $50,000  
STDF/PPG/517  Capacity Building in Indian Spices  India TBD TBD TBD $35,760   
  G/SPS/GEN/1516  
 
- 7 - 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 
identif ication of livestock in 
Mongolia  Mongolia  TBD 04-Apr-16 31-08-16 $49,750  
STDF/PPG/535  Spillover Effects of Export -Oriented 
SPS Technical Assistance on the 
Domestic Food Safety Situation  Global  TBD TBD 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 16-Sep-16 31-Mar-17 $48,0 00 
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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