G/SPS/GEN/1470  
 
25 February 2016  
(16-1160) 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)2 is a global partnership that supports 
developing countries to implement international food safety, animal and plant health standards, 
guidelines and recommendations, and hence to gain and maintain access to markets.  
1.2.  The STDF acts as a coordinating and financing mechanism. As part of its coordination role, 
the STDF increases awareness, identifies and disseminates good practice and strengthens collaboration in SPS capacity building. Sections two to five of this document highlight recent work 
undertaken by the Facility as part of its coordination function. As a financing mechanism, STDF 
provides grants for projects and support to applicants on SPS project development through project preparation grants (PPGs). Information is available in sections six and seven of this document. 
Annex 1 provides a brief overview of on-going STDF projects and PPGs. 
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.
3 The next STDF Working Group 
meeting will be held on 14-15 March 2016. 
2  PRIORITIZING SPS INVESTMENTS FOR MARKET ACCESS - INFORMATION SESSION 2.1.  Developing countries face considerable demands to enhance their SPS capacity in the context 
of broader domestic economic and social policy objectives, including the desire to boost agri-food 
exports. In most cases, the resources availabl e to governments from national budgets, donors 
and/or private businesses are insufficient to meet  all of the identified needs, especially when 
prevailing export-oriented SPS capacity is weak. This requires hard choices to be made between 
competing investments that may all be likely to bring appreciable benefits, for example in terms of 
export performance, agricultural productivity an d/or health protection. The STDF has developed a 
framework to help inform and improve SPS pl anning and decision-making processes. The 
framework – known as "Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access" (P-IMA)"
4 – aims 
to inform decisions on where to invest in SPS capacity building. 
2.2.  The STDF will hold an information Session on the P-IMA framework on Wednesday, 
16 March 2016  from 13:00 – 14:00  at WTO headquarters in Geneva (sandwiches will be offered 
outside the meeting room from 13:00, prior to th e start of the session). The objective of the 
information session is to briefly present the ne w P-IMA user Guide and share experiences from 
countries that have used this approach. A new STDF briefing note on the P-IMA framework is 
available on the STDF website.5 
                                               
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 The STDF was established by the Food and Agricult ure Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Worl d Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the 
WTO. 
3 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/ . 
4 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/prioritizing-sps-investments-market-access-p-ima . 
5 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_Briefing_No11_PIMA_EN.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/1470 
 
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  3  IMPLEMENTING SPS MEASURES TO FACILITATE SAFE TRADE- REPORT ON SOUTHERN 
AFRICA 
3.1.  A new report, entitled "The Implementation of SPS Measures to Facilitate Safe Trade: 
Selected Practices and Experiences in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia", is available on the STDF 
website.6 The report examines how SPS measures are implemented in practice for selected 
products in Malawi, South Africa and Zambia, and identifies opportunities and good practice to reduce SPS-related transaction costs, while reinforcing health protection. The report includes a 
number of country-specific recommendations, as we ll as more general recommendations that can 
be of interest to other countries interested in facilitating safe trade. A new STDF briefing note
7 
draws on the findings of the report on Southern Africa as well as similar STDF-funded research in 
Southeast Asia. It highlights opportunities to improve the implementation of SPS measures in a 
way that facilitates safe trade, while minimizing transaction costs, based on the SPS Agreement. 
3.2.  The findings and recommendations of STDF's work on implementing safe trade are aligned 
with the 2014-15 Aid-for-Trade (AfT) work programme, "Reducing Trade Costs for Inclusive, 
Sustainable Growth", which reiterated that high trade costs inhibit many developing countries from 
fully exploiting their trade and development potential. Trade costs remain particularly high in some critical sectors where growth is associated with strong poverty reduction effects, most prominently 
in the agriculture sector. The new AfT work programme for 2016-2017 will focus on "Promoting 
Connectivity" and will continue to build on insi ghts emerging from the AfT work in 2014-2015. 
More information is available on the WTO website.
8 
4  ELECTRONIC SPS CERTIFICATION 
4.1.  The STDF will organize an information seminar on Electronic SPS Certification on Tuesday 
5 July 2016  at WTO headquarters in Geneva, back-to-back with the WTO SPS Committee. The 
main objective will be to share information and experiences about the use of electronic 
certification9 (e-certification) in the SPS area, including identification of key challenges and 
opportunities for developing countries.  The semina r will be open for SPS delegates, other trade 
and development officials as well as for those working in the area of certification. Information on 
the seminar, including a detailed programme and on  registration, will be made available in the 
coming weeks on the STDF website ( http://standardsfacility.org/ ). 
5  JOINT EIF/STDF ANALYSIS ON SPS ISSUES IN DTIS STUDIES 
5.1.  The STDF and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) 10 Secretariat have undertaken a 
joint study that analyses the coverage of SPS issues in EIF Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies 
(DTIS)11 and identifies good practice for future studies and their implementation. The study 
highlights a number of good practices and lessons learned to inform SPS analysis in future DTIS 
reports and processes. First and foremost, the EIF Secretariat may wish to explore more 
systematic ways of engaging the international standard-setting bodies, as well as organizations or programs with a specific role in SPS capacity buil ding, in the preparation of DTIS reports and their 
follow-up. It is expected that the study will be available on the STDF website by mid-April 2016.   
6  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 6.1.  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 
                                               
6 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/facilitating-safe-trade . 
7 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/de fault/files/STDF_Briefing_No10_EN_web.pdf . 
8 See: https://www.wto.org/eng lish/tratop_e/devel_e/a4t_e/aid4trade_e.htm . 
9 Presentations made on this topic at the STDF Working Group in October 2015 are available at: 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/working-group-documents . 
10 The EIF is a trade capacity building programm e for Least Developed Coun tries (LDCs). For more 
information, see http://www.enhanced if.org/en/about/how-does-it-work . 
11 The DTIS is the cornerstone of the EIF deployment in LDCs in terms of mainstreaming and integrating 
trade into national development plans. The DTIS sets th e basis for all subsequent interventions and establishes 
priorities to reach trade expans ion targets for a given country. G/SPS/GEN/1470 
 
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  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 or the STDF.  
6.2.  A total of 70 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.
12 The STDF 
Working Group may approve additional PPGs for fu nding at its next meeting on 14-15 March 2016. 
7  PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION 
7.1.  Project grant financing up to a maximum of US$1,000,000 is available from the STDF. 
Favourable consideration is given to projects that: (i) identify, develop and dissemination good practice in SPS-related technical cooperation, including the development and application of innovative and replicable approaches; (ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constraints; 
and/or (iii) implement collaborative approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and 
trade. 
7.2.  Beneficiaries must contribute to the project from their own resources, either in the form of 
financial or in-kind contributions such as staff time, use of premises, vehicles or other existing 
assets. 
7.3.  A total of 75 projects  have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. Information 
on on-going and completed PGs is available on the STDF website.
13 The STDF Working Group may 
approve additional projects for funding at its next meeting on 14-15 March 2016 – depending on 
the resources available in the STDF trust fund. 
7.4.  Annex 1 provides an overview of on-going STDF projects and PPGs. Since its inception, the 
STDF has devoted 54% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and other low income countries 
(OLICs), as shown in Figure 1. Hence, the STDF continues meeting its target to devote at least 40% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs an d OLICs. In particular the allocation of PPG 
resources to LDCs and OLICs remains high (i.e. 74% of the overall budget for PPGs). 
Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$) Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number) 
     
 
7.5.  Figure 2 above indicates that 50% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 20% to Asia, and 17% to Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, 
11% of STDF projects and PPGs can be classified as global. 
7.6.  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. 
 
                                               
12 See: http://www.standardsfacility. org/projectpreparationgrants . 
13 See: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . 
G/SPS/GEN/1470 
 
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  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://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/d efault/files/STDFG uidanceNote_en.pdf . 
3. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region. 
4. Send us a brief concept note of your potent ial project for feedback on eligibility and 
likelihood of funding ( STDFSecretariat@wto.org ). 
5. Fill out an application form ( http://www.standardsfacilit y.org/application-forms ) and 
submit it electronically before the deadline.  
  G/SPS/GEN/1470  
 
- 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/329 Enhancing SPS capacity of ginger 
exports through a Public-Private Partnership in Nepal  Nepal (co-funded with 
EIF) Food and Agriculture Organization of 
the United Nations (FAO) 07-Jun-12 06-Sep-15 
(awaiting final 
project report) $412,629 
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 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/350 Global Phytosanitary Manuals, 
Standard Operating Procedures and Training Kits Côte d'Ivoire, Jamaica, 
Malaysia, Sudan International Plant Protection 
Convention (FAO-IPPC) 01-Feb-12 31-Jul-15
 
(awaiting final 
project report) $600,000 
STDF/PG/354 Improving Safety and Quality of 
Fruits and Vegetables in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka International Trade Centre (ITC) 01-Mar-13 28-Feb-16 $562,484  
  G/SPS/GEN/1470  
 
- 6 - Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
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  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) TBD TBD $793,300  
  G/SPS/GEN/1470  
 
- 7 - Ref. No. Title Beneficiary Implementing entity Start Date End Date STDF 
Contribution 
(US$) 
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 
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/1470  
 
- 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 TBD TBD TBD $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/404 Developing virus indexing capacity 
for planting materials in Malawi Malawi Department of Agri cultural Research 
Services (DARS), Malawi 01-Nov-13 Upon approval $18,701 
STDF/PPG/431 Aflatoxin management in chillies in 
Pakistan Pakistan Pakistan Ag ricultural Research 
Council (PARC) 01-May-15 30-Apr-16 $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 31-Mar-16 $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 30-Apr-16 $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  
  G/SPS/GEN/1470  
 
- 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 
 
 
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