G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
11 October 2013  
(13-5542) Page: 1/11  
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) supports developing countries in 
building their capacity to implement international SPS standards, guidelines and recommendations 
as a means to improve their human, animal and plant health status and ability to gain and 
maintain access to markets. In doing so, it contributes to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, food security and environmental protection in developing countries. More specifically, the STDF increases awareness, mobilizes additi onal resources, strengthens collaboration and 
identifies and disseminates good practice to enhance the effectiveness of SPS assistance. The 
STDF also provides support and funding for the de velopment and implementation of projects that 
promote compliance with international SPS requirements. 
1.2.  The STDF is a global partnership 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 co ntributing funds to the STDF and developing 
country experts participate actively in the Facility's work. The STDF is managed and housed by the WTO.
2 
1.3.  This document provides an overview of ST D F  a c t i v i t i e s  i n  s u p p o r t  o f  i t s  w o r k  p r o g r a m m e  
since the previous SPS Committee meeting in July 2013, as well as information on planned 
activities. The Annex provides an overview of on-going STDF projects and project preparation 
grants (PPGs). 
1.4.  Delegates who would like to receive more information on SPS-related technical cooperation 
are encouraged to subscribe to the STDF electronic mailing list (http://www.standardsfacility.org/en/ContactUs.htm ). The STDF regularly issues an e-newsletter 
which contains an overview of major developments in the area of SPS capacity building, including 
activities of the STDF and its partners.  
2  COORDINATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION 2.1  Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)  
2.1.  The STDF has supported the development of a decision-support tool, based on Multi Criteria 
Decision Analysis (MCDA), to help developing countries prioritize options to strengthen SPS 
capacity for market access.
3 On 24-25 June 2013, the STDF organized a workshop on the use of 
this tool. The workshop was attended by 44 participants, representing STDF partners, donors, 
developing country experts, observer organizations, and notably beneficiaries who have applied the tool. 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO. 
2 More detailed information on the STDF and its ac tivities, including projects and project preparation 
grants, is available on  the STDF website ( http://www.standardsfacility.org ). 
3 Available at: http://www.standardsfacility.org/Files /EconAnalysis/MCDA_FrameworkGuide.pdf.  G/SPS/GEN/1279 
 
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  2.2.  The objective of the MCDA workshop was to  take stock of experiences and lessons learned 
and identify recommendations for future work. So me of the recommendations from the workshop 
were: (i) clarify the scope of the tool; (ii) revise the MCDA user guide to make it more user-friendly, including through the incorporation of country case studies and examples; (iii) select and 
train a group of neutral facilitators in developing countries/regions on the MCDA tool; (v) promote 
greater use of the MCDA tool as part of national/regional planning and priority-setting processes within the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP); and (vi) monitor 
and evaluate the on-going use of the tool to learn from and disseminate the experiences and 
lessons. A summary of this workshop, including recommended follow-up actions, is available online.
4 More information on the MCDA tool, including previous STDF events and publications, can 
be found on the STDF website ( http://www.standardsfacility. org/en/TAEcoAnalysis.htm ). 
2.2  International Trade and Invasive Alien Species 
2.3.  On the margins of the June 2013 SPS Commi ttee meeting, the STDF, in conjunction with the 
IPPC and OIE, presented the finalized STDF study on International Trade and Invasive Alien 
Species.5 A first draft of the study had been prepared for the 2012 STDF Global Seminar on this 
topic and was later revised based on the discussions and conclusions of the seminar. The study reviews and analyses key concepts and principles relevant to IAS and international trade in the 
context of the SPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and in relation to 
the two relevant standard-setting organizations (t he IPPC and the OIE) under the SPS Agreement. 
It also considers various initiatives to enhance capacities for managing the entry and spread of IAS (including plant pests and animal diseases), reviews common challenges and good practices, and 
makes a number of targeted recommendations.  
2.4.  Among the various recommendations in the study, one in particular is directed towards the 
SPS Committee:  
"The SPS Committee should consider developing guidance regarding the 
relationship between IAS and the SPS Agreement, for the purpose of providing legal clarity and firmly embedding IAS into the global trade 
regulatory framework. Such guidance should seek to clarify, inter alia, 
notification requirements for SPS measures taken by national environment/ biodiversity institutions to prevent the introduction of IAS other than animal and plant pests or diseases."  
2.5.  Other information on the seminar, includ ing the presentations, a short two-page STDF 
briefing note and other relevant documentation, is available on our website (http://www.standardsfacility.org/en/TAIAS.htm ). 
2.3  Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trade 
2.6.  The Fourth Global Review of Aid for Trad e was held at the WTO from 8-10 July 2013. The aim 
of the  review was to examine strategies to connect developing country and least-developed 
country (LDC) firms to international value chains. At the Global Review, the STDF, in collaboration 
with Canada and the Netherlands, held a side-event entitled "Public Private Partnerships in a Value Chain Context". The objective of this side-event was to present the work done by the North-South 
Institute (NSI) and the STDF on Trade and SPS-related Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and to 
foster dialogue among public and private sector experts on key lessons learned in this area. A 
panel discussion took place where a range of differe nt stakeholders presented specific examples of 
PPPs aiming to help developing countries connect to value chains. 
2.7.  The key messages of the discussion were: (i) the importance to build trust between the 
partners in order to ensure that high levels of food safety, animal health and/or plant health requirements don't become hidden trade barriers; (ii) the importance of ensuring permanent 
dialogue among partners and of measuring an d communicating the results and achievements 
regularly; (iii) the role of national governments should be to provide the necessary governance, market policy, and local support but governments should not venture into or assume the role of the private sector to engage in trade; and (iv) partnerships can be very successful in solving 
                                               
4 http://www.standardsfacility.org/Files/Eco nAnalysis/GVAJun13/ReportMCDAWorkshop.pdf . 
5 http://www.standardsfacility.org/Files/IAS/STDF_IAS_EN.pdf . G/SPS/GEN/1279 
 
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  specific market access challenges, strengthen cooperation and market understanding between all 
relevant stakeholders in the value chain. More information on this side-event can be found on the STDF website ( http://www.standardsfacility.o rg/en/TAAidForTrade4GR.htm ). 
2.4  SPS and Trade Facilitation 
2.8.  The STDF has initiated research work to an alyse the implementation of SPS measures in the 
context of trade facilitation (defined as the simplification, harmonisation, standardisation and modernisation of trade procedures). This work encompasses regional research in selected 
countries and sub-regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The aim is to identify, analyse and 
foster dialogue on experiences, lessons and good  practices to improve the implementation of SPS 
controls in a way that facilitates safe trade. The work is being carried out in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
6, TradeMark Southern Africa, and the Common Market 
for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Secretariat. Reports for all three regions are expected to 
be finalized by mid-2014. 
2.5  Revamp of the STDF Website 
2.9.  The STDF Secretariat has begun work on revamping the STDF website by converting it into a 
content management system. This new system will allow the Secretariat to more easily publish, edit and modify content. The new website will also incorporate new technology to allow for more 
functionality as well as to improve overall user experience. It is expected to be launched in the 
first quarter of 2014. 
2.10.  A new version of the STDF Virtual Library will also be integrated into the website which will 
allow for better document management and search options. The STDF Virtual Library - accessible 
from the STDF homepage - is a central repository of electronic SPS capacity building 
documentation. Delegates are encouraged to use the STDF Virtual Library and to send documents to the STDF Secretariat ( STDFSecretariat@wto.org ) in order to be placed in the library 
(e.g. project documents and final reports, training  materials, project evaluations, SPS capacity 
assessments, cost-benefit analysis studies, research papers and articles, etc.). 
3  PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 
3.1.  The STDF provides advice and support to beneficiaries on issues related to SPS project 
development and finances project preparation grants (PPGs) to assist beneficiaries in the articulation of their SPS needs and the development of technically sound and sustainable project proposals. Seed funding up to US$50,000 is available for PPGs, which can be used for any of the 
following purposes (or a combination thereof): (i) application of SPS-related capacity evaluation 
and prioritization tools; (ii) preparation of feasibility studies that precede project development to assess the potential impact and economic viability of proposals (expected costs and benefits); 
and/or (iii) preparation of project proposals that can be funded by the STDF or other donors. 
3.2.  A total of 57 PPGs have been approved and f unded by the STDF since its inception. The STDF 
Working Group may approve additional PPGs for f unding at its next meeting on 15-16 October 
2013. 
                                               
6 The IDB component of this work was initiated in 2012 with a questionnaire survey on border control 
points linked to Latin American trade in agricultural and forestry products. This survey built on a successful 
IDB/WTO regional SPS seminar, which took place in Chile from 25-30 June 2012, focused on strengthening quarantine services for animal and plant health. G/SPS/GEN/1279 
 
- 4 - 
 
  4  PROJECT FUNDING 
4.1.  Project grant financing up to a maximum of US$1,000,000 is available from the STDF. 
Favourable consideration is given to projects that focus on one or more of the following: (i) the identification, development and dissemination of good practice in SPS-related technical 
cooperation, including the development and application of innovative and replicable approaches; 
(ii) STDF work on cross-cutting topics of common interest; (iii) the use of regional approaches to address SPS constraints; and/or (iv) collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches focused on the 
interface/linkages between human, animal and plant health and trade, and benefiting from the 
involvement of two or more STDF partners or other relevant organizations.  
4.2.  A total of 66 projects have been approved for STDF funding since its inception. The STDF 
Working Group may approve additional projects fo r funding at its next meeting on 15-16 October 
2013. 
4.3.  The Annex provides an overview of on-going  STDF projects and PPGs. Since its inception, the 
STDF has devoted 40% of its project and PPG resources to Least-developed countries (LDCs) and 
Other Low Income Countries (OLICs), as shown in Figure 1 below. Hence, the STDF continues to 
meet its target to devote at least 40% of its project and PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs. The 
allocation of PPG resources to LDCs and OLICs re mains high (i.e. 66% of the overall budget for 
PPGs). 
Figure 1: STDF projects and PPGs (US$) 
40%
60%
LDCs / OLICsOthers
 
 
4.4.  Figure 2 below indicates that 52% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has gone to 
Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% to Asia, and 17% to Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, 11% of STDF projects and PPGs can be classified as global. 
Figure 2: STDF Projects and PPGs (number) 
52%
17%17%11% 3%
Sub-Saharan AfricaLatin America 
& Caribbean
AsiaGlobalOther
 G/SPS/GEN/1279 
 
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  4.5.  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 3 January 2014 . 
Recommended steps to follow when seeking PG or PPG funding opportunities with the STDF: 
1. Browse our PPG http://www.standardsfacility.org/en/PGPpgStat.htm  and PG 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/en/PGProStat.htm  webpages for examples of previous 
projects. 
2. Carefully read our guidan ce note for applicants: 
http://www.standardsfacility.org/File s/Forms/STDFGuidanceNote_en.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/en/FDAppForms.htm ) and 
submit it electronically before the deadline. 
 
  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 6 - ANNEX 
 
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF ONGOING STDF PROJECTS AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS1 
STATUS OF APPROVED PROJECTS 
Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/172 Expanding exports of 
sesame seeds and sheanut/butter through improved SPS capacity building for private and public sector Identify critical control points and 
factors along the Nigerian shea nut production chain and develop predictive models for aflatoxin production and fungal growth, pesticide residues and other contaminants Nigeria Nigeria Export 
Promotion Council (NEPC) 10-Dec-09 01-Oct-10 30-Sep-13 $364,240 
STDF/PG/242 Strategy to strengthen 
the SPS system in 
Comoros Build SPS capacity in the country 
in a comprehensive and 
systematic manner in order to 
increase its market access for 
potential agricultural products 
and fisheries Comoros UNDP 30-Mar-12 17-Sep-12 16-Sep-15 $1,033,673 
STDF/PG/298 SPS capacity building in 
Africa to mitigate the harmful effects of pesticide residues in cocoa and to maintain market access Build SPS capacity in Africa to 
produce good quality cocoa that complies with the relevant international regulations and legislation on pesticide residues and other harmful substances Cameroon, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo International 
Cocoa Organization (ICCO) 02-Jul-10 01-Jan-11 31-Dec-13 $593,460 
STDF/PG/300 Develop a combined 
e-learning curriculum and 
web-based information 
system for food 
standards Develop a combined e-learning 
curriculum and information 
system on food standards as a 
contribution to up-grading the 
quality infrastructure in 
developing countries Ghana University of 
Cape Coast 
(UCC) 10-Dec-09 01-Dec-10 30-Nov-13 $262,246 
                                               
1 Projects and project preparation grants th at have a start and end date to be determined (TBD) have not yet been contracted.  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 7 - Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/302 Support to the cabbage 
sector in the Niayes Region of Senegal Increase the production of 
cabbage and hence exports from the sub-region by controlling the spread and impact of two specific 
pests and assisting producers in 
meeting the Maximum Residue Limit established by Codex Senegal Senegal's 
Horticulture Union of the Niayes region 
(AUMN) 19-Mar-10 01-Feb-12 31-Jan-14 $577,142 
STDF/PG/303 Regional Total Diet Study 
for Sub-Saharan Africa Contribute to strengthen capacity 
of risk managers to implement 
international standards based on 
a good knowledge of hazards, 
risks and exposure levels to 
harmful substances in commonly 
produced and consumed food Benin, 
Cameroon, Mali 
and Nigeria FAO in 
collaboration 
with WHO 19-Mar-13 TBD TBD $1,063,708 
STDF/PG/321 Building trade capacity of 
small-scale shrimp and prawn farmers in Bangladesh Organize small-scale farmers in 
manageable clusters and assist them in developing and adopting Better Management Practices 
(BMPs) to address the 
contamination problem at grass-roots level Bangladesh FAO 27-Jun-11 01-Apr-12 21-Mar-14 $568,750 
STDF/PG/328 Beyond Compliance: 
Integrated Systems 
Approach for Pest Risk 
Management in 
Southeast Asia  Develop and test  new decision-
support tools focused on an 
integrated Systems Approach for 
pest risk management in the 
Southeast Asian sub-region 
(support implementation of ISPM 
No. 14) Southeast Asia CABI Southeast 
Asia 28-Mar-11 11-Jul-11 10-Jul-14 $600,000 
STDF/PG/329 Enhancing Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary capacity of Nepalese ginger exports through Public Private 
Partnerships Increase incomes of Nepalese 
stakeholders in the ginger value chain by adding value to the product exported to India and 
increasing capacity to access new 
markets Nepal FAO 27-Jun-11 07-Jun-12 06-Jun-15 $412,629  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 8 - Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/335 Strengthening the 
Capacity for 
Phytosanitary Controls of 
Floriculture Sector in 
Uganda Enhance pest surveillance and 
diagnostic capacity to enable a 
better understanding of pest 
distribution and facilitate the 
implementation of efficient 
control strategies Uganda CABI Africa 30-Mar-12 01-Oct-12 30-Sep-14 $348,632 
STDF/PG/336 Enhancing the control of 
transboundary animal diseases in Cameroon Build institutional capacity and 
strengthen the capacity of the decentralized veterinary services - mainly those involved in the 
surveillance system Cameroon FAO 27-Jun-11 01-Jun-12 31-May-14 $510,788 
STDF/PG/337 ASEAN Pesticide Residue 
Data Generation Project Establish a regional process to 
generate reliable data for MRLs 
for selected "minor-use" crops, 
as a means to promote 
harmonization with international 
standards and enhance market 
access ASEAN 
member states ASEAN 
Secretariat 21-Oct-11 01-Dec-12 30-Nov-15 $607,000 
STDF/PG/343 Competency 
development scheme for the cinnamon sector in Sri Lanka Enhance the competiveness of 
the cinnamon industry and the capacity of the cinnamon value added segment by improving 
processing and handling practices Sri Lanka UNIDO 21-Oct-11 01-Jul-12 30-Jun-14 $630,000 
STDF/PG/344 Establishment of a 
Regional Virtual Food 
Inspection School in 
Central America and 
Dominican Republic Harmonize modern inspection 
procedures conducted by a 
properly trained cadre of food 
inspectors and food safety 
auditors in the region to 
contribute to facilitating trade 
and improving public health Central 
America IICA 30-Mar-12 01-Jul-12 30-Jun-15 $905,225 
STDF/PG/345 Feed and Food Security 
Program for Latin America and the Caribbean Contribute to the harmonization 
of the regulatory framework for the production and commercialization of animal feed, ensuring its safety and access to markets, based on the standards and recommendations of Codex and OIE Argentina, 
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay FEEDLATINA 19-Mar-13 TBD TBD $1,000,000  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 9 - Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/350 Global Phytosanitary 
Manuals, Standard 
Operating Procedures 
and Training Kits Address the need in developing 
countries for documented 
technical resources to enhance 
their capacity to understand and 
implement International 
Standards on Phytosanitary 
Measures (ISPMs) Côte d'Ivoire, 
Jamaica, 
Malaysia and 
Sudan IPPC 
Secretariat 28-Mar-11 01-Feb-12 31-Jan-14 $600,000 
STDF/PG/354 Improving Safety and 
Quality of Sri Lankan Fruits and Vegetables Analyse SPS constraints along 
the value chains, enhance public and private sector stakeholders capacity to meet international 
SPS requirements and improve 
public-private cooperation and networking Sri Lanka International 
Trade Centre 30-Mar-12 01-Mar-13 28-Feb-15 $562,484 
STDF/PG/358 Improving veterinary 
legislation in OIRSA 
member countries Strengthen the veterinary 
services in the region by 
harmonizing the legal framework 
in accordance with OIE standards 
for the control and eradication of 
animal diseases Central 
America OIRSA 30-Mar-12 01-May-13 30-Apr-15 $488,330 
STDF/PG/359 African Pesticide Residue 
Data Generation Project:  Strengthening regional capacity to meet pesticides export requirements based on international standards Enhance regional capacity in 
pesticide residues data generation and monitoring for establishing, implementing, and complying with international pesticide residue standards Benin, 
Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia AU-IBAR 11-Oct-12 01-May-13 30-Apr-16 $446,150 
STDF/PG/381 CocoaSafe: SPS capacity 
building and knowledge 
sharing for the cocoa 
sector in South East Asia  Maintain and increase market 
access of cocoa exports by 
improving practices along the 
supply chain to meet 
international standards of food 
safety Indonesia, 
Malaysia and 
Papua New 
Guinea  International 
Cocoa 
Organization 
(ICCO) 11-Oct-12 01-Nov-13 31-Oct-15 $593,204 
STDF/PG/401 Training of Phytosanitary 
Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Facilitators Improve the capability of 
developing countries to use the PCE tool to evaluate their capacities, identify  gaps and plan 
their national phytosanitary and development programmes Developing 
countries IPPC Capacity 
Development Committee (CDC) 11-Oct-12 TBD TBD $625,148  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 10 - Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PG/436 Strengthening regional 
capacity in Latin America 
to meet pesticides export 
requirements based on 
international standards Strengthen the capacity of Latin 
American countries in pesticide 
residues data generation and 
monitoring, to support the 
establishment, implementation 
and compliance with international 
standards Bolivia, 
Plurinational 
State of; 
Colombia; 
Costa Rica; 
Dominican 
Republic; 
Ecuador; 
El Salvador; 
Guatemala,; 
Honduras; 
Nicaragua; 
Panama and 
Peru IICA 19-Mar-13 01-Oct-13 30-Sep-16 $346,450 
  
  G/SPS/GEN/1279  
 
- 11 - STATUS OF APPROVED PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGS) 
Ref. No. Title Objective Beneficiary Implementing 
entity/ 
person Approval 
date Start Date End Date Budget 
(US$) 
STDF/PPG/346-
347-348 Feasibility study on the 
concept of the COMESA Green Pass Conduct a feasibility study to 
clarify the concept of the Green Pass and address legal and technical issues as well as its economic and commercial viability COMESA 
members COMESA 27-Jun-11 01-Jan-12 Upon 
approval $90,000 
STDF/PPG/392 Integrating SPS in Sierra 
Leone: A whole chain 
approach to developing 
the National Food Safety 
Management System Assess the national food safety 
management system and develop 
plans for institutional capacity 
building and determine priorities 
in order to achieve compliance 
with SPS requirements Sierra Leone FAO 19-Mar-13 01-Nov-13 15-Apr-14 $39,000 
STDF/PPG/377 Comprehensive 
Assessment and Development of a Project Proposal to Strengthen the National Plant Protection System in the Gambia Conduct a comprehensive 
assessment of the phytosanitary capacity gaps using the IPPC-PCE Tool and develop a project to implement action points to enhance the national plant protection system Gambia IPPC 30-Mar-12 01-Feb-13 31-Jul-13 $50,000 
STDF/PPG/379 Promoting the effective 
participation of SADC 
Member States in the 
WTO SPS Committee Strengthen the capacity of SPS 
authorities in SADC Member 
States to be able to effectively 
implement their SPS obligations 
and assert their rights as WTO 
Members SADC Member 
States Kevin Walker 22-Mar-13 15-Jul-13 30-Sep-13 $25,000 
STDF/PPG/404 Developing Virus 
Indexing Capacity for Planting Materials in Malawi Undertake a feasibility study to 
assess the viability of building capacity for indexing and production of virus-free planting materials for bananas Malawi Department of 
Agricultural Research Services (DARS) - Malawi 19-Mar-13 TBD TBD $31,096 
STDF/PPG/432 Information systems for 
surveillance and pest 
reporting in Asia/Pacific 
countries Enable countries to implement 
international phytosanitary 
standards and to fulfil their SPS 
obligations mainly related to 
transparency and risk assessment Asia Pacific 
countries Australia's 
Department of 
Agriculture 
Fisheries and 
Forestry (DAFF) 19-Mar-13 TBD TBD $49,990 
 
__________