G/SPS/GEN/1660  
 
30 October  2018 
(18-6815) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMATI ON ON SPS -RELATED AC TIVITIES OF  
THE INTERNATIONAL TR ADE CENTRE (ITC)  
(JULY - OCTOBER  2018)  
The following communication, received on 29 October  2018, is being c irculated at the request of 
the ITC. 
 
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The International Trade Centre is continuing its efforts to assist enterprises to meet technical 
requirements. An update of selected SPS -related activities of interest to the WTO Members is 
provided below.  
1  PROJECTS  
1.1  Afghanistan: Trade -related support assistance (August 2016 – July 2019 /  Donor 
European Union)  
1.1.  This project aims to strengthen human and institutional capacities in trade policy, strategy 
formulation and implementation, including quality management and SPS measures. The Ministry of 
Industry and Commerce (MoIC) is the main coun terpart; beneficiaries include Ministry of Agriculture, 
Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), Ministry of Health (MoPH), National Standards Body (ANSA) an d 
relevant sector associations.  
1.2.  ITC is assisting Afghanistan organisations such as MAIL, ANSA, MoPH to impl ement priority 
actions of the 5 -year Plans of Actions of the National Export Strategy (NES) document related to 
quality/SPS management and saffron as pilot priority sector  (NES documents available: 
http://www.intracen.org/AAT/Resources_and_documents/ ). 
1.3.  Advisory services, awareness and capacity building activities relate to:  
 Sensitisation on standards and quality  with a guide on quality -related requirements 
(including SPS measures) for Afgh an saffron for the European, Indian and Chinese market 
will be launched by end of 2018 and with the celebration of the World Standards Day on 
23 October that gathered more than 200 participants ; 
 Development of the national quality policy  with the draft wor king document currently 
under review with stakeholders and consultation meetings ongoing ; 
 Setting up the management system certification , with lead Auditor Courses on ISO 
9001 conducted for 15 participants (potential auditors) in October 2018 in India and on LAC 
ISO 22000 to take place in November/ December 2018;  
 Capacity Building in SPS food safety area  with a concept note on the establishment of 
food safety authority shared with MAIL, MoPH, MOIC and a two -week training attachment in 
India for eight Food Sa fety Officials under preparation with the Food Safety and Standards 
Authority of India (FSSAI) (26 November – 7 December 2018) ; 
 Strengthening metrology service , law on legal metrology drafted and under review; 
2-week training attachment for head of ANSA me trology department conduct ed in Sri Lanka 
in October 2018;  
 Strengthening SPS and TBT NEPs and NNA , follow up is ongoing with WTO SPS and TBT 
Secretariats to conduct joint training.  G/SPS/GEN/1660  
 
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  1.2  Myanmar: Improving food safety and compliance with SPS measures to increase  
export revenues in the oilseeds value chain) (August 2015 – extended till February 2019 
/ STDF 486)  
1.4.  Implemented by ITC in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce - MyanTrade and 
Department of Agriculture.  
1.5.  Technical assistance and capacity building is progressing on SPS compliance along the sesame, 
groundnuts and sunflower value chains from farmers to exporter s. Follow up with more than 
300 farmers on implementation of GAP practices, safe use of pesticides, postharvest techniques, 
testing of  soil and nutrients is implemented regularly through trained officers of the Department of 
Agriculture and a core group of 4 extension officers under the guidance of the National Consultant 
on GAP. Farmers are applying for the national GAP certification. C ontract farming and links with 
exporters are facilitated with farmers (i.e. contract signed between beneficiary collector and 
beneficiary farmers with commitment to pay 2 -3% higher price than local price to the farme rs who 
implemented GAP system).  
1.6.  A series  of workshops were conducted to develop a manual on quality control for the collection 
centres; national authors are compiling the manual. Finalisation and related training is planned by 
December 2018.  
1.7.  Assistance and coaching of 11 enterprises and trainers -cum-counsellors (TcCs) on food safety 
is progressing. Two more companies obtained third -party HACCP based certification and three were 
audited. A sensitization workshop on food safety titled "Safer Food, Healthier Lives, a Prosperous 
Myanmar " was conducte d on 9 August 2018 for 140 participants (75% female) at the Mandalay 
Technological University where also the trained TcCs and enterprises presented their experience on 
implementation of HACCP system. Exam in Mandalay was conducted for trained TcCs. An expe rience 
sharing event was conducted between trained TcCs of STDF oilseed project and other TcCs trained 
under ITC NTF IV project in Kayah State on 4 August 2018. One TcC also attended the recap training 
on Hygiene with Kayah TcCs on 5 -6 August for discussio n and follow up plan of activities between 
Kayah and Mandalay TcCs.  
1.8.  A study tour to Thailand (7 -14 October) for 15 farmers, collectors, exporters, Ministries gave 
the opportunity to understand GAP, GHP and HACCP practices along the value chains and market  
requirements.  
1.9.  The project 's social media page ( http:// www.facebook.com/itcoilseedsmyanmar ) reached 
almost 1 ,300 followers.  
1.3  Myanmar: Inclusive tourism development with focus on Kayah  state (consolidation) 
and Tanintharyi (extension) (NTF IV)  (1 December  2017 – 30 June 2021 / Donor 
Netherlands)  
1.10.  The NTF IV Myanmar project is part of the Netherlands Trust Fund IV programme with the 
purpose of increasing the competitiveness of producers a nd exporters in selected sectors within 
priority developing countries. NTF IV Myanmar builds on the results of "NTF III Myanmar - Inclusive 
Tourism focusing on Kayah state " by expanding tourism product development to an additional state 
of Myanmar (Taninth aryi) and further consolidating the achieved results at national and Kayah state 
level. The Intermediate SPS -related outcome of this project is to enhance quality of services in 
hotels, restaurants and food handlers with particular focus on food safety in Kayah and Tanintharyi 
region in Myanmar. Five trainers -cum-counsellors previously trained under NTF III on hygiene are 
now coaching operators and sensitizing on food safety. An experience sharing was organised with 
TcC from the STDF oilseed project (see ab ove), refreshment training on food safety and follow up 
with operators in August 2018. Videos are available on the project 's facebook page (Myanmar 
inclusive tourism project with spec ial focus on Kayah State (ITC).  
1.4  Sri Lanka: Feasibility study for value ad dition in the fruit and vegetable sector 
(1 October 2017 -  extended to 31 March 2018 / STDF PPG 576)  
1.11.  The development of the feasibility study for value addition of five selected export crops 
(pineapple, papaya, banana, mango and passionfruit) is progressi ng and is being linked to the G/SPS/GEN/1660  
 
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  National Export Strategy for processed food recently approved. A second data collection mission of 
an ITC international expert to Sri Lanka was conducted in April 2018. A study tour to Italy (June 
2018) exposed 14 participants  (exporters, members of F&V association, Department of Commerce) 
to inspection, certification, processing, packaging, bio production, cooperative structure and links 
with markets. Following the study tour, Noberasco, lead company in the dehydrated sector a nd 
potential partner, conducted a second  mission with an assessment of the bio value chains in SL in 
August 2018. A partnership agreement is under discussion. The development of the five -year 
strategic plan and a short -term operations plan for the Lanka Fr uit and Vegetable Producers, 
Processors and Exporters Association (LFVPPEA ) is ongoing with several roundtables and meetings 
being conducted with members. The industry forum to share draft feasibility study and strategy is 
planned for early November 2018.  
1.5  Tajikistan: Enabling market access for agricultural products through improved food 
safety system (STDF) (March 2018 – 2021 -  STDF PG/447)  
1.12.  The project aims to improve the export competitiveness of Tajik Small and Medium -Sized 
enterprises and food safety th rough better use of agri -chemicals and veterinary medicines with focus 
on apricots and honey sector.  
1.13.  The project is in its inception phase. The UN -to-UN Agreement between ITC and FAO was 
developed and signed by ITC on 8 October 2018 (pending FAO 's signatur e) for the implementation 
of activities in particular related to output 1 "Regulatory and control system for use of agri -chemicals 
and veterinary medicines established and operational ". Activities related to baseline collection (1.1), 
laboratory needs asse ssment (1.7) and access to finance needs assessment (3.1) are on -going with 
two missions of International Experts being conducted (one in August 2018;  and one 22 October – 
2 November), and collection of data by National Consultant and enumerators. The 1st joint ITC -FAO 
mission to kick off the project and conduct the validation workshop of the baseline collection i s 
planned 19 -22 November 2018.  
1.6  The Gambia: Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) (January 2017 – December 2020 / 
Donor European Union)  
1.14.  To generate emplo yment among youth, ITC is supporting improved compliance of Gambian 
products to international standards and market requirements, including in the food and agriculture 
sectors. Following training of 20 youth trainers on Food Safety and Good Hygienic Practic es (GHP), 
further training on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points has been conducted, with the 
participation of enterprises. Company visits have been organized to carry out on -site training and 
diagnostic assessments.  Follow up assistance to a sel ected number  of enterprises is in progress.  
1.7  Sudan: WTO Accession (March 2018 - February 2019 / Donor Japan)  
1.15.  In support of the accession of Sudan to the WTO, ITC is helping the operationalization of 
designated National Notification Authority and National En quiry Point for SPS through development 
of operating procedures and gui dance to apply the procedures. The policy makers, key institutions 
and the business have been sensitised on the WTO TBT and SPS Agreements. Draft stand operating 
procedures for the func tioning of the TBT and SPS enquiry points and national notification authority 
have been prepared and the concerned officers have been trained to operationalize these services.  
1.8  Burundi Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) (July 2018 – June 2022 / 
Donor European Union)  
1.16.  ITC will be implementing a new project to enhance quality infrastructure services to support 
compliance with SPS measures and technical regulations in Burundi, with particular focus on coffee 
and tea sectors. The project will focus on stren gthening the national quality infrastructure 
framework, inspection and certification services, and quality -related extension services; improving 
laboratory tes ting capacities for coffee/tea.  
1.17.  The project launch mission is scheduled for 30 October 2018 and w ill include assessment and 
stock -taking of current developments in the na tional quality infrastructure.  G/SPS/GEN/1660  
 
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  1.9  Oman - Stakeholders roundtable on NTMs and EQM workshops (September/October 
2018)  
1.18.  In close cooperation with the Public Authority for Investment Promotio n and Export 
Development - ITHRAA, ITC organiz ed on 30 September 2018 a stakeholders Round Table on Non -
tariff Measures (NTM) to present the results of the NTM survey in Oman. Based on the discussion 
held and further research, the NTM report for Oman will be finalized.  
1.19.  Also at the request of ITHRAA, ITC conducted two Export Quality Management workshops for 
some 60 private sector participants in Muscat and Salalah. The business perspectives of the WTO 
TBT and SPS Agreements were highlighted during these even ts. 
1.10  Support to the Facilitation of Trade between CEFTA Parties (January 2017 – 
December 2019 / Donor European Union)  
1.20.  ITC supports the parties of the Central European Free Trade Area (CEFTA) to increase trade 
and competitiveness in the region. With the aim to reduce and eventually remove the most distortive 
non-tariff measures for priority products, of particular economic relevance for the region, ITC has 
carried out an in -depth diagnostic study of all CEFTA parties in order to understand quality -related 
barriers and challenges to trade in the region. In April/May 2018 ITC has identified and analysed 
standards, technical regulations and TBT/SPS measures applicable to various vegetable and iron and 
steel value chains in all CEFTA parties. A synthesis report on  the diagnostic of TBT and SPS related 
issues in these sectors based on the country reports was prepared and presented at a regional 
validation workshop in Pristina in September 2018.  
1.11  Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Project (2015 -2018 / Dono r 
European Union  and ACP secretariat)  
1.21.  ITC, in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute 
(CARDI), is working with stakeholders at every step of the value chain to foster cooperative, mutually 
supportive responses to market needs. The project is part of a European Union -funded ‘intra -ACP' 
programme that seeks to promote increased trade, value -addition and production across the African, 
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States. ITC is implementing the ‘Alliances for Action ' 
methodology, a market system and producer -centred approach to improve sector governance and 
achieve impact at scale through the formation of market -led partnerships to de -risk investments in 
the sector, enhance value chain integration, technical su pport, policy alignment and local 
institutional capacity building.  
1.22.  Countries: 11 countries in the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, 
Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and 
Trinidad and Tobago.  
1.23.  SPS related activities: More than 1,700 farmers benefitted from over 500 trainings in good 
agricultural practices and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for coconuts and associated crops; 
establishment of 23 demonstration plots for best a gricultural practi ces in coconut production, crop  
diversification and IPM ; development of surveillance protocols and emergency response plans for 
pests and diseases  of coconuts in the Caribbean; conduct  of Pest Risk Analysis to determine the risk 
of import ation of quality coconut planting material into the Caribbean; revision of the CARICOM 
Regional Standard for packaged natural coconut water, in collaboration with the CARICOM Regional 
Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ).  
1.12  Georgia, Armenia, Easter n Partnership: Ready to Trade - an EU4Business initiative 
(2017 – 2020 / Donor European Union ) 
1.24.  The project helps small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) from Eastern Partnership 
countries integrate into global value chains and access new markets with a f ocus on the European 
Union (EU).  
1.25.  Two interactive workshops on Export Quality Management for enterprises are scheduled in 
Georgia (Tbilisi, 26 -27 November 2018) and Armenia (Yerevan, 28 -29 November). Topics  will cover 
also SPS measures, r equirements of the EU market, the WTO TBT and SPS Agreements. G/SPS/GEN/1660  
 
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  The workshops will be followed by coaching, training and business advisory services to a pilot group 
of SMEs in the areas identified during the workshop.  
1.13  WTO Thematic SPS Workshop on Control, Inspection and Appro val Procedures, 
Geneva, Switzerland, 9 -10 July 2018  
1.26.  ITC Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business section participated in the roundtable discussion, 
session 5 "Opportunities to mobilize resources for SPS capacity building to support the 
implementation of Annex C ". ITC shared its integrated approach for technical assistance and capacity 
building to build safe and efficient trade. The unit brings the expertise of the ITC Trade Facilitation 
and the Quality for Trade teams.  
NTM - Further information:  
 
NTM-related publications, including country -specific survey reports, can be accessed free of charge 
at http:// www.intracen.org/publications/ntm . Survey results are available in a more interactive 
format via www.ntmsurvey.org. For more information about ITC 's NTM programme, please contact 
ntm@intracen.org  
 
 
For more information, please contact:  
 
Ludovica Ghizzoni, ITC Adviser on Export Quality Management  
Tel: +41 22 730 06 38 - Fax: +41 22 730 05 76 - E-mail: ghizzoni@intracen.org  
 
Khemraj Ramful, ITC Senior Adviser on Export Quality Management  
Tel: +41 22 730 04 87  - Fax: +41 22 730 05 76 - E-mail: ramful@intracen.org  
 
ITC Export Quality Management  
Website: http://www.intracen.org/eqm  
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ITCstandards  
 
 
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