WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/902 
9 February 2009 
 (09-0570) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  
  
 
UPDATE ON THE OPERATION OF THE STANDARDS AND  
TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 Overview 
 
1. The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) is a global programme in capacity 
building and technical cooperation established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the 
United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for An imal Health (OIE), the World Bank, the World 
Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).  It assists developing 
countries to meet with food safety, animal and plant health (sanitary and phytosanitary or SPS) 
measures in international trade.  A range of othe r organizations - including the International Trade 
Centre (ITC), the Organization for Economic and Development (OECD), the United Nations 
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) an d the United Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD) – as well as donors and de veloping countries also participate in the 
Facility.
2 
2. The STDF has two main aims: 
• to assist developing countries enhance their expertise and capacity to analyze and to 
implement international SPS standards, impr oving their human, animal and plant health 
situation, and thus ability to gain and maintain market access;  and  
• to act as a vehicle for awareness raising on the importance of SPS issues, coordination among 
technical cooperation providers, the mobilization of funds, the exchange of experience and the 
dissemination of good practice in relation to the provision and receipt of SPS-related technical 
cooperation. 
Evaluation 
3. An independent evaluation of the STDF was completed on 14 November 2008.3  The review 
judged the overall performance of the STDF to be good, and in many important areas very good.  
Furthermore, the performance of the Secretariat was highly rated by virtually all stakeholders and by 
the evaluator.  The final report has been circ ulated separately to the SPS Committee as document 
G/SPS/GEN/899 and can also be downloaded on the WTO SPS gateway . 
4. The evaluation was discussed by the STDF Policy Committee on 16 December 2008 and led 
to a review of the STDF Operational Rules  and Operating Plan for 2009 .  The new documents 
                                                      
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 can be found on the STDF website . 
3 The evaluator was Dr Stuart Slorach, formerly of the Swedish National Food Administration, and 
former chair of the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and the European Food Safety Authority's 
Management Board. G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 2  
 
  incorporate various recommendations made in th e evaluation and place further emphasis on STDF's 
coordination function.  According to the evaluator,  the STDF's future lies in coordination "since it has 
a comparative advantage here and can play a uniqu e role in assisting devel oping countries in the 
future".  Both documents can be downloaded from the STDF website at: www.standardsfacility.org
. 
5. Other recommendations to improve the STDF’s work  related to the information flow and the 
STDF website are currently being implemented.  The evaluation concluded that the Secretariat and the 
partners, donors, observers and recipient countri es have a shared responsibility to make STDF’s 
existence and activities more widely known and to raise its profile.  There is a need to improve the 
funding situation to meet the target of US $5 million per year, preferably in multi-annual 
commitments, to implement the STDF work programme for 2009 and beyond. 
Coordination 
6. The STDF, in collaboration with the OECD a nd the WTO Secretariat, organized a workshop 
on Good Practice in SPS-Related Technical Coope ration on 6 October 2008.  The meeting was 
attended by some 250 persons in cluding delegates from the SPS Committee and 60 officials from 
developing countries.  The workshop provided an oppor tunity to consider the Paris Principles on Aid 
Effectiveness in the context of the highly techni cal area of SPS-related technical cooperation and 
presented the findings of the STDF/OECD research to identify elements of good practice in the design, implementation, outputs and the achievement of higher-order objectives for projects in East Africa, Central America and the Greater Mekong Delta Sub-Region. 
7. The workshop concluded that while there is clar ity about what should be avoided in technical 
cooperation, there is less clarity about how to practically implement the Paris Principles on Aid 
Effectiveness on the ground.  Another conclusion focused on the importance of measuring the impact 
of SPS assistance on trade performance and the need to develop and systema tically apply indicators 
for this purpose.  The research work built on previ ous STDF activities in East Africa, Central America 
and the Greater Mekong Delta Sub-Region, carried out as part of the Aid for Trade initiative, and was 
based on a survey ( G/SPS/GEN/816
 and Add.1 ), which requested WTO Members and OECD contact 
points to nominate SPS-related projects in these regi ons that could be considered as examples of good 
practice. 
8. A summary report of the workshop ( G/SPS/R/52 ), presentations and podcasts of discussions 
are available on the WTO SPS gateway .  The findings of the regional research work were published in 
three regional research papers in September 2008.4  An overview and synthesis of the findings of the 
regional research on good practice is available in G/SPS/GEN/875 .  In addition, the Secretariat has 
prepared a briefing note  on the conclusions of the good practice work for general distribution. 
9. The STDF prepared a desk study (G/SPS/GEN/900) on SPS needs and assistance of eight 
Least Developed Countries (LDCs), i.e. Benin, Ca mbodia, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rwanda, 
Senegal and Yemen.  The study was based on a re view of existing needs assessments, notably the 
Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies prepared under the Enhanced IF and other publicly available 
information.  The report complemented and st rengthened UNIDO's broa der programme proposals 
aimed at addressing the supply-side constraints of the eight LDCs and identified areas where future 
SPS technical cooperation activities with a positive trad e effect might be focused.  The final report 
                                                      
4 Good Practice in SPS-Related Techni cal Co-operation: East Africa Re gion, report by Spencer Henson 
and Oliver Masakure ( G/SPS/GEN/871 ); Good Practice in SPS-Related Technical Co-operation: Greater 
Mekong Sub-Region, report by Cornelis van der Meer and Laura L. Ignacio ( G/SPS/GEN/872 ); and Good 
Practice in SPS-Related Technical Co -operation: Central America Sub-region, report by Jason Hafemeister 
(G/SPS/GEN/874 ).  G/SPS/GEN/902 
 Page 3 
 
 
  was presented at the LDC Ministerial Conference on Aid for Trade  on 19-20 November 2008 in Siem 
Reap, Cambodia, jointly organized by WTO and UNIDO. 
10. As part of its coordination role, the Secretar iat prepared a background paper for the "Open- 
Ended Working Group for the Development of an I PPC Capacity Building Strategy" held in Rome, 
Italy, from 8-12 December 2008 (G/SPS/GEN/898).  The objective of the report was to identify 
current flows of phytosanitary technical cooperati on, examine how phytosanitary needs are evaluated 
and discuss how these can be mainstreamed into nati onal development plans.  The Secretariat also 
participated in an International Conference on "Sharing Innovative Agribus iness Solutions" organized 
by UNIDO in Cairo, Egypt, on 26-27 November 2008. 
11. The revised STDF Operating Plan  contains a detailed descrip tion of coordination activities 
planned for 2009.  This includes the organization of two global thematic events on SPS capacity 
building and cost-benefit analysis (25 June 2009, back-to- back with the SPS Committee) and on SPS 
risks and climate change (date and venue to be confirmed).  New resear ch work will also be 
conducted on the development of indicators to ev aluate the impact of SPS capacity building and on 
possible synergies between trade facilitation and STDF work. 
12. At regional level, the STDF is planning to organize a meeting by mid-2009 to coordinate 
responses to combat fruit fly in West Africa.  Th e meeting will provide an opportunity for national 
and regional organizations, donors a nd other stakeholders to discuss mechanisms to control fruit fly 
and mobilize funds for a multi-year Action Plan.  Mo re information on STDF's work in this area can 
be found on the STDF website .  Consideration will also be give n to holding one additional regional 
consultation similar to the ones held in 2008 in Ce ntral America, East Africa and the Greater Mekong 
Delta Sub-Region.     
13. At national level, the STDF will continue its collaboration with the Enhanced IF Secretariat 
and the Aid for Trade initiative to increase the awareness of SPS-related issues and mobilize 
resources.  The STDF is closely involved in an ongoing Aid for Trade activity in Peru funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).  A study examining the need for and provision of SPS-
related technical cooperation - including the need to design a comprehensive national action plan - 
will be presented in early 2009. 
Project development 
14. Project preparation grants (PPGs) are a key mechanism for future STDF programme 
development.  PPGs help overcome constraints face d by developing countries in the articulation of 
their needs and are a mechanism for ensuring synergy with other on-going initiatives, in particular the 
Enhanced IF and the Aid for Trade.  Greater relia nce will be placed on the use of PPGs to provide a 
basis for donor interventions and as a vehicle for the mobilization of funds.  A total of 31 PPGs have 
been approved and funded by the STDF since its inception. 
15. At the STDF Working Group meeting in October 2008, one PPG was approved: 
• STDF 268:  Harmonize the Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) Control Management System (Tanzania). 
Project funding 
16. An overview of the current status of STDF projects is provided in Annex I.  At the STDF 
Working Group meeting in October 2008, thr ee new projects were approved for funding: G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 4  
 
  • STDF 116 rev.1:  Development and implementation of a traceability system in the livestock 
sector in Costa Rica; 
• STDF 155:  Nicaragua market oriented trai ning service on standards application;  and 
• STDF 255:  Regional Initiative on the fight against fruit flies in West Africa. 
17. It is to be noted that the STDF Operational Rules
, as revised and adopted in December 2008 
by the STDF Policy Committee, include new eligib ility criteria for STDF-funded projects.  In the 
future, funding will be dependent on the beneficiary country or countr ies' classification in the OECD 
Development Assistance Committee List of ODA reci pients.  Applications for STDF funding can be 
made at any point in the year but should be received 60  working days in advance of each Working 
Group meeting in order to be considered at that meeting.  Forthcoming deadlines for submission of 
funding applications are as follows: 
• 3 April 2009;  and 
• 7 August 2009. 
Information dissemination 
18. Various activities to disseminate informati on and increase awareness about the STDF have 
been and will be carried out in 2009.  Following  the evaluation, work is underway to improve the 
content and functionality of the STDF website.  This includes updates and the inclusion of new 
information and translation of the content into Fr ench and Spanish.  Publication of the tri-annual 
STDF newsletter will continue in 2009.  The firs t in a new series of STDF briefings aimed at 
disseminating information on STDF's activities more widely was published in December 2008.  Work 
was also initiated on a short film on the importan ce of SPS capacity building for international trade 
and economic development. 
19. Finally, presentations and briefings on the STDF were made as part of WTO's regular 
technical assistance programme and at various othe r meetings, both inside and outside WTO.  This 
included STDF's participation in the FAO/WHO Co ordinating Committee for the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission for Europe in Warsaw, Poland (7-10 October 2008) and for North America and South 
West Pacific in Nuku’alofa, Tonga (27-30 October 2008). 
Call for evaluators 
20. All projects funded by the STDF include a provisi on for an independent ex-post evaluation.  
For this purpose, the Secretariat is  tasked to maintain a roster of consultants.  The evaluation of 
projects, however, is currently being delayed due to  the lack of suitably qualified consultants.  The 
recent review of the Facility recommended th e STDF Working Group members and observers and 
their organizations to renew their efforts to s upply the STDF Secretariat with names of suitably 
qualified persons to carry out such evaluations.  In addition, the Secr etariat would like to solicit the 
interest of consultants to carry out evalua tions of STDF projects through the SPS Committee.  
Consultants may send their Curriculum Vitae to STDFSecretariat@wto.org  at any time of the year.  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 5ANNEX 1 
IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF STDF PROJ ECTS AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS  
30 January  2009 
 
(a) Projects awaiting contracting 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End 
Date Status 
STDF 116 Establishment 
of a traceability 
system for the 
livestock sector in 
Costa Rica Develop a sustainable 
traceability system in the livestock sector which 
facilitates the 
management of the information related to 
agricultural units and 
epidemiological events IICA Costa Rica 465,220 Oct-08 To be 
confirmed (TBC) Pending. 
STDF 155 Nicaragua-
Market 
Oriented 
Training Service on 
Standards 
Application Establish SPS 
professional training 
units, to develop training 
manuals, quality and good process controls for 
pilot products. IICA Nicaragua 537,435 Oct-08 TBC Pending. 
STDF 255 Regional 
Initiative on the fight against fruit 
flies in West 
Africa Conduct tests in pilot 
mango orchards using different fruit fly control and other Integrated Pest 
Management techniques 
to monitor and control fruit fly populations in 8 
pilot countries. IITA/CIRAD West Africa 279,620 Oct-08 TBC Pending.  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 6 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End 
Date Status 
STDF 126 Support for 
the establishment of the 
Horticulture 
Development Council of 
Tanzania Assistance to the 
Tanzanian horticulture sector to address SPS issues TBC Tanzania 268,755 Jun-08 TBC Pending. 
Consultation 
ongoing with ITC to provide oversight services. 
STDF 230 Establishment 
of Pest Free 
Areas for 
Lethal Yellowing 
Disease in 
Coconuts  Build phytosanitary 
capacity to implement 
international standards to 
manage LYD in palms and thereby expand 
market access for 
coconuts TBC Mozambique 346,528 Jun-08 TBC Pending. 
MCC contacted to 
provide oversight services. 
STDF 238 Development 
of accredited Good 
Practices and 
HACCP certification 
schemes for 
fresh and processed 
food products  Implement accredited 
inspection and certificates for GAPs, GMPs and 
HACCP recognized by 
the competent authorities. TBC Guatemala 397,420 Jun-08 TBC Pending. 
Clarification on 
intersection of the project activities and those already 
implemented by 
the United States. 
STDF 246 Development 
of SPS Action Plan for 
Cambodia Identify actions to be 
taken to enhance the SPS system in Cambodia FAO Cambodia 250,000 Jun-08 TBC Pending. 
 
Clarification requested from 
FAO in WG  
  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 7 
(b) On-going projects funded by STDF 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 48 Quality control 
for shea and 
cashew nut 
products in Benin  Apply good agricultural 
practices to overcome 
problems of mycotoxin 
contamination in shea and cashew nut production.   Centre de 
Recherche 
d'Agonkamey 
(CRA) Benin 470,575 
 Nov-07 Jun-08 / Jun-10 Implementation 
ongoing. 
STDF 127 Support for 
SPS information 
systems in 
Benin Improve information flows 
on SPS requirements, particularly in the private 
sector in Benin. FAO, Benin 
Chamber of Commerce Benin 359,790 Nov-07 Jul-08 / Jul 10 Implementation 
ongoing. 
STDF 62 Strengthening 
food safety in 
Cameroon Reactivate a national 
committee on food safety 
and  train public and private 
sector stakeholders in Cameroon.   FAO Cameroon 445,964 Nov-07 Jul-08 / Jul 10 Implementation 
ongoing. 
STDF 171 East African 
Phytosanitary 
Centre Build phytosanitary 
capacity and increase 
market access through the establishment of an East 
African Phytosanitary 
Centre. KEPHIS, 
University of 
Nairobi, CABI, IPPC (oversight)Kenya and 
East Africa 729,375 Nov-07 May-08 / May-10 Implementation 
ongoing. 
STDF 170 Strengthening 
the capacity of 
government 
SPS officials in 
Nepal Train government officials 
on implementation of SPS 
measures.  Project supports 
Integrated Framework (IF) 
Diagnostic Trade 
Integration Study (DTIS).  FAO Nepal 347,900 Mar-07 Mar-08 / Mar-10 Implementation 
ongoing.  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 8 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 134 Capacity 
building to 
improve fish 
trade performance of 
selected West 
African countries Improve knowledge and 
awareness of SPS issues in 
the fisheries sector in five 
West African countries.  FAO Benin, 
Mauritania, 
Senegal, 
Sierra Leone and The 
Gambia 469,000 Mar-07 Mar-08 / Feb-10 Implementation 
ongoing.  
STDF 69 Improved 
capacity to ensure safety 
and quality of 
Yemeni seafood products Assist the Yemen Seafood 
Exporter's Association to improve the quality and 
safety of Yemeni seafood 
products.   International 
Trade Centre (ITC) Yemen 
Seafood Exporters 
Association 
(YSEA) 408,750 Jun-07 Sep-07 /Aug-09 Implementation 
ongoing. Extension 
requested until  
end 2009. 
STDF 173 Assessing 
capacity 
building needs of food control 
systems in 
developing APEC Member 
Economies Train food safety regulators 
from developing member 
economies in Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 
(APEC) using FAO's food 
safety capacity evaluation tools.  WTO Food safety 
authorities in 
selected APEC 
member 
economies 113,000 Mar-07 Aug-07 /Apr-09 Implementation 
ongoing.   
STDF 108 Developing 
institutional capacity of 
countries in the 
Americas to participate in 
the SPS 
Committee Promote more active and 
effective participation in SPS Committee through a 
regional review of SPS 
compliance structures and practices. WTO Member 
countries of the Inter-
American 
Institute for Cooperation 
on 
Agriculture 
(IICA) 585,588 Oct-06 Oct-07 /Feb-09 Implementation 
ongoing. Extension 
requested until 
April 2010.  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 9Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 133 Building 
capacity to use 
the 
Phytosanitary Capacity 
Evaluation 
(PCE) Tool in the Pacific Train National Plant 
Protection Organizations 
(NPPOs) in the South 
Pacific to evaluate their services using the PCE tool.  FAO/IPPC South Pacific 
Forum 
Members 179,000 Oct-06 Aug-07 /Jul-09 Implementation 
ongoing.   
STDF 145 Rwanda 
Horticulture Export 
Standards 
Initiative (RHESI) Increase Rwanda’s exports 
of fruit, vegetables and flowers in international and 
regional markets. Project 
developed based on IF DTIS. World Bank Plant health 
services and horticulture 
exporters in 
Rwanda 526,647 Jun-06 May-07 /Apr-09 Implementation 
ongoing. 
STDF 146 Strengthening 
phytosanitary 
controls in Mali (with a focus on 
mango exports) Expand international 
market access for fresh 
produce from Mali through improved phytosanitary 
control capacity. Project 
developed based on IF DTIS. Ministry of 
Commerce (IF 
focal point) Mali 518,800 Jun-06 Feb-07 / Feb-09 Implementation 
ongoing.   
STDF 114 Effective 
aflatoxin 
management system in Brazil 
nut production  
 To recover and consolidate 
export market access 
through implementation of an effective system to 
reduce aflatoxin 
contamination in the Brazil nut production chain.  WTO Brazil 
(results will 
be shared with partners 
in Peru and 
Bolivia) 619,664 Feb-06 Jul-06 / Jul-08 Implementation 
ongoing.  
Extension granted until 
Nov-08. Waiting 
for final report.  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 10 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 65 Develop a 
private/public 
safety control 
system for the horticultural 
export sector in 
Guinea Assist the public and 
private sector to meet 
official and commercial 
standards for fruit and vegetable exports through 
development of a safety 
control system.  Project developed based on IF 
DTIS report. UNCTAD Guinea 530,300 Sep-05 Dec-05 /  May-08 Implementation 
ongoing. 
Extension 
granted until Dec-08. Waiting 
for final report. 
STDF 79 Quality 
information on 
SPS issues – a 
prerequisite for capacity 
building Improve the sharing of 
information on Codex, OIE 
and IPPC standards (and 
supporting scientific evaluations) through the 
International Portal on 
Food Safety, Animal and Plant Health (IPFSAPH).  FAO All 
developing 
countries 470,000 Sep-05  Jun-06 / May-08 Implementation 
ongoing. 
Extension 
granted until Dec-08. Waiting 
for final report. 
 
 
(c) Completed projects funded by STDF  
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 13 Development of 
Regional Action Plans to 
Enhance 
Veterinary 
Capacity in 
East and West Africa Develop regional 
strategies to strengthen veterinary capacity in 
East and West Africa 
with emphasis on 
improved surveillance, 
reporting, control and implementation of 
international standards. OIE, FAO Mali, 
Ethiopia and Djibouti 305,000 Sep-04 Oct-06 / Apr-07 Completed. 
Independent evaluation to be 
undertaken.  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 11Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 120 Risk analysis 
and risk assessment training in 
India Enhance knowledge and 
skills of Indian officials on risk analysis and risk assessment procedures. WTO India 153,600 Feb-06 Dec-06 / Dec-07 Evaluation partly 
completed 
STDF 15 Expanding SPS 
capacities at national and 
regional levels Develop a training 
programme and core group of trainers to 
deliver training for 
veterinary officials.  OIE, WTO OIE 
delegates from Mali, 
Thailand, 
Egypt, Common-
wealth of 
Independent States (OIS) 
and Latin 
America. 130,614 Sep-04 Sep-04 / Dec-07 Completed. No 
evaluation was  required. 
STDF 89 International 
Plant Health Risk Analysis 
Workshop Enhance expertise and 
capacity of countries and NPPOs to conduct pest 
risk analysis (PRA).  
 FAO Officials (29) 
from developing 
and least 
developed countries  147,000 Sep-05 Oct-05 /May-07 Evaluation 
completed. Information 
available on 
IPPC website: https://www.ippc
.int/servlet/CDS
Servlet?status=N
D01ODQ1NSY2
PWVuJjMzPSo
mMzc9a29z .  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 12 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 56 Capacity 
building to enhance implementation 
of the Codex 
Alimentarius Code of 
Practice on 
animal feeding Strengthen 
implementation of  good animal feeding practices and good manufacturing 
practices through 
development of training manuals, regional 
workshops in Africa, 
Latin America and Asia 
and country-level 
training. International 
Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) Feed industry 
in developing countries. 150,000 Mar-05 Sep-05 / Nov-06 Evaluation 
completed. 
 
STDF 37 Assistance to 
developing countries in the 
implementation 
of International Standard for 
Phytosanitary 
Measure (ISPM) 15  Train officials on 
implementation of ISPM 15 (Guidelines for 
regulating wood 
packaging material in international trade) to 
ensure minimal trade 
disruptions. IPPC, FAO 171 delegates 
(representing 79 countries 
and 6 
regional plant protection 
organizations
) attended workshop. 
 332,000 Sep-04 Nov-04 / Mar-06 Evaluation 
completed. Training 
materials 
available on IPPC website: 
https://www.ippc
.int/servlet/CDS
Servlet?status=N
D00OTEyNyY2
PWVuJjMzPSo
mMzc9a29z .  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 13Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 14 Evaluation of 
capacity of national veterinary 
services  Develop a veterinary 
capacity evaluation tool based on the IICA Performance Vision 
Strategy document. OIE IICA  37,000 Nov-03 May-06 Evaluation 
completed.  
STDF 20 Country-based 
plans for SPS-related 
development Carry out baseline studies 
of SPS capacity and apply cost-benefit 
analysis to examine 
returns on investment in terms of foreign trade and 
an improved SPS 
situation.   WTO Peru and 
Uganda 170,862 Sep-03 Nov-04 / Mar-07 Completed. 
Evaluation ongoing.  
 
STDF 19 Model 
arrangements for SPS 
stakeholder 
involvement at the national 
level Improve SPS-related 
information flows and information sharing 
between the public and 
private sector with positive spin-offs for 
market access WTO Sri Lanka 
and Paraguay 291,218 Sep-04 Dec-04 /Apr-07 Completed.  
Independent evaluation to be 
undertaken.   
STDF 9 Model 
programme for developing food standards 
within a risk 
analysis framework  Strengthen capacity of 
low income countries in the Asia Pacific Region to develop food standards 
based on international 
requirements and participate in Codex FAO Asia Pacific 
countries 69,536 Nov-03 Mar-05 / Sep-06 Completed.  No 
evaluation was requested.  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 14 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
(US$) Approval 
date Start /End Date Status 
STDF 10 Support to pilot 
activities for national implementation 
of the 
International Portal on Food 
Safety, Animal 
and Plant 
Health in 
Turkey and Uganda  Establish national 
windows for IPFSAPH through training and the development of a 
handbook FAO Turkey and 
Uganda 55,000 Sep-03 Mar-05 / Sep-06 Completed.  
Independent evaluation to be undertaken. 
STDF 5 STDF Database Establish a database 
covering the period 2001-
03 to: i) help reduce 
duplication and gaps in activities; and ii) track 
SPS-related technical 
assistance flows and trends.  WTO Database 45,100 Jun-03 Jul-03 / Dec-05 Completed. 
Database 
available on 
STDF website (http://stdfdb.wt
o.org).  Report 
submitted to SPS Committee 
(G/SPS/GEN/72
6) 
  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 15(d) Projects developed by STDF but funded by other organizations 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget 
in US$ Approval 
date Start /End 
Date Status 
STDF 100 Strengthening 
the national 
food control 
system for the fisheries sector 
in Cape Verde Assist the fish processing 
sector in Cape Verde to 
comply with international 
food safety standards. To be 
determined. Cape Verde 232,647 Jun-07 To be 
confirmed 
(TBC) Approved in 
principle by the 
WG.  Funding 
sought outside the STDF. 
STDF 113 Strengthening 
SPS controls in Burundi Enhance the capacity of the 
Burundi Bureau of Standards (BBN) including   
training on SPS compliance 
for public and private sector officials.   To be 
determined. Burundi 513,000 Mar-07 TBC Project approved 
by WG.  Finalizing 
arrangements with 
UNIDO and IF focal point. 
STDF 66 Project 
preparation 
grant in 
Mozambique  Improve SPS compliance for 
horticulture exporters in 
regional and international 
markets.  Project based on IF DTIS. UNCTAD Mozambique 600,000 Mar-05 TBC Project funded by 
United Kingdom 
Department for 
International Development 
(DFID) and 
implemented by ComMark Trust 
 
  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 16 
(e) Projects for which approval has been revoked by the Working Group  
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Budget in 
US$ Approval 
date Status 
STDF 64 Facilitating 
livestock trade in 
Djibouti Facilitate livestock trade from 
Djibouti through training for 
private and public sector 
veterinary officials.  Project based on IF DTIS. FAO Djibouti 560,000 Sep-05 Approval withdrawn at 
Mar-07 WG meeting.  
Applicant invited to 
resubmit project for funding. 
  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 17STATUS OF APPROVED PROJEC T PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGs)5  
 
(a) PPGs awaiting contracting 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 268 Harmonization of 
the Legal, Regulatory and 
Institutional 
Framework for 
SPS control 
Management System Strengthening the relevant 
legislation and improving institutional coordination to raise 
confidence among trading 
partners.   TBC Tanzania Oct-08 Pending. Consultants identified and 
waiting for beneficiary. 
 
 
(b) PPGs currently being implemented 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing
/Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 242 Elaboration of 
SPS needs expressed in the 
IF DTIS Assess SPS human resource and 
infrastructure needs based on the IF DTIS and formulate a 
proposal to improve the 
competitiveness of the litchi and lobster sectors.   WTO Comoros Jun-08 Implementation on-going. 
STDF 232 A phytosanitary 
capacity building 
strategy for 
Africa Improve phytosanitary capacity 
in African countries through the 
development and 
implementation of a 
phytosanitary capacity building 
strategy. CABI Cameroon 
and other 
African 
countries Jun-08 Implementation on-going. 
                                                      
5 All PPGs are funded from the ST DF.  The budget for PPGs is US$2 0,000 unless otherwise indicated.   
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 18 
Project Title Objective Implementing
/Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 221 Supporting 
implementation of SPS standards in Burkina Faso Identify specific SPS issues and 
constraints affecting sesame production and exports and develop a project proposal aimed 
at overcoming these constraints 
and improving market access   GTZ Burkina Faso Apr-08 Implementation on-going. 
STDF 234 Design of Lao 
GAP scheme Create institutional infrastructure 
to ensure market access for 
agricultural products from Lao 
PDR. WTO Lao PDR Jun-08 Implementation ongoing 
STDF 105 Compartment-
alization Design a demonstration project 
on how to apply compartmentalization.  OIE Brazil and 
Thailand Jun-07 Implementation ongoing. 
STDF 191 Enhancing Sierra 
Leone's national 
SPS capacity Design a national SPS 
framework.   WTO Sierra Leone Jun-07 Implementation ongoing. Validation 
workshop to be held in early 2009. 
Prospect for funding from the AfDB 
or the EC. 
STDF 165 Improving fruit 
production SPS 
controls in 
Madagascar 
 Assist Madagascar to establish 
pest-free places of production.   WTO Madagascar Mar-07 
and Nov-
07 Implementation ongoing. 
The study has been validated. Waiting for final project document. 
  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 19(c) Completed PPGs resulting in a project which has been funded 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 171 Phytosanitary 
Centre of Excellence Revise a project document to 
establish a Phytosanitary Centre of Excellence in Kenya.  If funded the project would address 
issues raised in the IF DTIS 
reports for Uganda, Tanzania 
and Rwanda.  WTO Kenya Mar-07 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Nov-07). 
STDF 155 Nicaragua 
market-oriented training service on standards 
application Survey Nicaragua's SPS 
requirements in the plant health sector to improve export competitiveness. Michigan State 
University (MSU) Nicaragua Oct-06 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Oct-08). 
STDF 127 Strengthening the 
capacity of the Benin Chamber of Commerce to 
track SPS-related 
development in exports markets Establish an information centre 
within the Benin Chamber of Commerce to ensure that firms are aware of SPS measures 
affecting their existing or 
planned exports.  WTO Benin Jun-06 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Nov-07). 
STDF 126 Assistance to 
establish a 
horticulture 
industry organization in 
Tanzania Develop a business plan and 
facilitate the establishment of a 
horticulture association in 
Tanzania. WTO Tanzania  Feb-06 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Jun-08). 
STDF 116 Establishment of 
a traceability system for the 
livestock sector in 
Costa Rica Assist in the development of the 
animal health directorate's National Epidemiological 
Surveillance Programme by 
introducing a traceability system for livestock farms.  WTO Costa Rica Feb-06 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Oct-08).  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 20 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 113 Project 
preparation grant to survey 
food safety needs 
in Burundi  Apply the FAO/WHO 
"Guidelines to Assess Capacity Building Needs in Official Food 
Control Systems" to survey the 
food safety situation in Burundi and develop a trade-related 
project. WTO/ Burundi 
Standards Bureau Burundi Feb-06 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Mar-07).  Decision to seek non-STDF funding. 
STDF 88 Nepal SPS 
training project preparation 
grant Evaluation of the training needs 
of Nepal's SPS authorities and design a training programme. FAO Nepal Sep-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Mar-07).  
STDF 102 Project 
preparation grant for Mali  Design a project to enhance SPS 
capacity in the fruit and vegetable sector. WTO Mali Sep-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Jun-06). 
STDF 103 Project 
preparation grant for 
Rwanda Design a project to enhance SPS 
capacity in the fruit and vegetable sector.  WTO Rwanda Sep-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Jun-06). 
STDF 63 Project 
preparation grant in Benin  Application of FAO/WHO 
"Guidelines to Assess Capacity Building Needs in Official Food Control Systems".   WTO Benin Mar-05 Project approved at WG 
(Feb-06). 
STDF 69 Project 
preparation 
grant in Yemen  Survey of SPS issues in the 
fisheries sector and project 
design.  Project based on needs 
identified in IF DTIS report.   WTO Yemen Mar-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Feb-06). 
STDF 64 Project 
preparation 
grant in Djibouti  Field research and design of 
project in the livestock sector in 
Djibouti.  Project based on needs 
identified in IF DTIS report.  WTO Djibouti Mar-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Sep-05).  
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 21Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 65 Project 
preparation grant in Guinea  Develop a project proposal that 
builds on the UNCTAD evaluation of costs of 
compliance in the tropical fruit 
sector.  Project based on needs identified in IF DTIS report.  UNCTAD Guinea Mar-05 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Sep-05). 
STDF 66 Project 
preparation 
grant in 
Mozambique  Develop a project proposal that 
builds on the UNCTAD 
evaluation of costs of 
compliance in the tropical fruit 
sector.  Project based on needs 
identified in IF DTIS report.  UNCTAD Mozambique Mar-05 Project funded by DFID. 
STDF 62 Project 
preparation grant in 
Cameroon  Apply the FAO/WHO 
"Guidelines to Assess Capacity Building Needs in 
Official Food Control 
Systems".  WTO Cameroon Sep-04 Project approved at WG 
meeting (Aug-05). 
 
 
(d) Completed PPGs for projects which have not
 been funded 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 223 Strengthening 
the official food control in Moldova to 
support the 
emerging food 
businesses Assess requirements to 
strengthen official food controls, standards and food inspection based on specific priority 
commodities identified in the 
World Bank Action Plan and 
develop a proposal for follow-up.  FAO Republic of 
Moldova Apr-08 Completed.  
  G/SPS/GEN/902 
Page 22 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 172 Expanding 
Nigeria’s food exports through enhanced SPS 
capacity Enhance Nigeria's capacity in the 
SPS area and improve the country's ability to export high-value food products. WTO  Nigeria Mar-07 Completed. The project 
proposal will be resubmitted to the Working Group. 
STDF 46 Project 
preparation grant on 
implementation 
of Codex standards (WHO 
Africa) Assist WHO Africa to develop a 
project proposal to support selected African countries to 
implement Codex standards. WHO/WTO Benin and 
Tanzania. Feb-06 Completed. 
STDF 100 Strengthening 
the national food control system for the fisheries 
sector in Cape 
Verde Assist the fish processing sector 
in Cape Verde to comply with international food safety standards. WTO Fish processing 
sector in Cape Verde Set-05 Completed. 
STDF 101 Eritrea project 
preparation 
grant Apply FAO/WHO "Guidelines to 
Assess Capacity Building Needs 
in Official Food Control 
Systems" and design a project. WTO Eritrea Sep-05 Fieldwork complete.  Report 
and project submitted to WG. 
Project not accepted for 
funding. 
STDF 52 Post-harvest 
contamination in Malawi and 
Zambia Develop a project proposal to 
address post-harvest contamination problems in the 
paprika and groundnut sectors in 
Malawi and Zambia.  Project based on IF DTIS. WTO Malawi and 
Zambia Mar-05 Completed.   
   G/SPS/GEN/902
 Page 23Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 61 Project 
preparation grant in Cambodia  Fieldwork in Cambodia to 
develop a project proposal.  Grant application presented in July 2005.  Cambodia Mar-05 Fieldwork complete.  Report 
and project submitted to WG.  Project not accepted for funding. 
STDF 38 Agricultural 
Health and Food 
Safety 
Laboratory 
Needs 
Assessment for CARICOM 
Countries Survey laboratory capacity in 
CARICOM to develop a project 
to assist in development of a 
regional strategy on laboratory 
infrastructure. CARICOM Caribbean 
countries Sept-04 Initial laboratory survey 
completed but no final project 
document submitted. 
 
 (e) PPGs revoked by the Working Group 
 
Project Title Objective Implementing/
Oversight 
Agency Beneficiary Approval 
date Status 
STDF 68 Project 
preparation grant 
on SPS 
cooperation for South Asian 
Association for 
Regional Cooperation 
(SAARC)  Support regional cooperation on 
SPS issues among SAARC 
countries. TBC SAARC Mar-05 Delay in implementation for 
over two years.  WG meeting 
(Mar-07) decided to withdraw 
PPG approval and invite SAARC to re-apply. 
 
 
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