. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/914 
16 March 2009 
 (09-1293) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) 
 
Statement at the Meeting of 25-26 February 2009
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 26 Fe bruary 2009, is being circulated at the 
request of the ITC . 
 
_______________ 
  
1. Export Quality Bulletins 
1. The following bulletins have been prepared in 2008 and can be downloaded from the ITC 
website at www.intracen.org/eqm
;  ITC will provide hard copies upon request (quality@intracen.org): 
• Exporting Seafood to the European Communiti es (EQ EQ84, available in E, F, S); 
• An Introduction to ISO 22000 – Food Safety  Management Systems (EQM EQ85);  and 
• Directory of Marks and Labels related to F ood Safety, Environmental Integrity and Social 
Equity (EQ EQ86). 
 
2. Seminar in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 
2. A seminar on "Fostering Trade through Public-Pri vate Dialogue: Business Implications of the 
Emerging International Trading System for Centra l American Countries" was organized by ITC on 
15-16 December 2008 in Santo Domingo.  It was in response to specific requests made by Trade Promotion Organizations and focussed on three issues: 
• Food standards and the challenge of traceability; 
• "Branding" as a means to improve market position and international profile;  and  
• Public procurement and competition polic y as tools for economic development. 
 3. There were various presentations on food sta ndards and the challenge of traceability and case 
studies on SPS issues.  A presentation was made by ITC on "Dealing with SPS issues – Some Case 
Studies from ITC", outlining work done in the Ph ilippines, Yemen, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan and 
Tajikistan, and the lessons learnt from the technical assistance provided there.  The presentations can 
be downloaded from the ITC website at www.intracen.org/btp
. G/SPS/GEN/914 
Page 2  
 
  3. Workshop on SPS and Marketing Issues in the Fisheries Sector in Yemen, Sana’a, 22 
March 2009 
4. A Workshop on "Developing an integrated SPS and Marketing Strategy for the Fisheries 
Sector in Yemen" is being organized within the framework of STDF 69 project
1 by the Yemeni 
Seafood Exporters Association (YSEA), as implementing agency of STDF 69 project, and with the 
supervision of ITC, as supervisory agency. 
5. The objective of the workshop is to raise awareness among the sector stakeholders about the 
main SPS and marketing issues that the fisheries sect or in Yemen is currently facing and explore the 
rationale and the options for the introduction of an integrated marketing and SPS strategy covering all 
aspects of the supply chain for fishery products to address the most pressing issues.  Solutions will be 
explored through the establishment of a private-public dialogue and cooperation. 
6. Representatives of the Ministry of Fish Wealth, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Yemeni 
Export Supreme Council, YSEA, private sector, European Commission, World Bank, ITC and STDF have been invited to participate and contribute to the discussion. 
__________  
                                                     
 
1 STDF 69 project:  "Improved Capacity for Ensu ring the Quality and Safety of Yemeni Seafood 
Products".