WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/759 
23 February 2007 
 (07-0770) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
SPS-RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDERTAKEN/PLANNED BY THE 
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) 
 
Communication from the International Trade Centre
  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 20 February 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the ITC. 
_______________ 
  
1. ITC provides technical assistance to three target groups:  (i) to enterprises to strengthen their 
international competitiveness;  (ii) to trade-support institutions to develop capacity to provide a more 
comprehensive service to their clients;  (iii) to policymakers, inter alia , to support in the integration of 
the business sector into the global economy.  There are various areas in which ITC intervenes to 
achieve its objectives.  This paper highlights some of the ITC activities in the area of Standards and 
Quality Management and in particular in the area of SPS. 
Projects/activities in the area of SPS from 2005 up date 
 
1. "Upgrading Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' - Capability in Fish Inspection 
Services" 
Asian Trust Fund (ATF)
1 – PHI/A01/01B  Philippines (May 2005 – February 2006) 
 2. The objective of the project was to improve th e effectiveness of inspection services in the 
Philippines for fishery exports and th e quality and safety of fish supplies to meet the requirements of 
import markets.  This contributed to address some urgent deficiencies highlighted by the European 
Commission Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission
2 regarding fish inspection for export.  The 
Final Tripartite Review Meeting of the ATF Project  in the fishery sector confirmed the achievements 
of the project in terms of strengthening of the central and regional sanitary monitoring and control systems, including its inspection services. 
2. "Improving the inspection capabilities and st atus of vessels and establishments in the 
Indonesian fishery sector" 
 ATF - INS/A1/01B  Indonesia (June 2006 – June 2007)  
3. The objective of the project is to strengthen the inspection and auditing services in Indonesia 
for fishery exports, to improve the quality and safety of the fish processing facilities listed as approved establishments for export to the European Communities.  This will enable the Indonesian 
                                                     
 
1 The Asia Trust Fund (ATF), co-financed by the European Commission (EC) and the International 
Trade Centre (ITC) and managed by ITC, is a channel to provide quick delivery of short-term Trade-Related 
Technical Assistance, in response to an immediate need identified by a national government or regional organisation (for more info rmation on ATF, visit: h ttp://www.intracen.org/atf). 
2 Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), DG Health  and Consumer Protectio n Directorate General. G/SPS/GEN/759 
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  Competent Authority to conduct a fast review of the approved list of vessels and establishments.  The 
project will contribute to address some urgent defi ciencies highlighted by the European Commission 
FVO mission regarding fish exports to the European Communities. 
3. "Upgrading the capability of the Competent Au thorities’ and fish facilities in Malaysia 
of meeting EU fishery requirements" 
 ATF - MAL/A1/01B Malaysia (November 2006 – June 2007)  
4. The objective of the project is to improve the effectiveness of inspection and auditing services 
in Malaysia for fishery exports and the quality and sa fety of fish supplies to meet the requirements of 
import markets.  The project will enhance th e knowledge and understanding of the Competent 
Authorities' and industry personnel of the Eu ropean Communities trade-related policies and 
requirements pertaining to the export of fishery pr oducts to the European Co mmunities.  The project 
will contribute to address some urgent deficienci es highlighted by the European Commission FVO 
mission regarding fish exports to the European Communities. 
4. "Technical Support for Improving the Standardization, Quality Assurance, 
Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) infrastructure" 
 IF MLW/05/614A Malawi
3 (September 2005 – December 2007) 
 
5. This project aims at achieving the Millenni um Development Goals and human development 
through private sector development.  It will be ach ieved by building local capacity in the field of 
Standardization, Quality Assurance, Accreditati on and Metrology (SQAM) both at enterprise level, 
through the enhancement of the awareness of Malawi  enterprises on the importance of standardization 
issues, and at institutional level, the improvement of the capability of local organizations to deliver 
SQAM-related services to private enterprises, with the overall aim of supporting enterprises in their 
endeavour.  The project is implemented in collabora tion with the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS). 
6. One of the components of the project is to pr ovide support to some local enterprises (12) for 
establishing and implementing Food  Safety Management Systems (HACCP) in accordance with the 
Codex standard. 
7. Another component is to provide support to local laboratories.  In July 2006, a needs 
assessment was carried out in six testing laboratories and an action plan prepared so that they could start implementing the requirements of the rele vant international standard (ISO/IEC 17025 – 
Requirements for competence of testing laboratories ) to enable them to obtain international 
accreditation.  In October 2006 additional assistance was provided, including inter alia , the review of 
the progress against recommendations and an updating of the recommendations for improving.  Some 
of these laboratories test food and agricultural products. 
5. "Trade promotion in Tajikistan – Phase II" 
 TAJ/61/104A Tajikistan  (October 2006 - December 2008) 
 
8. The objective of the project is to strengthen th e sustainable expansion and diversification of 
small and medium enterprises (SME) exports in Tajikis tan.  It aims to develop national capacity for 
trade development by focusing on business serv ices providers while also addressing institutional 
issues. 
                                                     
 
3 The Integrated Framework for Trad e-Related Technical Assistance to  least-developed countries (IF) 
is a multi-agency, multi-donor programme that assists the least-developed countries to expand their participation 
in the global economy thereby enhancing their economic growth and poverty reduction strategies.  G/SPS/GEN/759 
 Page 3 
 
 
  •  Immediate Objective 1:  To improve the e xport competitiveness of enterprises in the agro-
processing sector in areas where export competitiv eness is determined by activities at the 
enterprise level (such as in product design, qua lity and safety management or marketing). 
 
•  Immediate Objective 2:  To strengthen Bu siness Support Services Organizations through 
increasing the quality and range of their ser vices that can assist potential and actual 
exporters in becoming more export competitive.  The project will also contribute in 
improving  the Standards, Quality Assura nce, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) 
infrastructure and will assist sector associ ations in gaining public recognition and 
increasing their capacity to provide selective services to members and non-members. 
 
•  Immediate Objective 3:  To consolidate th e emerging public-private sector dialogue around 
developing and implementing sector  and national export strategies. 
 
9. An assessment of the national SPS infrastruct ure was carried out and a road map was 
prepared for its improvement.  A workshop on the SPS Agreement from a business perspective was 
conducted in November 2006. 
10. Assistance will be provided to six enterprises, inter alia , in the area of food safety and quality 
management systems. 
11. Awareness seminars will be conducted on ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management Systems) 
and these will be followed by ISO 22000 Lead Auditor training courses. 
6. "Trade promotion in Kyrgyzstan – Phase II" 
 KYR/61/91A Kyrgyzstan (October 2006 - December 2008) 
 
12. The objective of the project is to strengthen th e sustainable expansion and diversification of 
SME exports in Kyrgyz Republic.  It aims to develop national capacity for trade development by 
focusing on business services providers wh ile also addressing institutional issues. 
 
•  Immediate Objective 1:  To improve the e xport competitiveness of enterprises in the agro-
processing sector in areas where export competitiv eness is determined by activities at the 
enterprise level (such as in product design, qua lity and safety management or marketing). 
 
•  Immediate Objective 2:  To strengthen Bu siness Support Services Organizations through 
increasing the quality and range of their ser vices that can assist potential and actual 
exporters in becoming more export competitive.  The project will also contribute to improving the Standards, Quality Assura nce, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM) 
infrastructure and will assist sector associ ations in gaining public recognition and 
increasing their capacity to provide selective services to members and non-members. 
 
•  Immediate Objective 3:  To consolidate th e emerging public-private sector dialogue around 
developing and implementing sector  and national export strategies. 
 
13. An assessment of the national SPS infrastruct ure was carried out and a road map was 
prepared for its improvement.  A workshop on the SPS Agreement from a business perspective was 
conducted in November 2006. 
14. Assistance will be provided to six enterprises, inter alia , in the area of food safety and quality 
management systems. G/SPS/GEN/759 
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  15. Awareness seminars will be conducted on ISO 22000 (Food Safety Management Systems) 
and these will be followed by ISO 22000 Lead Auditor training courses. 
7. "Bangladesh Quality Support Programme" 
 BGD/75/21 Bangladesh (April 2006 – December 2008) 
 16. The objectives of the project are to: 
 
•  Improve private sector understanding on qua lity and packaging requirements in export 
markets;  and 
 
•  Apply the value chain approach to find ways  to enhance enterprise competitiveness in these 
markets (including the development of sectoral strategies). 
 
17. A review of the national infrastructure for SPS was conducted in 2006 and a road map has 
been prepared for its improvement. 
18. The value chain approach will be applied to  the horticulture and agro-processed food sectors 
to improve their competitiveness.  
8. Follow-up of the Workshop on "Influencing  and Meeting International Standards: 
Challenges for developing countries" (from January 2007 – to be determined) 
 
19. ITC, jointly with the Commonwealth Secret ariat published "Influencing and Meeting 
International Standards: Challenges for developi ng countries" which is based on case studies carried 
out in six countries in the areas of Technical Ba rriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures.  An international workshop was orga nized in June 2005 in Geneva to discuss the 
recommendations for technical assistance from the case studies, in particular those related to improving the participation of deve loping countries in international standardization.  As a follow-up 
of the workshop, ITC together with the Commonwea lth Secretariat is now developing proposals for 
providing assistance to developing countries to influen ce international standards which form the basis 
of SPS measures, as well as to meet SPS measures of importing countries, including those imposed by 
the private sector, taking into account assistance bein g provided in this ar ea to avoid duplication.
4 
9. Regional and National Workshops on the SPS Agreement from a business perspective 
(2004-2007) 
 20. Exporters can take advantage of  the benefits that can be de rived from the WTO Agreement on 
the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary M easures for improving their market access.  Indeed 
the obligations imposed on importing countries can be converted into benefits for exporting countries.  
To facilitate the understanding of these issues, ITC conducts regional and na tional workshops using as 
background material an ITC information/training  pack entitled "The SPS Agreement:  A Business 
Perspective".  
21. Some of the SPS workshops ITC execu ted/planned are listed herewith: 
 
•  National workshops: Bangladesh (June 2004) , Kyrgyzstan (November 2006), Tajikistan 
(November 2006), Malawi and Bangladesh  (2007, to be confirmed);  and 
                                                     
 
4 All the background documentation, the papers presented and discussed during the workshop and the 
final report are accessible at the ITC webpage at ww w.intracen.org/eqm under the section named "Events".  G/SPS/GEN/759 
 Page 5 
 
 
  •  Regional workshops: Egypt (Octobe r 2004), Zambia (July 2005 – JITAP5), Benin 
(September 2005 – JITAP). 
 
10. "Product and Market development of Agro-b ased Products (Mushrooms and Peaches)" 
 LES/04/713A (NOVEMBER 2004 – NOVEMBER 2006) 
 
22. As part of an on-going ITC project funded under the Integrated Framework Trust Fund6 
(Window II) in Lesotho, it was envisaged that  an assessment would be made of the potential 
production and export of mushrooms from the count ry.  Production training has been partially 
completed and the next phase of capacity building is  training stakeholders to achieve a higher level of 
awareness and capabilities to satisfy international food quality processing, packaging and traceability 
standards.  A workshop was organized in Lesotho about requirements on quality and safety of fruits 
and vegetables with particular em phasis on mushrooms and on EurepGAP. 
11. Joint ITC/ISO tool:  ISO 22000 - Are you ready? 
 
23. ITC and ISO have been collaborating to develo p a software-based self-diagnostic tool on 
ISO 22000  Food safety management systems — Requiremen ts for any organization in the food chain. 
The tool will help, inter alia , small businesses, especially in developing countries and transition 
economies, operating in the food chain to understa nd the regulatory requirements for food safety and 
to make an assessment of thei r readiness to implement ISO 22000 and obtain some preliminary 
guidance on implementing the standard.  It will be of benefit to enterprises in their effort to improve 
their market share of food and agricultural products in  the global market.  The tool will be available in 
CD-ROM as well as in hard copy in March 2007. 
 
For more information: 
Shyam K. Gujadhur, ITC Senior Adviser on Standards and Quality Management 
Tel:  +41 22 730 03 96 - Fax:  +41 22 7 30 05 76 - E-mail:  gujadhur@intracen.org 
Ludovica Ghizzoni, ITC Associate Expert on Standards and Quality Management 
Tel:  +41 22 730 06 38 - Fax:  +41 22 7 30 05 76 - E-mail:  ghizzoni@intracen.org 
Web address:  www.intracen.org/eqm  
E-mail address:  quality@intracen.org 
 
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5 The Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP) mobili zes the expertise and support of 
WTO, UNCTAD and ITC to help African country partne rs benefit from the new multilateral trading system. 
6 The Integrated Framework Trust F und (IFTF) provides a central point for the deposit of contributions 
to the Integrated Framew ork for Trade-Related Technical Assist ance to Least-Developed Countries.