G/SPS/GEN/2101  
 
2 March  2023 
(23-1407) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
INFORMATION ON SPS -RELATED ACTIVITIES OF  
THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC)  
(JUNE 2022 – FEBRUARY  2023) 
COMMUNICATION FROM ITC 
The following communication, received on 1 March 2023, 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 market 
requirements. An update of selected SPS -related activities of interest to WTO Members is provided 
below.  
1  PROJECTS  
1.1  Iraq: Strengthening the Agriculture and Agri -food Value Chain and Improving trade 
policy (SAAVI) (September 2020  - April 2025 / Donor European Union ) 
1.1.  This project aims to support stabilization and governance through building the capacities of 
key Iraqi institutions to deliver public services, as well as sustainable job creation through the 
development of human capital and the enhancement of private sector 's competitiveness. 
This EU-funded project focuses on the development and implementation of sector st rategies for 
high-potential products, as well as on defining more market -oriented policies to improve 
predictability and efficiency in the business environment. SAAVI also provides assistance to enhance 
Iraq's trade policy and supports the country in its W TO accession process.  
1.2.  A second workshop specifically geared to implementing the transparency related functions and 
functioning of SPS National Enquiry Point and SPS National Notification Authority is planned during 
mid 2023. 
1.3.  Iraq Quality for Trade Platform  has been developed and is ready for scaling. Quality and food 
safety/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations identified under the project 
(preliminarily - tomato, poultry and figs) to be featured on the Platform.  
1.2  Malaysia Arise  Plus Proj ect (February 2021  - January 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.4.  In partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the project aims to support inclusive 
and sustainable trade growth and poverty reduction in Malaysia, while contributing to economic 
integrati on in the ASEAN region.  
1.5.  Activities include biosecurity of fisheries and aquaculture, plant health, animal health and 
sustainable agriculture practices including GAP, Organic, Green Livestock and agricultural waste 
management.  
1.6.  Training of officers of the Pl ant Biosecurity Division of Department of Agriculture (DoA) / 
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) on identification and management of EU -related 
quarantine pests is nearing completion. Eight out of nine training workshops have been held betwee n 
June 2022 and January 2023 consisting of: General introduction on plant biosecurity focusing on G/SPS/GEN/2101  
 
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  selected food crops through the whole production system; General identification and management 
approaches of the pests fruit fly, leaf miner, whitefly and thrips; Pest risk analysis on selected EU 
quarantine pests; Plant quarantine inspection on pests and diseases for import and export 
commodities. A Workshop on Integrated Pest Risk Management and a study visit to a NPPO in Europe 
are being organized. Technical  assistance on fertilizers was provided during the reporting period, 
through a series of interventions consisting of: Review the existing guidelines on registration process 
for fertilizers under the Malaysian context based on internationally accepted stand ards and propose 
recommendations to improve the guidelines; Training on technical and safety aspects for inorganic, 
organic, biofertilizers and supplements; Insights into changes in the EU Reg. 2019/1009 - laying 
down rules on the making available on the m arket of EU fertilising product - to be considered by 
Malaysian importers and exporters. A study visit of DoA Plant Biosecurity staff to update knowledge 
on-site, practical aspects of best practices in fertilizer production, and administration and 
enforcem ent of EU regulations is being held during 20 -24 February 2023.  
1.7.  Training of officers of the Department of Fisheries (DOF) and key stakeholders was held in 
September 2022,  related to EU legislation on fish and fishery products, including ornamental fish, 
and on the Codex Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products. Further training and onsite advisory 
assistance is being planned on fish disease surveillance, risk analysis and practical aspects of 
implementing the EU requirements. Assistance related to ele ctronic catch and traceability in 
fisheries, and traceability of eggs and dairy products is being formulated.  
1.3  Philippines Arise  Plus Project (March 2021 – February 2025 / Donor European Union)  
1.8.  The project aims to foster inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in the Philippines  
through improved  Philippines ' trade performance and competitiveness and specifically by putting in 
place a National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that promotes exp ort competitiveness, and a quality 
management and control systems for exported food products better aligned with international best 
practices.  
1.9.  During the reporting period, development of online interactive training modules on food safety 
for SMEs was compl eted. Competent Authority FDA 's laboratory personnel were trained during 
September to December 2022 through two workshops on chemical testing of processed foods. 
Consisting of theoretical and practical sessions , these cover test method implementation and 
validation; pesticide, veterinary drugs residue, mycotoxin, and food additives analysis using 
LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS  techniques . The third and final training on chemical testing is being 
scheduled. Training on risk -based sampling and analysis, microbiologica l testing and commercial 
sterility are planned next.  
1.10.  An expert mission was held in July -August 2022 to understand the current inspection protocols 
in place including processing and inspecting site visits towards the development of risk -based 
inspection pro tocols in fresh fruits and vegetables, coconut, and fisheries.  
1.11.  Based on the findings during the visit, six guides consisting of risk -based inspection checklists, 
guidelines, procedural manuals, and SOPs have been prepared for the above mentioned sectors. 
Training of FDA and DA on risk -based inspections is being planned including on implementing and 
putting in practice the developed guidelines, procedures, and SOPs.  
1.12.  Upgrade of the Philippine Rapid Alert for Food and Feed Safety system (PhilRASFF) is nearing 
completion, which was required to improve the ease of use of the operating system by and 
interoperability with current digital technologies. Pilot testing and training of authorities involved in 
border controls, food business operator premises and markets surveillance controls will be held 
during the course of this year on using the upgraded system.  
1.13.  Quality and food safety/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations identified 
under the project (Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Water, Coconut Flour ) are scheduled to be made 
available in 2023 on the Philippines Quality for Trade Platform. Mappings of coffee and cocoa to the 
European Union have already been made available.  G/SPS/GEN/2101  
 
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  1.4  Myanmar Trade -Related Assistance (Arise Plus – Myanmar) (July 2019 - June 2023 / 
Donor European Union)  
1.14.  The ARISE Plus project aims at building inclusive and sustainable trade growth in Myanmar 
through support to MSMEs in selected value chains enhancing food safety and SPS compliance 
(targeting tea, coffee, honey, horticulture product s) and trade policy formulation and 
implementation.  
1.15.  Work is advancing on  the Myanmar Platform on Quality and Food Safety . The site already 
contains information on SPS and quality requirements for selected product -market combinations 
(avocado, coffee, honey , and tea targeting EU markets) and will soon feature similar requirements 
for select dried fruits. The site also features 25 expert (Trainer -cum-Counsellor and Quality 
Champion) profiles and 10 service provider institutions in Myanmar.  
1.16.  The project has sup ported th e submission of the National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP). 
Several brochures and guides on hygiene and food safety in honey production were developed. 
Seven food safety advisers were trained on good beekeeping practices, GHP an d HACCP and 
suppor ted honey producers in Myanmar to implement the principles.  
1.17.  Two private food testing labs are being supported for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.  
1.5  SYMST: Systematic Mechanism for Safer Trade (Lao People's Democratic Republic and 
Viet Nam) (December 2018 – October 2022 / Donor European Union)  
1.18.  The overall objective of the project is to improve food safety through better governance in 
Lao People's Democratic Republic and Viet Nam . The project aims to strengthen the regulatory 
framework for control of plant healt h and pesticides in the fruits and vegetable sector and other 
plant products through the application of norms and standards to improve market access.  
1.19.  The Viet  Nam Quality for Trade Platform was made available, where users can discover quality 
and food safe ty/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations identified under the 
project (pomelo, dragon fruit to the European Union) as well as coffee to the European Union, the 
Republic of Korea  and Thailand . 
1.6  Lao ARISE Plus Project (2018 -2023 / Donor European Union)  
1.20.  Quality and food safety/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations identified 
under the project (coffee to the European Union , the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Viet  Nam) available 
on the Lao People's Democratic Repub lic Quality for Trade Platform . In addition, through synergies 
with the SYMST project, requirements for basil, rice, and chillies to the European Union, and 
watermelon to China are also mapped.  
1.21.  Posters developed by Codex, WHO and others to sensitise on COV ID-19 and hygiene have 
been translated, printed and distributed to the district offices of the Food and drug Department for 
placement in public spaces.  
1.22.  A launch event for a guide on the new ePing  system was held with key stakeholders, including 
the SPS and TBT National Enquiry Points and the National Notification Authority.  
For more information, please contact:  
Khemraj Ramful , Senior Adviser, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 04 87  
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: ramful@intracen.org  
 
Hema Menon , Trade Training Officer, Export Quality Management, ITC  
Tel: +41 22 730 0 5 84 
Fax: +41 22 730 05 76  
E-mail: menon@intracen.org  
 G/SPS/GEN/2101  
 
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  ITC EXPORT QUALITY MANAGEMENT  
Website : http://www.intracen.org/eqm  
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/ITCstandards  
 
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