G/SPS/GEN/2065  
20 October  2022 
(22-7868) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
UPDATE ON THE STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This document provides a brief update on the work of the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF) since the last meeting of the Committee in June 2022. Delegates are encouraged to 
visit the STDF website  to view and become familiar with the work and activities of the STDF, 
download STDF briefing notes and other publications, and subscribe to STDF's mailing list to receive 
regular updates.  
1.2.  The STDF operates as a global platform for dialogue and learning on SPS capacity development 
and finances the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative SPS projects. 
The STDF Working Group convenes and connects STDF partners, donors and beneficiaries and allows 
them to share and learn f rom each other's work, helping to disseminate, influence and scale up good 
practices in SPS capacity development more widely. Its next meeting, chaired by Ms Kelly McCormick 
from the US Food and Drug Administration, will be held from 29 November to 1 Decem ber 2022.  
2  GENDER ASSESSMENT  
2.1.   The STDF will shortly publish the final report of an external gender assessment of STDF's work. 
This assessment was commissioned to evaluate how (and to what effect) gender equality is 
addressed, how gender is mainstreamed thro ughout STDF's work, and to draw key findings, 
conclusions and practical recommendations for improving mainstreaming in the future. The report 
finds that the level of awareness of the gendered impacts of SPS measures across the STDF 
partnership is low, limi ting the integration of gender mainstreaming into STDF processes and 
capacity development. While the STDF has taken steps to mainstream gender in its workstreams, 
as evidenced by results from some STDF projects, the report concludes that more should be don e 
to improve mainstreaming for stronger and more inclusive results. The Working Group will soon 
discuss follow -up to the gender assessment and a session to present the key findings, 
recommendations and learning from the assessment to SPS delegates is plann ed in 2023.  
3  RECENT STDF EVENTS  
3.1.   On 3-5 October, the STDF organized the Vienna Food Safety Forum  (VFSF) jointly with UNIDO 
and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries an d Forestry. The event entitled "Data Driven 
Innovation in Food Safety" brought together over 400 representatives of public and private sector 
stakeholders from some 60 countries globally. Speakers and participants shared their experiences, 
results and chal lenges in using digital and innovative approaches to strengthen food safety practices 
including remote audits, e -certification and voluntary third -party assurance (vTPA) programmes, 
linked to Codex standards and ongoing/planned work by the Codex Committee on Food Import and 
Export Inspection and Certification Systems (CCFICS). STDF initiatives were presented and 
discussed, including a global survey  on the application of remote audit practices in food  safety as 
well as the three ongoing STDF projects piloting the use of vTPA programmes in East and West Africa  
and in Central America . 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  3.2.  The STDF joined the WTO Public Forum  from 27 to 30 September 2022, exhibiting a sample of 
bio honey from Niue and c ashew nuts from Burkina Faso, as well as STDF publications and briefing 
notes, and including an interview on the role of the STDF in the WTO.2 
3.3.  On 21 and 23 September, the STDF organized two side-events  at the IPPC International Plant 
Health Conference (IPHC). The first event, with the International Grains Council, the International 
Grain Trade Coalition, and the International Seed Federation, highlighted the importance of a rules -
based trading system, an d capacity, in international grain and seed trade, in support of food security. 
The second session, which involved the World Bank Group, the LadyAgri Investment Hub and other 
partners and beneficiaries explored the role of gender equity in the safe trade o f plants and plant 
products.  
3.4.  On 5 September, the STDF and the Food Trade Coalition for Africa, housed by the Alliance for 
a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), hosted a side-event  during the African Green  Revolution Forum 
(AGRF) Summit, entitled "Driving Safe Food Trade in Africa." The event engaged public and private 
stakeholders from across Africa on the use of innovative evidence -based approaches to leverage 
food safety investments for regional trade an d identified opportunities for collaborative solutions to 
support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).  
3.5.  In July, the STDF participated in WTO's Aid for Trade Global Review. The STDF joined the 
Directorate General of the French Treasury in organizing a session  on 28 July entitled "Improving 
quality along agri -food value chains in Africa for market access." The session brought together 
different stakeholders who shared their experiences on the importance of meeting SPS standards in 
agri-food value chains, highli ghting challenges and opportunities for market access. In addition, a 
session  was organized on 27 July with the World Bank and the WTO on how the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement (TFA) can help ove rcome border delays through enhanced connectivity 
among border agencies, specifically between customs and SPS agencies.  
4  KNOWLEDGE WORK  
4.1.  The aim of STDF's knowledge work is to identify and promote good practice and improve SPS 
capacity development outcomes. Some of this work takes place in virtual practitioner groups that 
bring together stakeholders for in -depth discussions on topics that cut across the areas of food 
safety, animal and plant health, and trade.  
4.1  Public Private Partnership (PPP)  
4.2.  Many STDF projec ts promote PPP approaches , leveraging expertise and resources from diverse 
private sector actors to support longer -term impact and sustainability. The vTPA Partnership 
Platform , hosted by UNIDO with STDF and IICA, is  actively support ing PPPs as part of the STDF vTPA 
pilot projects in East and West Africa , and Central America . The Platform held its first in -person 
meeting in Vienna, facilitated by Steve Wearne, Chairperson of the Codex Alimentarius Commission,  
on the margins of the VFSF. Following an internal assessment of STDF Practitioner Groups in 2022, 
members of the STDF PPP Practitioner Group  met in Sept ember to discuss how to strengthen their 
work and collaboration. Case stories on PPPs  to strengthen food safety, animal health and/or plant 
health capacity and facilitate trade are available on the STDF website.3 
4.3.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's PPP work can visit the STDF website  or 
contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
4.2  Good Regulatory Practice (GRP)  
4.4.  STDF's GRP work provides guidance to ensure that SPS measures are " fit for purpose" and 
avoid the creation of non -tariff barriers. The STDF encourages SPS delegates to download and widely 
disseminate STDF's Guide  entitled "Good regulat ory practices to improve SPS measures: A practical 
guide" (also available in French  and Spanish). The Guide outlines how to use GRPs (e.g., stocktaking 
tools, forward looking regulatory agendas, regulatory impact assessments, transparency and 
engagement tools, etc.) to support the design, development and review of SPS measures (even 
 
2 See: https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1mnxeRqyyybKX . 
3 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/public -private-partnership -ppp-case-stories . G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  when resourc es are limited) including country examples and experiences and links to relevant 
resources published by STDF partners.  
4.5.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's GRP work can visit the STDF website  or 
contact Ms Marlynne Hopper in the STDF Secretariat ( marlynne.hopper@wto.org ). 
4.3  Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access (P -IMA)  
4.6.  The P -IMA framework is an evidence -based approach to  help inform and improve SPS planning 
and decision making, and mobilize public, private and/or donor resources for SPS investments. The 
framework is currently applied through PPGs in several regions. For example, in Armenia it was 
recently used by a local think tank, the Ministry of Economy and the private sector to identify high 
priority value chains and commodities, and identify resources required to pivot towards new markets 
(STDF/PPG/761 ). The STDF also supported Ghana in prioritizing investments to implement its new 
National Policy for Aflatoxin Control in Food and Feed  (groundnuts, maize, and other raw and 
processed products)  (STDF/PPG/786 ). New work is planned early 2023 in Bangladesh to improve 
coordination and resource identification for the horticulture and fisheries sectors ( STDF/PPG/831 ). 
4.7.  Delegates who wish to know more about the P -IMA framework can visit the STDF website  or 
contact Ms Roshan Khan ( roshan.khan@wto.org ) in the STDF Secretariat.  
4.4  Electronic SPS certification (eCert)  
4.8.  The STDF promotes and supports the transition to paperless SPS systems in developing 
countries. Paperless SPS systems can improve traceability throughout SPS supply chains, cut trade 
times and costs, reduce fraudulent certi ficates, and build trust among trading partners. An external 
evaluation of STDF "ePhyto" project ( STDF/PG/504 ) is underway. The evaluation will assess the 
results, impact and sustainability of the pr oject and draw key findings, recommendations and lessons 
relevant for future work in this area. The evaluation will also consider work on e -certification in the 
food safety and veterinary areas , including the STDF " eVet" project  (STDF/PG/609 ). The final report 
will be shared in the first half of 2023.  
4.9.  Delegates who would like to know more about STDF's work in this area can visit the 
STDF  website  or contact Mr Simon Padilla in the STDF Secretariat ( simon.padilla@wto.org ). 
5  FUNDING  
5.1.  Since its inception, the STDF has devoted 65% of its project resources to Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs) and Other Low -Income Countries (OLICs), going beyond its target to devote at 
least 40% of its resources to these countries. 48% of the number of STDF projects and PPGs has 
gone to Africa, 25% to Asia -Pacific, 17% to Latin America -Caribbean, and 1% to other regions 
(Middle E ast and Europe). 9% of all STDF projects and PPGs are classified as global, benefiting all 
developing countries. An overview of on -going projects and PPGs and beneficiaries is provided in 
Annex 1 . 
5.1  Project development  
5.2.  The STDF provides advice and support on  issues related to SPS project development and 
finances project preparation grants (PPGs). PPGs, normally up to US$50,000, are available to help 
applicants articulate their SPS needs and develop technically sound and sustainable project 
proposals. PPGs can  be requested to: (i) apply SPS capacity evaluation and prioritization tools; (ii) 
prepare feasibility studies before project development to assess the potential impact and economic 
viability of proposals in terms of costs and benefits; and (iii) develop p roject proposals for funding 
by donors and/or the STDF.  
5.3.  A total of 120 PPG applications  have been approved by the STDF since its inception. 
Information on all on -going and completed PPGs is available on the STDF website.4 
 
4 See: https://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants . G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  5.2  Project implementation  
5.4.  Financing for projects is also available from the STDF. The STDF Working Group gives 
favourable consideration to projects that: (i) identify, develop and disseminate good practice in SPS 
related technical cooperation, including the development and application of inn ovative and replicable 
approaches; (ii) apply regional approaches to address SPS constraints; and/or (iii) implement 
collaborative approaches across food safety, animal and plant health and trade. Beneficiaries must 
contribute to the project from their own  resources, either in the form of financial or in -kind 
contributions (such as staff time, use of premises, vehicles, or other existing assets).  
5.5.  A total of 111 PG applications  have been approved by the STDF since its inception. 
Information on all on -going a nd completed projects is available on the STDF website.5 A selection of 
completed STDF projects is subject to an independent ex -post evaluation according to the STDF 
evaluation guidelines.6 
5.3  How to apply for funding?  
5.6.  Applications for STDF funding can be made at any point in the year but should be received at 
least 60 working days in advance of each Working Group meeting to be considered at that meeting. 
The next deadline for the submission of applications is 24 February 2023 . Further information on 
the system, eligibility criteria, etc. is available on the STDF website.  
RECOMMENDED STEPS:  
1. Browse the webpages for information (aims, eligibility criteria, etc.) on:  
https://www.standardsfacility.org/funding  
2. View examples of previous projects:  
• PPGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectpreparationgrants  
• PGs: http://www.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants  
3. Carefully read the guidance note for applicants:  
https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDFGuidanceNote_Rev.Feb -22_EN.docx  
4. Consult relevant stakeholders in the country/region.  
5. Send a brief concept note of your potential project for feedback on eligibility and likelihood of 
funding  (STDFSecretariat@wto.org ). 
6. Fill out an application form and submit it electronically before the deadline:  
• PPGs: https://wto.formstack.com/forms/ppg_application  
• PGs: https://wto.formstack.com/forms/pg_application  
 
5 See: https://ww w.standardsfacility.org/projectgrants . 
6 See: 
https://www.standardsfacility.org/sites/default/files/STDF_214_Evaluation_Guidelines_2021_Fina l.pdf. G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  ANNEX  1 
ONGOING STDF PROJECTS AND PROJECT PREPARATION GRANTS (PPGS)  
1  COUNTRY PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Country  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Armenia  STDF/PPG/761  Applying the P -IMA framework to promote export of 
agricultural products  
Bangladesh  STDF/PPG/831  Prioritizing SPS Investment in Bangladesh  
Bhutan  STDF/PPG/734  Strengthening capacity for border inspection and control of 
plants, animals and their products  
Burkina Faso  STDF/PG/566  Reducing aflatoxin contamination in maize  
Burundi  STDF/PPG/773  SPS needs assessment for private and public actors in the 
Burundian horticultural sector  
Cameroon  STDF/PG/593  Improving SPS capacity in the Penja pepper value chain  
Ecuador  STDF/PPG/709  Applying the P -IMA framework  
Ethiopia  STDF/PG/477  Improving sanitary capacity to facilitate livestock exports  
Ghana  STDF/PPG/786  Supporting implementation of the National Policy fo r Aflatoxin 
Control in Food and Feed using the P -IMA framework  
Guinea  STDF/PG/498  Strengthening the phytosanitary system  
India STDF/PG/517  Strengthening the spice value chain and improving market 
access  
Jamaica  STDF/PG/759  Ensuring food safety capacity of the pepper value chain to 
access strategic export markets  
Kyrgyz Republic  STDF/PG/569  Enhancing capacity for food safety management in the fruit 
and vegetable industry  
Mali STDF/PG/611  Promotion of Codex standards and codes of practice 
particularly in the smoked fish industry  
Mongolia  STDF/PG/534  Piloting an improved animal identification and registration 
system  
Nigeria  STDF/PG/817  Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) to i mprove the plant 
health system in Nigeria  
Papua New Guinea  STDF/PG/553  Expanding cocoa trade  
Philippines  STDF/PPG/722  Piloting the use of Regulatory Impact Assessment in the 
agriculture and fisheries sector  
Peru STDF/PPG/767  Feasibility study on implementation of zoning as means to 
control infectious diseases in aquaculture  
Senegal  STDF/PG/672  Meeting sanitary standards to improve the safety of shellfish 
and boost market access  
Solomon Islands  STDF/PG/521  Laboratory capacity building to support fish exports  
Sudan  STDF/PG/435  Upgrading the sesame seed value chain  
Tajikistan  STDF/PG/447  Improving food safety in honey and apricots to boost exports  
Togo STDF/PG/375  Strengthening the SPS system  
Uganda  STDF/PG/543  Enhancing the capacity of the fruit and vegetable sector to 
comply with EU phytosanitary requirements  
Uganda  STDF/PPG/847  Sustainably managing aflat oxins in maize using systems 
approach in Uganda  
Uganda  STDF/PPG/846  Comparing post -harvest technologies for Uganda's fresh fruits 
and vegetables to reduce pests  
Zambia  STDF/PG/481  Strengthening phytosanitary capacity for plant exports in 
Zambia  
Zambia  STDF/PPG/789  Building phytosanitary capacity for small -scale cross -border 
traders in Zambia  
 G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  2  REGIONAL PROJECTS  AND PPGS  
Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Africa  
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, 
Tanzania, Uganda  STDF/PG/807  Managing scale insects in fresh fruits in East Africa  
Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, 
South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, 
Zimbabwe  STDF/PG/694  Enhancing trade through regulatory harmonisation 
and biopesticide -based residue mitigation in the 
SADC  Region  
Benin, Burkina  Faso, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, 
Guinea  Bissau, Niger, Mali, 
Senegal, Togo  STDF/PPG/770  Voluntary food quality control in West Africa through 
digitisation  
Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, 
South Sudan, Tanzania, 
Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe  STDF/PPG/809  Regional approach towards addressing invasive 
quarantine pests of potato in East and Southern 
Africa  
Cameroon, Central African 
Republic, Chad, Congo, 
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon  STDF/PPG/768  Harmonizing phytosanitary legislation in Central 
Africa  
Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, 
South  Africa  STDF/PPG/765  Establishing an IS O 17025 accredited mobile 
laboratory for food safety testing in the SADC region  
Mali, Senegal  STDF/PG/665  Piloting the use of voluntary Third -Party Assurance 
(TPA) Programme in Africa to improve foo d safety 
outcomes for public health and trade  
Mozambique, South Africa  STDF/PG/567  Establishing and maintaining fruit production areas 
free and under low prevalence of fruit fly pests  
Rwanda, Uganda  STDF/PG/842  Piloting a vTPA programme in East Africa to improve 
food safety in horticulture and fisheries  
Asia and Pacific  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, 
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic , Nepal, Philippines, 
Thailand, Viet Nam  STDF/PG/755  
Strengthening phytosanitary compliance to boost 
seed trade in the Asia Pacific  
Bangladesh, Cambodia, 
Indonesia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Nepal, 
Sri Lanka  STDF/PG/634  Asia pesticide residue mitigation through the 
promotion of biopesticides and enhancement of 
trade opportunities  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Vie t Nam STDF/PG/619  Safer spices: boosting food safety and market 
access for the peppercorn value chain  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, Myanmar, 
Thailand, Viet  Nam STDF/PPG/755  Enhancing seed trade in the Asia -Pacific region 
through phytosanitary compliance and public private 
partnerships  
Cambodia, Lao People's 
Democratic Republic, 
Philippines, Viet  Nam STDF/PG/7 98  Improving pig biosecurity and African swine fever 
control  
Latin America and Caribbean  
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, 
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic , 
Ecuador, El Salvador, 
Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru  STDF/PG/753  Mitigating pesticide residues in Latin America using 
biopesticide  
Belize, Costa Rica, 
Dominican  Republic, 
El Salvador, Guatemala, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama  STDF/PG/495  Accreditation of diagnostic tests for animal diseases  
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Peru STDF/PG/838  Strengthening regional pest surveillance, monitoring 
on banana farms in the Andean Community  
Belize, Honduras  STDF/PG/682  Piloting the use of Third -Party Assurance (TPA) 
Programme in Central America to improve food 
safety outcomes for public health and trade  
CARICOM countries  STDF/PPG/733  Piloting the use of the P -IMA framework in the 
CARICOM region  G/SPS/GEN/2065  
 
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  Region/countries  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project / PPG name  
Colombia, Costa  Rica, 
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama  STDF/PPG/716  Food safety risk analysis capacity building in Latin 
America  
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru (and 
Trinidad and Tobago)  STDF/PG/577  Improving coordination to support management of 
cadmium levels in cocoa in Latin America and the 
Caribbean  
Colombia, Ecuador  STDF/PG/681  Improving institutional capacity to mitigate trade 
barriers due to high cadmium levels in cacao  
Dominican Republic, Haiti  STDF/PG/751  Strengthening the phytosanitary and food safety 
system in key value chains  
Global  
All developing countries  STDF/PPG/782  Remote inspection practices in food safety for 
improved trade  
 
3  EVALUATIONS (ON-GOING ) 
Country(ies)  STDF reference  
and hyperlink  Project name  
Argentina, Plurinational State of  
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, 
Peru, Uruguay  STDF/PG/502  Rolling out phytosanitary measures to expand 
market access  
Developing countries  STDF/PG/504  ePhyto: Enhancing safe trade in plants and plant 
products  
Developing countries  STDF/PG/609  Facilitating e -veterinary certification based on single 
window system  
__________