WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/1008 
29 March 2010 
 (10-1701) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES  
 
Communication from Canada
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 15 Marc h 2010, is being circulated at the request 
of Canada . 
 
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1. Canada would like to provide an update to its  submission made at the February 2007 meeting 
with regard to technical assistance.  Canada subm its the following compilation of technical assistance 
provided to developing countries between Janua ry 2007 and December 2007, in accordance with 
Article 9 of the Agreement on the Application of San itary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures  (see 
attached table
1).  The assistance was prim arily aimed at facilitating countries’ adjustment to and 
compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary measur es in their export markets and to improve their 
capacity in developing and implementing their SPS measures based on sound science.  The attached 
table may not constitute a complete compilation of all relevant technical assistance delivered given 
the number of Canadian government departments an d agencies and the variety of delivery programs 
involved.  
2. The monetary value of the technical assista nce committed amounted to over CDN $38 million 
between January and December 2007.  It should be noted that, in many cases, the organizations providing the assistance also made additi onal in-kind contributions to projects. 
3. Assistance was provided to 24 Member, Observer and other countries, in Central America, 
the Caribbean, South America, the Asia-Pacific regi on, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa.  
Assistance was directed to both individual countries and groups of countries.  
4. In 2007, Canada contributed CDN$11 milli on to the Global Programme for Highly 
Pathenogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Control and Eradication.  This programme is a multi-donor 
fund to assist affected and at-risk regions in Afri ca, and elsewhere, develop and implement strategies 
for the prevention and control of HPAI in order to  prevent losses of poultry raisers and safeguard rural 
economies, health and safety. 
5. In addition, the Canadian Food Inspection Agen cy (CFIA), in association with Food Safety 
Inspection Services (FSIS) / United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hosted the 9
th World 
Meat Hygiene and Inspection Congress held from June  3 to June 6, 2007 in Niagara Falls, Canada. 
6. Canada’s assistance addressed three of the f our broad categories listed in G/SPS/GEN/206: 
information; training; and "soft" infrastructur e development (but not "hard" infrastructure 
                                                      
1 One table is attached identifying technical assist ance committed to developing countries on a calendar 
basis in 2007. G/SPS/GEN/1008 
Page 2  
 
  development).  Assistance from Canada covered mo st of the "typical areas of competence" listed 
under the headings of food safety, animal hea lth and plant protection, in the Annex of 
G/SPS/GEN/206. 
7. In all, 29 projects are listed for the period Janua ry to December 2007 with the majority (55%) 
of projects related to food safety.  Some of the projects listed are multi-year projects but are only 
reported once and, when possible, in the y ear in which the project was initiated.  
  
   G/SPS/GEN/1008
 Page 3TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY CANADA TO MEMBERS, OBSERVERS AND OTHER COUNTRIES: 
JANUARY 2007- DECEMBER 2007 
 
Sector Description of Particular Progra mme Form of Assistance Provided to Contact 
Animal 
Health  Feasibility study to improve the knowledge in the Institute Pasteur of 
Algeria in term of diagnosis of the infectious animal diseases and their 
possible transmission to humans.  The project aims at setting up a 
laboratory for reagents, vaccines and culture media at the Institute 
Pastuer of Algeria. Soft Infrastructure 
development Algeria Gibert_Parent@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Building on the results of the earlier emergency Avian Influenza (AI) 
project, the overall goal of the AI II pr oject was to reduce the risk of a 
global AI pandemic emerging from Vietnam, through the development of domestic capacities to prevent and control diseases of epidemic 
potential affecting both humans and animals. Training  Vietnam Samuel _Matheson@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health The Soc Trang Herd and Crop Quality Improvement project focuses on 
improving the quality, value and profitability of animal and crop 
products in the province of Soc Tran g.  It addressed animal and crop 
variety and breed improvement perfor mance recording systems, animal 
husbandry methods, and enhanced animal and crop production regimes. 
(2005-2010) Training  Vietnam Sara da_Leclerc@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health This project supported developing countries in their fight against Avian 
Influenza and other highly contagious animal diseases.  Canadian 
International Development Agency (CIDA) funding was directed to the 
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) toward specific activities, including evaluating and strengthening veterinary services in developing 
countries; providing support for an Avian Influenza vaccine bank; and 
encouraging laboratory twinning activities to build capacity in developing country laboratories. Training  All developing 
countries Charles_Haines@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health An $11 million contribution to the Global Programme for Highly 
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) C ontrol and Eradication.  This is a 
multi-donor fund to assist affected and at-risk regions in Africa and 
elsewhere develop and implement strategies for the prevention and 
control of HPAI in order to prev ent losses of poultry raisers and 
safeguard rural economies and health and safety.  (May 2007) Funding  All developing 
countries Charles_Haines@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health Visit by two government officials from the Ministry of Fishery Industry, 
Government of Cuba to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 
laboratory on lab diagnostics for fish and seafood products.  (March 2007) Information Cuba Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca  
  G/SPS/GEN/1008 
Page 4 Sector Description of Particular Progra mme Form of Assistance Provided to Contact 
Animal 
Health Milk Production Processing and Marketing project to improve the 
production, collection processing and marketing of milk by dairy 
cooperatives.  Improvement in the production of feed resources for cattle was one of the key work areas to increase milk production as well 
as improved health management of the cattle and associated sanitary 
issues on disease co ntrol.  (2005-2008) Training Paraguay Danie ll_Mingay@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Plant Health Final phase of the Integrated Pest Management through Farmers to 
improve livelihood of cooperative members by empowering farmers to 
integrate pest management as an approach to pest control that is 
environmentally and economically sound.  This is intended to reduce crop damage, increase family incomes and broaden application of 
sustainable agricultural techniques. Training  Asia & Middle 
East Otilia_Puiggros@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Plant Health Plant and post-harvest protection and pest control: Provision of 
specialized advisory services for th e agencies of the Government of 
Ghana as well as for CIDA project planning, monitoring and evaluation.  
Specialized services include agronom y, agriculture economics, rural 
development, marketing, land tenure, gender, environment and other advisory support as required. Information  Ghana Melanie_Lambert@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Plant Health The CFIA hosted a visit from an Indian delegation to share information 
on biotechnology.  Funded under the Global Environment Facility 
(GEF) / World Bank (WB) Capacity Bu ilding Project on Biosafety, the 
main activities of the project were  focused on the identification, 
regulation and management of the risks derived from the trans-boundary release and utilisation of LMOs, to mitigate adverse risks to the 
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into 
account potential risks to huma n health.  (January 2007) Information  India Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Plant Health Development and in-kind support to the Food  and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) towards the development of a training course in 
plant health risk analysis for the Go vernment of India.  The Standards 
and Trade Development Facility (STDF) partially funded development of training materials by the CFIA for IPPC pest risk analysis training 
course and subsequent delivery of a one week pilot in Chennai, India in 
March 2007 by CFIA.  In 2007, traini ng materials were further refined 
by CFIA and presented to the IPPC Secretariat and Commission on 
Phytosanitary Measures.  Four trai ning manuals, i.e., a Participants 
Manual, Instructor's Manual, Presentations & Speaker's Notes, and an Exercise Book, are now available on-line at www.ippc.int.  Information 
on the available training has been provided to all IPPC-member 
countries.  (March 2007)    Training  India Lesley .Cree@inspection.gc.ca  
   G/SPS/GEN/1008
 Page 5Sector Description of Particular Progra mme Form of Assistance Provided to Contact 
Plant Health Plant and post-harvest protection and pest control to provide training to 
enhance capacity, skills and crop production. Training  Sri Lanka Linda_Libront@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Plant Health Pesticide Management and Regulation Standards.  A multi-year project 
aimed to reinforce the norms, policies and practices related to the use of 
pesticides in Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay.  In Chile, the project 
supports the capacities of the Ministry of Health, of the Ministry of 
Agriculture as well as other governme nt agencies to establish norms and 
monitoring practices for a more sust ainable use of pesticides in the 
agricultural and domestic sectors.  In Uruguay and Paraguay, the project 
contributes to establishing the stru ctures and mechanisms necessary to 
foster cooperation between the va rious public and private sector 
institutions involved with pesticides use and to increase the awareness of 
pesticide users to the risks related with the use of pesticides.  (2003-
2007) Training Chile, Uruguay, 
Paraguay NB Research & Productivity Council 
Food Safety With the assistance of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) a Chilean delegation visited the CFIA to review 
CFIA’s management structure as a model for consideration by Chile as part of the Chilean government modernization process.  (July 2007) Information  Chile Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety With the assistance of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on 
Agriculture (IICA) a Colombian delegation from the National Institute 
for Food and Drug Monitoring (INVIMA) visited Canada for one week 
and received presentations in Mont real and Ottawa from CFIA and 
Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials regarding import-export inspection services and laboratory support for agricultural 
commodities and food products.  (July 2007)  Information Colombia Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety USDA-funded CFIA speaker to Codex Outreach Program Biotech 
workshop in Paraguay to deliver a presentation on Codex provisions relating to biotech labelling.  (September 2007) Information  Paraguay Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety One week information session for a Malaysian delegation about 
Canada's food safety system, including principles of risk assessment, 
risk management and risk communication, the responsibilities and involvement of stakeholders for food safety from farm to table.  (July 
2007)  Information  Malaysia Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety Study tour to Canada by Government officials from the Royal Thai 
Government.  Focus was an overview of Canada’s pre-market (investigative product testing and special access programs) and 
Canada’s post-marketing activities (compliance and enforcement) for 
fish and seafood product.  (September 2007) Information  Thailand Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca  
  G/SPS/GEN/1008 
Page 6 Sector Description of Particular Progra mme Form of Assistance Provided to Contact 
Food Safety A Vietnamese delegation visited Canada to gain information on 
Canada’s approach to food safety.  Presentations were made by 
members of the Canadian agriculture portfolio and food safety portfolio including AAFC, CFIA, Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).  
(October 2007)     Information Vietnam Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety The Canadian Food Inspectio n Agency (with FSIS/USDA) hosted the 
9th World Meat Hygiene and Inspection Congress (WMHIC) held June 3 – 6, 2007 in Niagara Falls. Information Global Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety In-kind support to an FAO/WHO training workshop on the Codex 
Alimentarius for the African region held in Rabat, Morocco from 20-22 
January, 2007, prior to the Codex regional coordinating for Africa (CCAFRICA) meeting.  Fifty (50) participants funded by the Codex 
Trust Fund, representing 36 countries, were involved in the workshop.  
The objective of this training was to better equip participants to effectively participate in Codex meetings.  (January 2007) 
 Training Thirty-six (36) 
countries in the 
African region Bertrand.Gagnon@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety USDA-funded CFIA speaker to Codex Outreach Program on Biotech 
workshop in Uganda on work done in Codex on the safety of foods derived from modern biotechnology.  Presentation on background paper 
on the analysis of Codex food safe ty and labeling texts.  (December 
2007)   Information  Uganda Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety Presentation to describe the Canadian meat inspection system at 
international symposium held in Kinshasa.  (June 2007) Information D. R. Congo Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Food Safety  Canada provided guidance on the development of a food surveillance 
and monitoring mechanism to support food standard setting.  This was 
through participation at an International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) – 
led workshop and the development of a  paper on a surveillance and monitoring system for food safety for India.  (February 2007)  Training India Samuel.Godefroy@hc-sc.gc.ca 
Animal  
Health & 
Food Safety Veterinarians from Paraguayan government visited with CFIA on a 
study tour focusing on Hazard An alysis Critical Control Points 
(HACCP), traceability and laboratories .  Study tour funded under the 
CIDA-funded, multi-year (2004-200 9) Beef Production System in 
Uruguay and Paraguay project.  In Paraguay the project supports the 
development and implementation of a cattle traceability system, 
implementing a HACCP system for th e abattoirs and a carcass grading 
system for the meat industry.  (October-November 2007) Information Paraguay Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca  
   G/SPS/GEN/1008
 Page 7Sector Description of Particular Progra mme Form of Assistance Provided to Contact 
Animal 
Health & 
Food Safety Study tour to Canada for four officials from the South African 
Department of Agriculture to exchange information with AAFC and 
CFIA on governance as it relates to trade in agricultural commodities.  Subject matter included regulatory development and enforcement in 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures in trade  (November 2007) Information South Africa Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Plant Health 
& Food Safety Contribution towards Agricultural Market Development Program (with 
other donors including WB) to create favourable conditions for the emergence of modern and compet itive agriculture, nationally and 
internationally.  These conditions include increasing and diversifying 
the supply of products, and improving distribution systems, infrastructure, and organizations supporting exports.  (2007-2012) Training Senegal Louise_Minville@acdi-cida.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health, Plant 
Health & Food Safety A delegation of senior government officials from the Russian Academy 
of Public Administration visited Canada on a study tour human resource 
management (HRM).  CFIA gave a presentation to the delegation on HRM at the Canadian enforcement agency responsible for animal 
health, plant health and food safety at the federal level.  (Dec 2007) Information Russian 
Federation Rolf.Schoenert@inspection.gc.ca 
Animal 
Health, Plant Health & 
Food Safety CFIA participation as a speaker in the Mobilizing Aid for Trade: Latin 
America and the Caribbean workshop co-hosted by the Government of Peru, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the WTO with 
participation funded by CIDA.  Pres entation made at the "Effectiveness 
of SPS-related technical assistan ce in Central America and the 
Caribbean" workshop organized by the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF) of the WTO in Lima, Peru on the margins of the Aid for Trade meetings.  Information Costa Rica; El 
Salvador; Guatemala; 
Honduras; 
Nicaragua; 
Panama; Peru Rolf.Schoener@tinspection.gc.ca 
 
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