   
  
G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
14 February  2024 
(24-1311) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
INFORMATION ON SPS -RELATED ACTIVITIES OF  
THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC)  
(NOVEMBER 2023  - FEBRUARY  2024) 
COMMUNICATION FROM ITC 
The following communication, received on 13 February  2024, is being c irculated at the request of 
the ITC. 
 
_______________  
 
 
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 the private sector 's competitiveness. The 
project focuses on the development and implementation of sector strategies 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 WTO accession process.  
1.2.  A sub -activity of the programme supports three agri -food value chains in improving food safety 
and quality of their products (namely potat oes, tomatoes, and poultry). The project supported 
farmers of the poultry alliance in Nineva region by connecting them with a modern slaughterhouse 
facility which engaged in a mutually beneficial business cooperation. The poultry is delivered to local 
supermarkets in compliance with national SPS related requirements. The objective is to comply with 
government regulations and meet standards of large domestic buyers. As a second phase, exports 
are also targeted at a limited scale.  
1.3.  A workshop for the dates sec tor (farmers, producers, processors) was conducted from 20 to 
22 November 2023. This three -day workshop held in Basra saw 30 participants from both the public 
and the private sectors. The sessions included market expectations for date exports according to 
relevant Codex standards, sharing of trade experience, and international and regional technical 
requirements for the product . The producers and stakeholders present agreed to establish an 
association, called the "Date Producers and Processors Association i n Basra " to reduce overheads, 
improve food safety aspects, facilitate export -related procedures, and joint representation at trade 
fairs. 
1.4.  Research has begun on SPS and TBT requirements for Dates, Fresh or Dried for the markets 
of Turkey and  the United Arab Emirates . This information will be uploaded to the Iraq Quality for 
Trade Platform and made publicly available. Additional products have been identified for future 
mappings.  G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.2  Malaysia Arise  Plus Project (February 2021  - January 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.5.  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 
integration in the ASEAN region.  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.  The project improved the capacities of 18 officers from the Department of Veterinary Se rvices 
(DVS) to carry out "Veterinary Epidemiological Modelling " through a practical workshop held in 
January 2024. Recommendations were provided for further development of this function at DVS 
through a situation analysis carried out following the worksho p. 
1.7.  After the workshop described in the previous reporting period, 3 DVS staff further reinforced 
their capacities on implementing traceability in the eggs and dairy sectors through a study visit to 
the Netherlands in November 2023. During the visit the off icers met with representatives of the 
Dutch  regulatory and competent authorities, and visited milk, cheese, poultry and egg processing 
to observe the different ways and processes through which producers implement and maintain 
traceability. The participants  also visited a dairy testing laboratory to see the various analytic 
methods (somatic cell count, plate count, antibiotic residues, fat content, antiparasitics, aflatoxin, 
dioxin, organo -chlorpesticides, melamine, radioactivity, heavy metals) and learn abo ut traceability 
procedures applied in the laboratory.  
1.8.  A "Solution finding workshop on IPM and Export Certification " was held in Putrajaya, 
4-8 December 2023 with 22 participants to focus on recent updates in  the EU regulation for increased 
import controls. This final workshop was organized to collectively examine and synthesise the 
learnings from previously held 5 IPM related workshops, and a study visit to Thailand, vis -à-vis 
EU practices and requirements. The w orkshop considered the present situation in Malaysia and the 
different means by which the Malaysian pest control could be improved in relation to pesticide use, 
implementation of IPM, and Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) to ultimately reduce pesticide 
dependency, MRL violation s and find solutions to reduce non -compliance of EU -bound exports. Also  
was discussed the impact on Malaysia of a recent increase in EU official border control due to the 
implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/1110 on increased control s or emergency measures on 
food and feed commodities of non -animal origin exported to the E uropean Union. As part of the 
group exercise participants also developed an IPM Framework and Action Plan for Malaysia.  
1.9.  Two train the trainer workshops were held tow ards improved biosecurity in Malaysian fisheries. 
The first, on the "Application of Risk Analysis in Official Control Activities of the Competent Authority " 
(Department of Fisheries - DoF), was held on 6-8 November 2023 , which reinforced the capacities 
of 27 DoF officers. The participants were trained through presentations and group work, on principles 
of fish disease risk analysis based on World Organisation of Animal Health (WOAH) Aquatic Animal 
Health Code, presented case studies of risk analysis perform ed by biosecurity agencies of other 
countries and consequent live fish import regulations in these countries, and on performing fish 
disease risk analysis using hypothetical situations. A second ToT on "Fish Disease Surveillance in 
Aquaculture Farms ", in routine controls was also held on 9-11 November 2023. 27 participants were 
trained on fish disease surveillance in line with the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code, presented 
case studies of listing of diseases at international and national levels , defining sc ope of national 
disease surveillance and developing a plan for implementation of surveillance for priority diseases, 
and on the use of FAO 12 -point checklist in developing  a national fish disease surveillance plan . 
1.10.   The practical training on risk screening of aquatic alien invasiveness held in Putrajaya/Kuala 
Lumpur in August 2023 for Department of Fisheries (DoF) staff at federal level was replicated in 
November 2023 for 27 staff from DoF Sabah. 25 DOF -Sabah officers and related agencies 
strengthened their capacity to implement "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point s" in fish and 
fishery products related establishments.  
1.11.   25 participants attended a three -day training workshop on good practices for the organi zation 
of farmers in the context of promoting su stainable practices between 12 -14 December 2023.  
The training provided an overview on sustainable agriculture and its benefits towards meeting 
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The workshop also included information on 
the implementation of national  and international standards (e.g. Malaysia GAP; GlobalG.A.P.), G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
- 3 - 
 
  their successes and challenges at various organizational levels, including best practices for 
navigating the complexities of multiple standards and certification systems.  
1.12.   This project ended on  31 January 2024.  
1.3  Philippines Arise  Plus Project (March 2021 – February 2025 / Donor European Union)  
1.13.   The project aims to foster inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction in the Philippines 
through improved  trade performance and competitiveness and s pecifically by putting in place a 
National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that promotes export competitiveness, and a quality 
management and control system for exported food products better aligned with international best 
practices.  
1.14.   Planning of a series of trainings on microbiological testing including advanced methods, 
related method validation, implementation of decision rule, and commercial sterility is ongoing. 
These workshops are envisaged to be held in the first half of 2024. Also under plann ing are refresher 
training courses on EU T rade Control and Expert System (TRACES) for the Bureau of Fisheries and 
Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and 
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the  Philippines.  
1.15.   A review of the National Residue Control Program will be conducted as per request from BFAR, 
and updates will consider the incorporation of new substances and compliance with EU requirements 
following the repeal and amendment of Council Direc tive 96/23/EC by Regulation (EU) 2017/625, 
in addition to other existing Philippine standards and legislation.  
1.16.   Quality and food safety/SPS requirements for priority product market combinations are now 
live on the Philippines Quality for Trade Platform, pub licly available to all users. Priority sectors 
include Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Water, Coconut Flour.  
1.17.   Moreover, a team of 20 Quality Champions qualified under the project are now preparing to 
roll out a series of trainings for MSMEs in collaboration wit h national public institutions and private 
sector partners with the Philippines Society for Quality as lead partner to cascade knowledge on the 
importance of quality and food safety including the main measures and systems such as GAP, GMP, 
HACCP that shoul d be implemented to meet technical market requirements.  
1.4  Myanmar Trade -Related Assistance (Arise Plus – Myanmar) (July 2019 - May 2024 / 
Donor European Union)  
1.18.   This 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 products) and trade policy formulation and 
implementation.  The Myanmar Platform on Quality and Food Safety continues to grow in scale and 
scope. The site now features SPS requirements for mango puree and canned pineapple for the 
EU market.  
1.19.   As the project is fully focussing on private sector development, several companies of the 
project target product groups (honey, coffee, tea, fru it and vegetables, bans and pulses) were 
assisted to introduce HACCP and FSSC 22000 food safety systems. Three of the companies were 
already certified and another 8 are expected to be certified by the end of the project in May 2024.  
1.20.   The project is advancin g to support a private food testing laboratory for compliance with 
ISO/IEC 17025, helping to revise and update its documentation to comply with ISO/IEC 17025 
requirements.  
1.5  Lao ARISE Plus Project ( 1 November 2018  – 31 December 2023 / Donor 
Europea n Union)  
1.21.   The project ended on 31 December 2023 . G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
- 4 - 
 
  1.6  Uzbekistan: Facilitating the Process of Accession to the WTO (February 2020 – 
October 2024 / Donor European Union)  
1.22.   The project continues to support the relevant agencies of Uzbekistan, closely aligning with 
their commitment set out in the Action Plan for Implementation of the SPS Agreement, submitted 
by the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO in November 2023.  
1.23.   In the area of food safety, the Draft Law on Food Safety has been reviewed, and the fi nal 
draft legislation, incorporating recommendations, has been submitted to the Sanitary -
Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee, the lead agency for drafting the law, which is 
currently preparing to submit it further for deliberation by the Oliy Majlis , the parliament of 
Uzbekistan. The project continues to review the selected Sanitary Rules and Norms (SanPiNs) for 
food hygiene, sanitation, and safety criteria, aimed at aligning with the requirements of the 
Codex  Alimentarius and the SPS Agreem ent. 
1.24.   In response to a request by Uzbekistan 's State Committee of Veterinary and Livestock 
Development, relevant chapters of the World Organisation for Animal Health's (WOAH's) latest 
version of the Terrestrial Animal Health Codes were translated into the U zbek language, expanding 
access to a valuable knowledge repository for inspectors, veterinary health practitioners, as well as 
veterinary researchers and students. Forthcoming work will, inter alia, cover the review of national 
legislative documents in the  area of animal health, as well as practical training workshops in animal 
traceability, the national residue monitoring plan, and hygienic practices for food inspectors and food 
operators.  
1.25.   The project continues to build the capacity of the Agency for Plant  Protection and Quarantine 
for risk -based official controls. The two -fold technical assistance includes the development of draft 
legislation on the implementation of a risk management system, a review of the phytosanitary import 
control policy and procedur es, including the pest risk analysis for high - and medium -risk imports, 
enhanced by field training workshops engaging officials and regional inspectors. In parallel, to ensure 
compliance with the transparency requirements of the SPS Agreement, the legislat ive document on 
phytosanitary import quarantine requirements, which was endorsed by the Ministry of Justice of 
Uzbekistan in February 2023, was translated into English.  
1.7  Pakistan: Growth for rural advancement and sustainable progress (GRASP) 
(June  2019 - December 2024 / Donor European Union ) 
1.26.   ITC has been providing technical assistance to government agencies related to food safety, 
plant protection and animal health in Sindh and Balochistan provinces in Pakistan to improve their 
technical functions, equipment and capacities. These include the food authorities in both the 
provinces, agriculture extension departments, livestock departments, plant protection departments, 
and animal health institutes.  
1.27.   In this context, ITC is supporting Pakistan 's agricult ure sector by fostering its sanitary and 
phytosanitary regime. In order to develop the capacity of professionals, the existing curriculum on 
SPS at university level has been reviewed and the contents of new courses have been scripted. 
The proposed MoUs bet ween GRASP and three universities of Sindh province will pave the way to 
enhance capacity of the students in this important field of study through introduction of courses on 
SPS at undergraduate level. Moreover trainings and exposure visits have been arran ged for staff of 
provincial departments to enhance their capacity to implement SPS measures.  
1.28.   Towards strengthening provincial departments performing SPS functions in Balochistan and 
Sindh provinces, as per expressed needs, GRASP will support the establishm ent of Balochistan Food 
Authority Training School at Quetta, procure food testing kits to provincial food authorities of Sindh 
and Balochistan, as well as equipment for pest surveillance, and strengthen the mechanism for 
collection of pesticide samples. Th e project will also inter -alia up -grade  the regional pesticide quality 
control and a research laboratory at Quetta, establishing an advanced virology laboratory, and 
procure modern equipment for Sindh Institute of Animal Health.  
1.29.   To ensure competence of pro vincial laboratories, laboratories involved in SPS functions have 
been selected for support to achieve ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. Training and preparatory work is 
underway as is the provision of minor equipment necessary for accreditation.  G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
- 5 - 
 
  1.30.   At the enterpr ise level work envisages strengthening the food safety culture. Activities to 
provide hand holding support to MSMEs for food safety certifications against ISO 22000, 
GlobalG.A.P., HACCP and BRCGS have been initiated.  
1.31.   The project is also engaging with the P akistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association 
(PFVA) to enhance exports to the E uropean Union. In this regard capacities of public sector to 
precisely analyse food safety parameters such as pesticide MRLs is underway.  
1.32.   Moreover, the project supported the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) to develop a Five -Year Action 
Plan (2024 -28) to effectively enforce food safety regulations.  
1.8  Nepal: Trade -Related Assistance  (2020 -2024)  
1.33.   ITC has been providing technical assistance to the to the Department of Food Technology and 
Quality Control (DFTQC) with the development of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) – based 
Regulatory Directives for the coffee sector. The Directives were drafted under supervision of the 
GMP task force, reviewed, finalized and submitted to the Ministr y of Agriculture and Livestock 
Development (MOALD) for adoption.  
1.34.   Support was also provided to the Plant Quarantine and Pest Management Centre (PQPMC) 
through the development of Pest Survey and Surveillance for the coffee sector. Several interim 
reports wer e generated in parallel with 12 months of field work including inception report, survey 
protocols for pests, and diseases.  
1.9  EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) (1  August 2023 – 31 July 
2027 / Donor European Union ) 
1.35.   The second phase of the EU -EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II) is a regional 
initiative funded by the European Union (EU) to unlock the full potential of agribusinesses within the 
EAC region; implemented by ITC working in partnership with the EU regional Delegation, 
the EAC Secretariat and the governments of six EAC member States. The quality and SPS component 
of MARK UP II aims at strengthening quality and food safety compliance and standards, including 
the development of quality awards, training and coaching of enterpris es and awareness raising 
regarding quality and food safety requirements of export markets. Value chains selected for support 
are: avocado, cocoa, coffee, essential oils, French beans, gum Arabic, horticulture, leather, 
packaging, spices and tea.  
1.36.   Between th e official launch of the MARK UP Phase II project  on 3 October 2023 and the 
planned Project Steering Committee  in March 2024, activities are focused on engaging regional and 
national stakeholders to share recommendations and provide inputs for planning and start of 
activities. A joint EAC Secretariat/ITC regional consultative workshop on quality and standards 
comp liance is scheduled on 12 and 13 February 2024, in Nairobi, to engage more than 40 members 
of the relevant technical subcommittees, taskforces or working groups and member States with the 
objective to align and integrate MARKUP II Quality Compliance and Standards component with their 
workplans.  
1.37.   ITC circulated a first Expression of Interest for MSMEs in the 6 partner States to express their 
interest to benefit from MARKUP II – deadline is 12 February 2024 - ITC Survey was circulated 
(intracen.org) . 
1.38.   MARKUP II continues to build on and sustain the achievements of MARK UP I, such as on the 
recently completed one in Burundi where two  testing laboratories obtained international 
Accreditation (the Laboratory for Soil Analysis and Food Products – LASPA of the Institute of 
Agriculture Science of Burundi (ISABU) and the Chemistry Laboratory of Burundi Bureau of 
Standards and Quality Contro l (BBN) and two inspection bodies (BBN and DPV).  
1.10  The Philippines: Bangsamoro Agri -Enterprise Programme (BAEP) – FAIR VALUE 
Project (12 September 2023 – 11 September 2026  / Donor European Union ) 
1.39.   Part of a bigger programme (Farmers – Fisherfolks ' Advancement  and Integration to Resilient 
Value Chains in BARMM) led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and G/SPS/GEN/2196  
 
- 6 - 
 
  co-implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Philippines - the project 
(FAIR VALUE) aims at improving quality, dive rsity and consolidation of local agricultural/marine aqua 
products in response to market needs. ITC 's interventions specifically focus on implementing food 
safety systems and increasing the investment readiness of selected enterprises.  
1.40.   The Action is anchor ed on a partnership between IOM, FAO and ITC that maximizes the 
strengths of each partner in terms of field presence, existing community partnerships, technical 
expertise and international value chain linkages respectively.  
1.41.   The BAEP programme was officiall y launched on 15 January 2024 in Bangsamoro. ITC National 
Project Coordinator of the ITC Arise Plus Philippines (EU -funded) joined the first coordination field 
mission to Tawi -Tawi (22 -24 January) to facilitate synergies among project and activities, 
particularly on food safety. IOM/FAO/ITC ongoing activities are currently engaged in value chain 
assessment and selection of beneficiaries.  
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  
 
ITC EXPORT QUALITY MANAGEMENT  
Website : http://www.intracen.org/  
 
__________  