Germany Commits EUR 150,000 to Boost Safe Food Exports from Developing Countries

· The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing and least developed countries (LDCs) meet international food safety, animal and plant health standards for trade.

· STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership facilitating safe and inclusive trade, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership.

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is contributing EUR 150,000 (approximately CHF 146,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing and least developed countries (LDCs) meet international food safety, animal and plant health standards for trade. The contribution was confirmed on 23 May at a signing ceremony attended by Ambassador Bettina Waldmann of Germany and the WTO’s Director of Administration and General Services,

Ambassador Waldmann said: “Germany is pleased to extend its partnership with the STDF. By helping developing countries tackle sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) challenges, we are making a contribution to improving SPS systems and ensuring safe agricultural food trade globally. Building SPS capacity is key to raising food security levels, protecting the environment and securing people's livelihoods.”

Melvin Spreij, Head of the STDF, thanked Germany for its ongoing support for increasing developing countries' SPS capacity. “This contribution will benefit producers, traders and governments along global and regional value chains, helping them raise export revenues, income levels and living standards. The STDF will continue to facilitate inclusive and safe trade worldwide, in close partnership with Germany,” he said.

To date, Germany has contributed approximately CHF 35.2 million to various WTO trust funds and the STDF. This includes CHF 5.6 million contributed by Germany's Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The 2023 contribution will be used to strengthen the ability of small-scale farmers, producers and traders to gain and maintain access to markets for food and agriculture products through the development and roll-out of collaborative SPS projects, knowledge sharing, and monitoring and evaluation of results.

Developing and least developed countries are encouraged to apply to the STDF for SPS project and project preparation grants. The next deadline for submission of funding proposals is 11 August 2023.

The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership facilitating safe and inclusive trade, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership. The STDF responds to evolving needs, drives inclusive trade, and contributes to sustainable economic growth, food security and poverty reduction, in support of the United Nations' Global Goals.