Standards Report Launched

· Lowering aflatoxin contamination in maize in Burkina Faso to reduce borders rejections, improving phytosanitary controls to boost Ugandan flower exports, and promoting IT solutions for pest surveillance and reporting in the Asia-Pacific. It also contains snapshots on promoting biopesticide use in Asia, Africa and Latin America to facilitate trade, prioritizing SPS investments in the Caribbean and Ecuador, and strengthening the safety and quality of Sri Lankan spices for export

The latest Annual Report from the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), launched on 22 June, spotlights how ongoing dialogue and cooperation among partners have helped developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) strengthen their food safety, animal and plant health capacity and facilitate safe trade despite the ongoing pandemic.

<STDF Annual Report>

Strengthening collaboration with international and regional organizations, development partners and beneficiary countries – at the international, regional and national levels – enabled the STDF to continue to deliver and learn from innovative projects, driving sustainable sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) improvements in developing and least-developed countries, the report notes.

In response to continued disruptions caused by COVID-19, the STDF promoted increased cooperation and communication among partners, including by using digital tools to host events, share knowledge products and conduct surveys to understand current issues. The STDF also strengthened mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation and learning.

“Strengthening SPS capacity is not only critical for developing countries to allow them to recover from shocks and continue participating in the global trading system but also to become more resilient against future outbreaks of pests and diseases,” said Melvin Spreij, Head of the STDF. "The STDF is here to connect stakeholders and to innovate, learn and catalyse SPS improvements to facilitate safe trade worldwide."

The latest Annual Report, covering STDF activities in 2021, provides snapshots of STDF-supported projects and project preparation grants on lowering aflatoxin contamination in maize in Burkina Faso to reduce borders rejections, improving phytosanitary controls to boost Ugandan flower exports, and promoting IT solutions for pest surveillance and reporting in the Asia-Pacific. It also contains snapshots on promoting biopesticide use in Asia, Africa and Latin America to facilitate trade, prioritizing SPS investments in the Caribbean and Ecuador, and strengthening the safety and quality of Sri Lankan spices for export.

The STDF is a global partnership that supports developing countries to meet international standards and gain market access, in line with the WTO SPS Agreement. Established by the WTO, together with the FAO, World Organisation for Animal Health, World Bank Group and WHO, 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.