ITC UPDATE TO THE TBT COMMITTEE
INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY the International Trade Centre (ITC)
This
document contains information provided by ITC for consideration at the TBT
Committee meeting of 12-14 November 2025 under Agenda Item 6.a on Updates by
Observers.
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1 INTRODUCTION
1.1. The International Trade Centre is
continuing its efforts to assist micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to
meet technical market requirements. An update of selected TBT-related activities of interest to
the WTO Members is provided below.
2 PROJECTS
2.1 Bhutan: Modernizing border
management ecosystem to facilitate the safe trade of agri-food products -
(January 2025 - December 2027 / Donor STDF)
2.1. This project aims to help Bhutan overcome challenges relating to (1) limited
capacity to implement SPS measures and border inspections at border areas, (2)
unpredictable cross-border trade requirements, (3) costly delays and border
waiting times of Bhutanese food products at borders due to non-recognition of
Bhutan's certificates, (4) weak capacities within SPS and quality management
infrastructure of Bhutan Food and Drug Authority (BFDA) and other concerned
agencies – including techniques and capacities for sampling, testing,
inspection and certification.
2.2. In this regard, BFDA is currently
being supported to implement a quality management system in line with the
provisions of ISO/IEC 17021 such that it may audit and certify food safety
management systems in Bhutanese agri-food companies.
2.3. A training on the requirements of
the ISO/IEC 17021 standard was held from 19 to 22 August at the BFDA offices in
Thimpu. 12 staff from the head office as well as regional offices participated
in the training, going through documentary and system requirements clause by
clause. Following the training, advisory and guidance sessions with the BFDA
accreditation team are being held online regularly to help develop related
documentation. A second in-person training is envisaged before the end of 2025.
2.4. As part of the project's activities, support will be provided to a select group of Bhutanese SMEs to implement ISO 22000, preparing them for potential certification by BFDA once the latter is ready. The project is being coordinated with the IFC, which is planning to strengthen testing
capacities through the provision of equipment, while the project will undertake an NQI needs assessment early next year.
2.2 Eswatini: Promoting Growth through
Competitive Alliances - (May 2023-June 2027 / Donor EU)
2.5. This project aims to contribute to economic growth, job creation and poverty
reduction. With a major focus on the development of agriculture and
agri-business value chains and crafts, the Eswatini programme is designed to
achieve two key outcomes:
1._
adopting and implementing
business-friendly, inclusive, and responsible national policies and legal
frameworks; and
2._ strengthening productive
processing, promotion and marketing capabilities of targeted value chains.
2.6. To address the urgent and
persisting need for calibration in the country, among activities under this
project, ITC is supporting the setting up and operationalization of metrology services of the Eswatini
Standards Authority (SWASA). An in-depth needs assessment was carried out
between January and March 2025 through an analysis of related technical
regulatory and policy documents, a series of consultations and meetings, and
metrology laboratory visits. Priority areas of measurement for which SWASA could offer calibration services
were identified and a phased plan of action has been prepared along which the
project will provide further technical assistance.
2.3 Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade
Resilience and Integration - (December 2023 -February 2028 / Donor EU)
2.7. This project aims to
promote Turkmenistan's international economic engagement and participation in
regional and global trade. A core component of the initiative is to support
Turkmenistan's accession to the WTO, including assistance in aligning national
legislation with WTO Agreements.
2.8. During the
reporting period, ITC continued to support Turkmenistan in harmonizing its Law
on Standardization (Law No. 343-IV) with the TBT Agreement. In this regard, ITC
has prepared a new draft Law on Standardization and has been working closely
with the Main State Service "Turkmenstandartlary" (Turkmenistan's
National Standards Body) for further review. While still subject to revision,
the proposed law is designed to align with key provisions of the TBT Agreement,
particularly Article 4 and Annex III (Code of Good Practice for the
Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards). In parallel, ITC is
providing technical assistance for developing a new Law on Technical
Regulations and Conformity Assessment, with the aim of establishing a coherent
and WTO-consistent framework for product regulation and conformity assessment
procedures in the country.
2.4 Uganda: Sustainable Business for Uganda 2.0 – Trade and Investment
Development - (November 2024 – November 2028 / Donor EU)
2.9. With the overall objective to
contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and decent and green
job creation in Uganda, this project aims to facilitate and promote inclusive
sustainable and green trade and investment between Uganda and the European
Union.
2.10. Under the component to strengthen
quality compliance and standards in selected value chains, during the ongoing
inception phase of the project, specific activities for technical support have
been identified to reinforce the national technical regulatory framework,
standardization, accreditation, conformity assessment bodies, and support for SMEs to
implement quality improvement measures and international standards. Activities
are being planned and implemented in close coordination with Uganda National
Bureau of Standards (UNBS) and Uganda National Accreditation Services (UGANAS).
2.11. Survey of needs of testing
laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies has been completed. With
support from the project, UGANAS held an awareness raising event on its
services and the role of accreditation. The event was held on 14 August 2025, commemorating
the World Accreditation Day (9 June) where the Minister of Trade, Industry and
Cooperatives, Hon. David Bahati delivered a keynote address emphasizing that
the functionalization of UGANAS will help secure greater market access for
Ugandan products. Panel discussions ensued on the role of accreditation in
empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), benefits, and challenges.
2.12. In partnership with UNBS, a series
of three workshops was held in Kampala between
8 and 12 September 2025. The workshops served to build and
reinforce key technical concepts to serve as the foundation for activities
under the project. A first two-day capacity building workshop on "Good
Regulatory Practices in the elaboration and enforcement of technical
regulations" was held with the participation of 25 representatives from 11
regulatory agencies and four private sector bodies including a women
entrepreneur's association. A second two-day training workshop was held on the "Code
of Good Practice in the Preparation, Adoption, and Application of Standards"
(Annex 3 to the WTO TBT Agreement) which moreover covered the provisions of the
ISO/IEC Guide 21-1 on national adoption of international standards. 37
officials mostly from UNBS as well from some large private sector firms
attended this training. Finally, a one-day workshop was held to consult with
stakeholders and collect their views and suggestions on a preliminary draft
guide containing guidelines on good governance in National Quality
Infrastructure (NQI) institutions. 22 participants from 9 NQI institutions as
well as private conformity assessment bodies participated in the consultations.
2.13. A first round of trainings for
testing laboratories, inspection, and certification bodies on ISO/IEC 17025,
ISO/IEC 17020, and ISO/IEC 17021 respectively, is being planned aimed at wide
participation, following which up to five conformity assessment bodies will be
supported with further training, guidance and technical assistance to implement
their QMS in line with said standards, and prepare for accreditation. In
parallel, capacities of UGANAS are being reinforced while coordinating
technical assistance taking into account the ongoing Memorandum of
Understanding between Kenya National Accreditation Service (KENAS) and UGANAS
for assistance on certain specific areas.
2.5 East African Community (EAC): EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme
- (August 2023 – July 2027 / Donor EU)
2.14. The second phase of the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade
Programme (MARKUP II) is a regional initiative funded by the 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 Partner States. The
quality component of MARKUP II aims at strengthening compliance to quality
standards, including the development of quality awards, training and coaching
of enterprises and awareness raising regarding market driven quality
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.
2.15. Under the TBT and SPS components of
the programme, MARKUP II is strengthening the capacity of conformity assessment bodies, with a
focus on food testing laboratories. Many laboratories in the region
struggle to deliver sustainable services due to limited capacity to maintain
and repair high-end equipment such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
(HPLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) systems. During the reporting period, MARKUP II
developed a directory of maintenance and repair service providers in the EAC
region to facilitate laboratories' access to such services. The directory
focuses on providers specializing in the maintenance and repair of high-end
testing equipment and includes, among other details, contact information, types
of equipment serviced, modes of service delivery (onsite or remote), and the
authorization status of services (authorized or unauthorized by manufacturers).
The directory is currently under review by the EAC Secretariat.
2.16. MARKUP II supports the
accreditation process of Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Tanzania Bureau of
Standards (TBS) and UNBS as Proficiency Testing service providers; KEBS
obtained the first accreditation in the region in July 2025; ITC facilitated
documentation retreat for UNBS and TBS and follows up on the updating of the
roadmap for accreditation planned for late 2025, early 2026. A training
of assessors on ISO 17043 based on ISO 19011 was delivered in June 2025 which
saw 16 participants from EAC Partner States' PT providers increase their
capacity as PT providers for internal assessment of PT services through in
Nairobi, Kenya.
2.17. During the
reporting period, MARKUP II drafted a directory of maintenance and repair
service providers in the EAC region to facilitate laboratories' access to such
services- currently under review by the EAC Secretariat. The directory focuses
on providers specializing in the maintenance and repair of high-end testing
equipment and includes, among other details, contact information, types of
equipment serviced, modes of service delivery (onsite or remote), and the
authorization status of services (authorized or unauthorized by manufacturers).
2.18. ITC/MARKUP II, in collaboration
with the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), organized a three
(3) day System Auditing training/workshop based on ISO 19011 Juba, South Sudan
on 1 to 3 July 2025. Twenty participants from various departments of SSNBS
attended the training. Participants were equipped with the necessary skills to
plan, conduct and report audits based on ISO 19011 as a member of an audit team
and were able to undertake internal audit as an Auditor for a Certification
Body against the requirements of normative document.
2.19. ITC is strengthening the capacity
of the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) testing laboratory
staff in Rwanda to use equipment and analyse 250 pesticides. Chrome Africa was
selected as service provider of consumable and training following a tender
process. Consumable and standards were purchased and theoretical training
conducted in August. Practical training will follow in October once all the
required standards are delivered.
2.20. Events to raise and improve
awareness regarding quality and food safety were rolled out by teams of Quality
Champions (trainers and advisors trained and qualified under ITC implemented
export quality management projects) via national Quality Associations in Kenya,
Tanzania, and Uganda. The same teams are currently coaching SMEs on targeted
quality improvement projects including food safety and SPS issues, among
others. Coaching for enterprises on Food Safety and Quality is also commencing
in Burundi, Rwanda and soon South Sudan where a team of Quality Champions is
currently being developed.
2.21. The 2025 edition of the EAC Regional Quality Awards was officially launched in April 2025 during the 27th East African
Standards Committee meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania. This marked the start of
the Awards cycle, which will culminate in a formal recognition ceremony planned
for December 2025.
2.6 United Kingdom Trade Partnerships
Programme (UKTP) - (June 2019 – March 2026 / Donor UK)
2.22. The United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme aims to increase trade from
African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries (ACP) to the United Kingdom (UK) and
the European Union (EU) by maximizing the benefits of Economic Partnership
Agreements (EPAs). In this context, several national institutions and sectors
with export potential have been supported.
2.23. In Sri Lanka, during the reporting
period, the Programme launched its Phase III, focusing on finalizing the
amendment to the Export Development Act No. 40 of 1979 and securing the
inclusion of the SLS 1324 national organic standard within the IFOAM family of
organic standards. In parallel, a series of sensitization and training
workshops aimed at strengthening the capacities of public and private
stakeholders along the organic value chain—from inspectors and competent
authority officials to organic farmers, producers, and operators—were discussed
and incorporated into the work plan. These activities were agreed upon during
the first joint coordination meeting with national beneficiaries, including the
National Organic Control Unit of the Export Development Board (EDB‑NOCU) and
the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI).
2.24. In Jordan, the Programme began
supporting 20 SMEs in the business consulting sector to enhance their
competitiveness through compliance with international standards. In October
2025, the Programme will organize a two-day workshop on ISO 9001:2015 (Quality
management systems) and another two-day workshop on ISO 20700:2017 (Guidelines
for management consultancy services). In November 2025, the Programme will
start to provide hands-on support to these SMEs to facilitate the practical
implementation of the respective standards and guidelines within their
organizational contexts.
2.7 Alliance for Product Quality in
Africa (AfPQ I and II) - (December 2024 – December 2025 with high
probability of extension until Q1/2027 / Donor GIZ)
2.25. The German government funded
initiative "Alliance for Product Quality in Africa II (AfPQ II)", is a multi-stakeholder
initiative, consisting of public and private actors who collaborate on selected
projects with the goal to improve product quality in key economic sectors of
African countries. The project builds on the outcomes of the predecessor
project "AfPQ I", under which more than 40 companies were certified
to standards that are required to access high value markets in Europe and
groups of quality and food safety experts were trained to provide business
support services in the long term.
2.26. During the second phase of the
project, ITC is implementing activities related to quality management,
standards development and promotion in six countries, namely Côte d'Ivoire,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal. The project activities are being
implemented to support selected African SMEs in selected sectors to meet
quality requirements of buyers in Europe, and other important export markets.
These sectors are predominantly agri-food, natural cosmetics, and
textiles/clothing. Moreover, the project is working with institutions in the
countries to assist them in their participation of international standard
development processes and improved cooperation with the private sector.
2.27. During the reporting period, an
assessment of exporting and export aspiring companies in Egypt and Ethiopia was
carried out and 14 companies were identified to receive technical support by
the project related to compliance with standard requirements demanded by their
buyers.
2.28. In collaboration with the Ghana
Standards Authority (GSA), an online platform for standard development and
promotion with a focus on improved private sector engagement was developed.
Technical support was also provided to the National Standards Bodies of Côte
d'Ivoire (CODINORM) and Senegal (ASN) to set up mirror committees related to TC
338 at ISO (menstrual products) to assist the two countries in their
contributions to the development of an international standard.
2.8 Uzbekistan: Facilitating the
Process of Accession to the WTO - (February 2020 – December 2025 / Donor EU)
2.29. The
overall objective of the project is to
contribute to the economic development of Uzbekistan by assisting the country
to create a trade environment that is in conformity with international
standards, including predictable and enforceable laws and regulations. The
specific objective of the project is to create a trade environment that is in
conformity with the WTO system.
2.30. Presidential
Decree No. UP-67 on measures to stimulate manufacturing, exports, and
entrepreneurship, and to strengthen trade and industrial policy was issued on
18 April 2025. The decree facilitates reforms aimed at improving regulatory
efficiency, reducing non-tariff barriers, and aligning the country's SPS and
TBT frameworks with WTO principles. In line with this decree, the project has
developed a technical assistance proposal to support the drafting of a Law on
General Product Safety and a Law on Market Surveillance, as well as to deliver
training workshops to familiarize officials of the Uzbek Agency for Technical
Regulation (UATR), market surveillance inspectors, and other national quality
infrastructure stakeholders with the provisions of these new laws.
2.31. In
response to a request from the UATR, and taking advantage of the Uzbek delegate's
mission to Geneva to participate in the WTO TBT Committee Meeting held from 24
to 27 June 2025, the project organized a series of technical coordination
meetings with representatives from the Capacity Building and Membership
Departments of the ISO Central Secretariat, the Academy and Membership
Department of the IEC Secretariat, and the Economic Development and Cooperation
Section of SECO, which is responsible for WTO accession support activities. The
meetings focused on exploring opportunities to enhance Uzbekistan's engagement
in international standards development processes, as well as potential
capacity-building and sponsorship programmes.
2.9 Supporting Trade and Regional
Integration (STAR) - (June 2022 – December 2026 / Donor KOICA)
2.32. ITC, in
collaboration with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), organized a
three-day training workshop in Gulu City under the STAR Project from 23 to 25
September. The activity targeted 47 SMEs from the cassava, oilseed, and shea
value chains, with the objective of strengthening their capacity to understand
and comply with quality standards, quality assurance, and certification
requirements, thereby facilitating access to local, regional, and international
markets.
2.33. Facilitated
by four UNBS experts, the sessions combined technical presentations with group
discussions covering the UNBS Quality Mark, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP),
Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and HACCP principles. Participants gained a
practical understanding of certification procedures, documentation
requirements, and compliance gaps within their operations. Pre- and
post-training tests demonstrated measurable improvement in participants'
understanding of the covered concepts. A field visit to Global Traders Ltd
provided hands-on exposure to real facility conditions and compliance
challenges. The training successfully enhanced SMEs' awareness and motivation
toward certification, with several enterprises expressing immediate interest in
applying to UNBS for the Quality Mark.
2.34. Participants
highlighted challenges related to the cost of testing and product
certification. ITC's follow-up activities with SMEs will include gap
assessments, coaching, and mentoring to support them in obtaining the Quality
Mark, HACCP, and other priority certification schemes and product standards.
3 ITC CONTACT POINTS
3.1. For more information, please
contact:
Khemraj Ramful,
Senior Adviser, Export Quality Management, ITC
Tel: +41 22 730 04 87
E-mail: ramful@intracen.org
Hema Manon, Trade Training Officer, Export Quality Management, ITC
Tel: +41 22 730 05 84
E-mail:
menon@intracen.org
Hiroki Yamada, Export
Quality Management Officer, Export Quality Management, ITC
Tel: +41 22 730 01 50
E-mail: hyamada@intracen.org
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