STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY
Note by the Secretariat[1]
1.1. The Standards and Trade Development
Facility (STDF) is a global partnership that supports developing countries in
building sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity as a means to improve their
human, animal and plant health situation and ability to gain and maintain market
access. Many developing countries, and least developed countries (LDCs) in particular, identify SPS constraints among the key trade
barriers. Countries may be unable to export food and agricultural products for
instance due to their inability to document freedom from specific pests or
diseases or due to unacceptable levels of pesticide residues or microbiological
contamination.
1.2. The work of the STDF is guided by
a five-year strategy (2012-2016) and built on the need to: (i) promote
increased collaboration and interaction among providers of SPS-related
technical cooperation; and (ii) continue strengthening the STDF as a knowledge
platform for information exchange, sharing experiences, resource mobilization
and identification and dissemination of good practice. The STDF also provides support and
funding for the development and implementation of projects
that promote compliance with international SPS requirements. In short, the STDF
is a concrete example of Aid-for-Trade implementation, at an issue-specific
level.
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own
responsibility and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their
rights or obligations under the WTO.