World Trade Organization WT/LDC/SWG/IF/10 1 May 2001 (01-2196) Sub-Committee on Least Developed Countries ENHANCING LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES' PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY, STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS Compliance with WTO rules in the areas of food safety and quality, standards and technical regulations are of critical importance for LDCs' effective participation in international trade. The SPS and TBT Agreements limit the scope for importing countries to impose arbitrary and unjustified requirements on exports from LDCs and encourage the use of internationally developed standards as the safety/quality reference for products moving in world trade irrespective of the supplier. In addition, the WTO has provided a forum for LDCs to raise particular problems to challenge measures imposed on their exports, and to identify their specific technical assistance needs. The WTO provides training and technical assistance to