WTO: 2006 NEWS ITEMS

16 May 2006
WTO TRAINING COURSES

Specialized Course on SPS

The WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation (ITTC) and the Agriculture and Commodities Division (ACD), in cooperation with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), are organizing a two-week Specialized Course on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) in Geneva, at the WTO Headquarters from 16 to 27 October 2006 (immediately following the SPS Committee meetings).

Conceived to be essentially of a participatory nature, the Course will focus on implementation and market access challenges faced in the SPS area. The knowledge and skills acquired during the Course are expected to assist participants in identifying and resolving problems related to the effective implementation of the SPS Agreement. Participants will be asked to develop and present their action-plans to address at least one or two of these problems. The Course will be complemented by follow-up actions to take place in 2007.

  

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Beneficiaries 

The Course is designed for 25 officials from developing countries and economies in transition, which are Members or Observers of the WTO, as well as all LDCs, nominated by their governments. Only one participant per Member or Observer may be selected.

Candidates should be familiar with the SPS Agreement and knowledgeable of national issues relating to its implementation. They should be currently working in their national administration and have leadership responsibilities in the SPS area, either in a coordinating role in the context of the SPS Committee or in another related sector/policy context.

The Course will be held in English. All-round proficiency in English is an essential prerequisite for participation.

  

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Applications for fellowships 

An invitation was sent on 8 May 2006 to the Missions to the WTO of eligible Members and Observers.

Only applications submitted through the national WTO contact point will be considered. The deadline for submission of nominations to the WTO is 10 June 2006.

Participants will be offered a fellowship, covering a round-trip air ticket (excursion fare), medical insurance, accommodation, and a daily subsistence allowance for the duration of the course.