WTO: 2006 PRESS RELEASES
Press/435
22 February 2006
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
US gives $100,000 aid on food, animal and plant health standards
The United Sates has committed to donate US$ 100,000 (approximately 127,800 Swiss francs) to help developing countries analyse and implement international standards on food safety and animal and plant health — so-called sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
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Lamy’s speeches
“This contribution builds on the US commitment to help developing
nations adopt science-based animal and plant health and food safety
standards that are so critical to trade,” said US Agriculture Secretary
Mike Johanns.
The donation is for the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF),
a programme set up for the purpose jointly by the World Trade
Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World
Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture
Organization.
“This latest contribution from the US sets the scene for what should be
another good year for the Standards and Trade Development Facility,”
said WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy. “As members contemplate lower
trade barriers in agricultural and food products, we hear more concerns
about meeting standards. It is worth repeating that in order to make use
of market opening opportunities, developing countries also need to be
able to meet the demands of importing countries’ rules on food safety,
or animal or plant health. Keeping up with new SPS standards in export
markets is a challenge for everyone, but particularly for developing and
least developed countries. By assisting them implement SPS measures,
programmes like the Standards and Trade Development Facility have a
direct impact on these countries’ capacity to export.”
With this contribution, the United States has become the 9th WTO member
to give funds to the Standards and Trade Development Facility. Since its
inception in 2002, the STDF has received over 6 million Swiss Francs in
donations (over $4.7 million). With these funds, these STDF has built a
portfolio of 15 projects and is financing a further 16
project-preparation grants. Project-preparation grants aim to turn good
ideas into projects and are a key way of ensuring the target is met for
40% of STDF resources to be spent on least-developed countries. In 2006,
three funding cycles are planned. Closing dates for applications and
further information on how to apply can be found on the
STDF website.