Participants have engaged in hands-on training on SPS-related matters, ranging from addressing national implementation issues to the identification of SPS-related market access difficulties. In addition, they have elaborated an action plan to address implementation and/or market access difficulties encountered in their countries.

The course is offered as part of the WTO technical assistance and training activities. It represents a 'level 3' training, the highest in the WTO's progressive learning framework. The objective of the course is primarily to address SPS implementation issues and is targeted at government officials from WTO members and observers that have concluded an online 'level 2' SPS e-learning course and who work directly on SPS-related matters. 

Participants included Ms Wai Yee Lin, Assistant Director at the Department of Consumer Affairs of Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce, who said: "This advanced SPS course has enhanced our understanding of SPS measures and has equipped us with the necessary tools to deal with SPS issues in trade in food." She added that the opportunity to network with the international community dealing with SPS issues has introduced her to new ways of thinking about these issues and will be very helpful to her in the future. 

Mr Kenrick Witty, a Plant Health Officer in Belize's Agricultural Health Authority, said that the course has given participants the know-how to address agricultural health issues in a confident way when they return to their home countries.

Ms Susmita Gautam of Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control said: "It has been a privilege to participate in this training course. It will certainly help me perform my work more effectively when I return to Nepal. I have also had a great time sharing this experience with fellow participants from other countries. As for the coaches and course coordinators, they have been just awesome."

By attending meetings of the SPS Committee and a Workshop on Transparency, participants have been exposed to the day-to-day work of the SPS Committee. This has also provided them with an opportunity for networking and experience-sharing with WTO experts, delegates and representatives from other international organizations active in SPS-related matters, such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the International Plant Protection Convention and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

List of participants