Germany has contributed EUR 150,000 (CHF 164,000) in 2017 to help developing countries comply with international food safety, animal and plant health standards and therefore access agricultural markets more easily. The Director of the WTO’s Administration and General Services Division, Nthisana Phillips, met with Germany’s Alternate Ambassador to the WTO, Walter Werner, on 6 July 2017 to mark Germany’s donation to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
Ms Phillips said: “Germany’s donation will be very important in helping developing and least-developed countries improve their sanitary and phytosanitary capacity to better access global markets. I welcome Germany’s ongoing generosity.”
Ambassador Werner said: “High standards are important for ensuring food safety, food security and poverty reduction. Not only do they help to prevent the spread of animal and plant diseases, they also enhance the export capacities of developing countries. The German Ministry for Food and Agriculture is pleased to be renewing its support to help the STDF carry out its projects.”
Germany has donated EUR 2 million (approximately CHF 2,200,000) to the STDF over the past 10 years.
The STDF is a global coordination platform that brings together leading trade, health and agriculture experts worldwide to share knowledge, tools and good practice and strengthen the effectiveness of SPS technical assistance provided to developing countries. The STDF also provides support and funding for the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that promote compliance with international SPS requirements. The STDF is housed and managed by the WTO.
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