The government of France has donated EUR 50,000 (nearly CHF 54,000) in 2016 to help the WTO’s poorest members implement food safety, animal health and plant health standards. The objective is to help these countries participate more actively in global agricultural trade.
The donation to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) will help developing and least-developed countries improve their sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) capacity and therefore access agricultural markets more easily.
France’s donation will help developing and least-developed countries to implement food safety, animal health and plant health standards so that they can participate more effectively in world trade.
In renewing its support to the STDF, France aims to help developing countries enhance their capacity in the area of health governance so that they can better integrate into world trade. It is important that these countries acquire safe, efficient, sustainable and resilient food systems, which will help to generate income and to create wealth.
Overall, France has donated over CHF 16 million to WTO trust funds over the past 15 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.