Phnom Penh, Cambodia,

20-21 May 2008

          As part of the Aid for Trade regional review event, the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) held a workshop in Manila, Philippines on 18 September 2007 focusing on issues related to the mobilisation of capacity building resources in the area of food safety, animal and plant health (collectively known as sanitary and phytosanitary or SPS measures).  That meeting focused on SPS needs in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam. 

One strong conclusion emerging from the meeting was that:  "Standards are a passport for trade.  The ability to control sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) risk and meet international standards is a key element determining participation of developing countries in the trading system."

The aim of this follow-up event, hosted jointly by the Government of Cambodia, the STDF and the Integrated Framework is to turn the conclusions arising from this first event into tangible outcomes.  More specifically, the event will examine the following:

• "Balance sheets" of needs and technical assistance on-going or planned in the area of SPS related technical co-operation. The balance sheets make use of existing capacity evaluations in this area and interviews with donors. As such they are an important tool for co-ordination in this area,

• Identification of priority action area in SPS related technical assistance not met through current or planned assistance (gap analysis), and

• Agree ways to address these outstanding needs through future SPS related assistance

The overall aim will be to clearly identify ways in which SPS priority needs can be addressed by donors, international organizations offering technical assistance in the SPS area or through the STDF itself. 

Workshop documents

a) Final agenda

b) SPS Balance Sheet for Cambodia

c) SPS Balance Sheet for Lao PDR

d) SPS Balance Sheet for Viet Nam

e) SPS Regional Balance Sheet

f)  Good practice presentation.pps

g) Balance sheets presentation.pps

h) Overview Technical Assistance presentation.pps

i)  Workshop Conclusions.pdf

Background documents

a) Conclusions and Recommendations - Manila

b) Summary report of the meeting - Manila

c) Synthesis of SPS evaluations (C. Van der Meer)

d) Overview of assistance (L. Ignacio)