This regional project in Central America addressed the SPS challenge of limited food safety inspection capacity, which can hinder compliance with international standards and restrict market access. By integrating Voluntary Third-Party Assurance (vTPA) programs into national regulatory frameworks in Belize and Honduras, the project introduced a risk-based, complementary approach to strengthen official food control systems. Grounded in Codex Alimentarius guidelines and international best practices, the project aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on public authorities while supporting food businesses in meeting export requirements.
This project is closely related two STDF pilot projects on the use of vTPA programmes in East Africa, benefiting Rwanda and Uganda, and in West Africa, benefitting Mali and Senegal.