ADB–WTO–Pakistan Seminar on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures
Access to global markets is very important but has been undermined by inadequate and outdated sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. At the sidelines of WTO’s Trade Policy Review for Pakistan, the ADB-WTO joint webinar on 31 March to 1 April 2022 shared good regulatory practices and initiatives to enhance SPS measures in Pakistan.
Mr. Javed Humayun, Senior Joint Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan underscored that market opportunities and connectivity can be enhanced through regional cooperation, adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies, and private sector engagement. WTO’s Melvin Spreij, Head of Standards and Trade Development Facility introduces the tools available for Pakistan to develop optimal policy to facilitate trade while promoting public health, including exploring use of digital technologies. ADB’s Deputy Country Director for Pakistan Asad Aleem highlighted the importance of strengthening SPS measures to facilitate trade, improve resilience, and achieve sustainable recovery.
ADB presented on ongoing regional and national SPS initiatives under the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 and ADB’s assistance in transforming agriculture in Pakistan. Experts from International Trade Center, International Plant Protection Convention, World Organisation for Animal Health, and Food and Agriculture Organization shared various initiatives on trade, SPS and digital innovations on agri-food trade.
The seminar highlighted policymaking through interagency coordination, good regulatory practices, and prioritizing SPS investments for market access anchored on the WTO SPS Agreement. Under the CAREC SPS Workplan 2021-2023, the ADB, WTO, and development partners support CAREC countries in improving SPS capacity to better connect with the global agri-food supply chains.
Key Documents
Session 1 – WTO SPS Agreement and Good Regulatory Practices to Improve SPS Measures
Session 2 – Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access
Session 3A – CAREC SPS Initiatives
Session 3B – ADB’s Assistance to Transforming Agriculture in Pakistan
Session 3C – International Trade Center’s SPS Initiatives in Pakistan
Session 4A – ePhyto solutions of International Plant Protection Convention
Session 4B – Pest Surveillance Database Development in Pakistan to Improve External Trade
Session 4C – FAO’s Animal Identification and Traceability Systems Project in Pakistan
Related Links:
CAREC SPS Video (2021)
CAREC SPS Week: Facilitating Safe and Sustainable Trade in the CAREC Region (2021)
Knowledge-Sharing Module on CAREC Trade: Facilitating Trade Through Digital SPS Certification (2021)
Expanding Agri-Trade in Central Asia through the Use of Electronic Certificates (2021)
2nd Meeting of the CAREC SPS Regional Working Group (2021)
Modernizing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures in CAREC: An Assessment and the Way Forward (2019)
CAREC Common Agenda for Modernization of SPS Measures for Trade (2019)
The activity is supported by KSTA 9500-REG: Modernizing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures to Facilitate Trade, co-funded by the People’s Republic of China Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund and Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund.