SPS Capacity Building Program

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SPS Capacity Building Program

What is the purpose of the program?

The SPS Capacity Building Program assists the developing Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) focal countries to expand their capability to:

  • describe and manage their animal and plant health status and
  • implement SPS measures consistent with international standards and the expectations of trading partners.

The ASEAN focal countries are Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines.

What is the program looking to do?

The program looks to enhance the capacity of developing ASEAN focal countries to meet international SPS standards consistent with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (commonly referred to as 'the SPS Agreement').

What types of activities are included under the program?

The program focuses on building human SPS-related capacity in animal and plant health areas. This is based on the needs identified in the focal developing countries and the increasing animal and plant health issues related to the SPS Agreement.

Most of the activities are conducted in the ASEAN region and include:

  • activities to increase awareness of the importance of the SPS Agreement and the linkages between plant and animal trade
  • technical training to enhance key animal and plant health skills and
  • projects to strengthen regional capacity to control and manage animal health diseases.

Plant health - The building of plant health capacity in the ASEAN region focus on assisting with the construction of national pest lists and enhancing skills in pest risk assessment. Activities include:

  • defining data standards for pest and disease records and information management requirements
  • improving regional diagnostic capacity and understanding of diagnostic standards
  • increasing awareness for the need for biological collections and improving capacity in preservation, curation and data management and
  • training in pest risk analysis.

Animal health - The building of animal health capacity in the ASEAN region is to focus on the following areas:

  • livestock trading assessment of opportunities in the region and SPS-related constraints
  • training to increase capacity in integrated disease risk management and
  • contributions to disease control programs.

Who are the program collaborators?

The main SPS Capacity Building Program collaborators are:

Who is funding the program?

The SPS Capacity Building Program is funded by the Australian Government through AusAID. The Program commenced in late 2004.

Why is the SPS Agreement important to international trade?

You can get information about this topic by reading the booklet:

The WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement: Why you need to know ....

Why build scientific capacity in ASEAN countries?

South East Asia’s efforts to pursue exports for agricultural commodities are constrained. This is by a significant lack of regional capacity to meet requirements set out in the SPS Agreement. ASEAN has highlighted the issue of building regional SPS capacities, particularly in the context of the ASEAN Free Trade Area - Closer Economic Relations - Closer Economic Partnership.

Improvements in regional SPS capacities are an essential foundation for efforts throughout the region to:

  • reduce the spread or incidence of key pests and diseases
  • promote regional trade
  • enhance economic growth and
  • facilitate a reduction in poverty.

Each of the participating countries has different levels of expertise in terms of SPS capacity. They also have different levels of resources that can be allocated for SPS issues. However, there are areas of common need in which training and technical assistance can provide benefit to all participating countries simultaneously.

It is clear that a program attempting to build SPS capacity in the region must also establish links with various ASEAN bodies and donors. This needs to be done to avoid duplication and ensure activities are complementary.

Why is Australia contributing to SPS capacity building in Southeast Asia?

The SPS Capacity Building Program reflects the priority that the Department has given to international trade. This high priority takes into consideration:

  • a commitment given by developed WTO members (including Australia) to assist developing countries to meet their obligations under the SPS Agreement
  • the AFTA-CER-CEP agenda with its strong trade focus
  • a policy of supporting initiatives that facilitate trade and international economic issues in multilateral and regional fora
  • opportunities to take action offshore to mitigate threats posed by exotic pests and diseases
  • a desire to improve the capacity of countries in the region to participate in processes within the WTO, the OIE (the World Organisation for Animal Health), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and Codex alimentarius and
  • the opportunities to harmonise legislation in countries of the region in order to facilitate trade in safe food.

The Program falls within AusAID's objectives to improve the capacity of countries in South East Asia to cope with the institutional and regulatory requirements of the global trading system. Ultimately, building capacity will alleviate poverty in the region.

The Program's objectives complement WTO initiatives under the 'Doha Development Agenda'. The 'Doha Development Agenda' aims to increase market access and promote economic growth, particularly in the context of important trade rule issues faced by developing countries.

Recent publications relating to capacity building in the region

Program coordinators

Ian Naumann
Program Director
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3442

Wendy Lee
Program Coordinator
Telephone: +61 2 6272 3670

Postal Address:
Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Facsimile: +61 2 6272 5835



Last Updated: 15 Feb 2008
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