The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it has donated US$250,000 (€165,800) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing countries establish and improve phytosanitary standards.
“Internationally accepted phytosanitary systems allow trade to flow smoothly, which contributes to countries’ economic development,” said US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement.
“When countries improve their phytosanitary capabilities, they also improve their own food security by supporting the safety of food consumed domestically, by protecting their agricultural production from losses due to pests and diseases and by promoting economic growth through new access to agricultural export markets.”
Since 2003, the USDA has donated US$700,000 (€464,170) to the STDF, which has been aimed at helping developing countries to strengthen their food safety and animal and plant health systems, and enhance their ability to meet international phytosanitary standards.
The STDF was established in 2001 by the World Trade Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Health Organisation, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the World Bank, and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Since its inception, 54 per cent of STDF grants to developing countries have gone to Sub-Saharan Africa, 15 per cent to Latin America and the Caribbean, 12 per cent to Asia, and 14 per cent to global efforts.
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