The impact of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures on international trade is significant and will continue to grow as consumers in both developed and developing country markets strive for increased food safety. Enhanced market access opportunities for developing countries need to be accompanied by a targeted effort to increase capacity to address SPS issues as part of a broader strategy to improve competitiveness and modernize agro-food chains. This session will look at the increasing importance of SPS measures on international trade and highlight challenges faced by developing countries in addressing SPS issues within a broader development strategy.

Needs evaluations in the SPS area have been performed for many countries by a variety of organizations. This session will examine evaluations for three countries - Cambodia, Lao P.D.R and Vietnam, - identifying the most pressing challenges and limitations faced by these countries as an example of the concerns that developing countries of the Asia Pacific region need to address in order to increase their participation in export markets. It will provide an opportunity for the countries surveyed to verify that their needs have been accurately evaluated and discern how these needs have evolved over time. The discussion will look at the way in which these case study countries have integrated their SPS capacity building needs into broader national strategies for enhancing competitiveness.

The perspective of the private sector from both developing and developed countries is essential in identifying needs based on actual challenges faced by producers and key demands from consumers. This session will present the views of producers from Cambodia, Lao P.D.R and Vietnam, a standard setting body and a major retailer from the broader region. The discussion will look at the benefits and challenges of integrating the private sector views in SPS needs assessments, at the project design and implementation phase and in evaluating results.

This session will be focused around presentation of a compilation of the SPS assistance provided by donors to Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao P.D.R. over the past five years. The discussion will aim at identifying priority areas where assistance has been received and assessing the impact of that assistance, particularly in the context of Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao P.D.R.'s broader development strategies. The view from the perspective of donors will complement the discussion

Strengthening the link between needs and the future supply of technical assistance is key to maximizing the positive impact of technical assistance. Adequate identification and surveying of needs, good practice in the delivery of technical assistance and consistent follow-up are essential in promoting that link. The discussion will focus on concrete ways in which the needs of the three countries surveyed, and the wider region, can be synchronized with the future supply of technical assistance in the SPS area