Title of the activity
Course on Essentials for SPS Committee Participation
Activity Type
Thematic course/Workshop
Description
Available in the language of the activity.
Venue
Switzerland
City
WTO
Trade topic
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)
Start Date
End Date
Duration (days)
36
Activity Level
selection process
The Secretariat will select a maximum of twenty-five participants for this activity. Candidates will be selected using criteria such as the fulfilment of prerequisites, prior selection of other candidates from the same administration, as well as balance among the selected candidates in terms of region, gender, years of experience, and specialization.
Government officials from eligible WTO Members and Observers wishing to apply are invited to consult the instructions provided in G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.16, and complete and submit the online application form available at XXX (application deadline in June 2026)
The Secretariat will inform Members' and Observers' contact points to the WTO (e.g., Missions to the WTO) of the proposed selection of candidates from their government before the final selection.
Government officials from eligible WTO Members and Observers wishing to apply are invited to consult the instructions provided in G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.16, and complete and submit the online application form available at XXX (application deadline in June 2026)
The Secretariat will inform Members' and Observers' contact points to the WTO (e.g., Missions to the WTO) of the proposed selection of candidates from their government before the final selection.
Pre-requisite
Candidates must:
- be government officials at the time of applying for the course, during the course, and ideally envisaged to work on SPS matters after its completion;
- be tasked to follow the work of the WTO SPS
Committee;
- have successfully completed the WTO SPS e-Learning Course by the time of their application, in any of the WTO working languages;
- hold direct responsibilities in the SPS area, e.g. specialists on food safety, animal health, plant protection, or be officials from a relevant Ministry in charge of coordinating SPS matters and international trade;
- possess a proven advanced level of understanding of the provisions and structure of the WTO, and the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement, and must be willing to take initiative and leadership;
- be fluent in oral and written French.
The e-Learning Course is available at: https://www.learning.wto.org/.
- be government officials at the time of applying for the course, during the course, and ideally envisaged to work on SPS matters after its completion;
- be tasked to follow the work of the WTO SPS
Committee;
- have successfully completed the WTO SPS e-Learning Course by the time of their application, in any of the WTO working languages;
- hold direct responsibilities in the SPS area, e.g. specialists on food safety, animal health, plant protection, or be officials from a relevant Ministry in charge of coordinating SPS matters and international trade;
- possess a proven advanced level of understanding of the provisions and structure of the WTO, and the principles and provisions of the SPS Agreement, and must be willing to take initiative and leadership;
- be fluent in oral and written French.
The e-Learning Course is available at: https://www.learning.wto.org/.
Target Audience
Government officials
Language
French
Key Result
1. Government officials are implementing WTO Agreements and fully realising Members' rights and obligations
Key Output
1.1: Government officials have enhanced knowledge about WTO Agreements, trade policy formulation and conduct of trade negotiations
Invited Members and Observers:
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain, Kingdom of
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Côte dʼIvoire
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong, China
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Kuwait, the State of
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao Peopleʼs Democratic Republic
Lebanese Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao, China
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova, Republic of
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
North Macedonia
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Qatar
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
Sao Tomé and Principe
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Syrian Arab Republic
Chinese Taipei
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
Viet Nam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe