Frederic Serre
The Advocate
The Canadian government says it’s doing its part to help developing countries better integrate into world markets by boosting measures to protect human, animal and plant life by injecting $250,000 into the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) – a move that is being applauded by key players worldwide, including the World Trade Organization.
“The Government of Canada will continue to support global efforts to adopt international standards for food safety and animal and plant health,” said Heath MacDonald, Canada’s minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Investing in larger-scale capacity-building projects, like the STDF, will help improve food security, reduce poverty and promote sustainable economic growth around the world.”
The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes safe and inclusive trade, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary measures, including measures to ensure food safety, prevent the spread of diseases, and protect against pests. It was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership.
The STDF has outlined its five-year plan to uphold rules-based international trade, and Canada’s donation underscores its major and long-standing commitment to the STDF’s program goal, said MacDonald, adding that the government has brought its total contributions to $7.6 million since 2005.
WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed Canada’s donation, saying: “Compliance with international standards enhances food security in both importing and exporting countries by facilitating trade in agricultural products. The long-term impact of STDF-related programs will benefit producers, traders and governments along global and regional value chains, helping them raise export revenues, income levels and living standards. The STDF will continue to facilitate inclusive and safe trade worldwide, in close partnership with Canada.”
MacDonald said Canadian officials have shared expertise to strengthen the delivery of STDF projects. He said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) hosted a learning visit for regulators from Honduras and Belize in 2024, and co-organized webinars in March and April 2025 attended by more than 100 experts, many in Africa, to share insights from Canada’s risk-based food safety model. Additionally, the CFIA will host a learning visit for regulators from Rwanda and Uganda in September.