Philippines to represent Southeast Asia region as developing country in STDF

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will represent the Southeast Asian region as a developing country expert in the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) next year.

STDF is a knowledge hub about sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) related concerns.

Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) assistant director designate and division chief of the Technical Services Division Mary Grace Mandigma is one of the six developing country experts of the STDF.

Her term as a developing country expert will commence next year.

The experts were selected from different regions worldwide namely: Southeast Asia (Philippines), Africa (Tanzania), South America (Colombia), Caribbean region (Jamaica), Africa (Zimbabwe), and South Asia (Bhutan).

As a developing country expert, Mandigma is expected to provide technical knowledge, information and practical advice to support the implementation of activities in the STDF Strategy and work plan, based on her particular expertise in food safety in Asia.

She will also assist in raising awareness about the STDF in Asia through seeking interested STDF funding applicants and providing recommendations to the STDF Secretariat on the dissemination of STDF information materials at the national/regional events, among others.

STDF developing country experts will also take part in various meetings of STDF such as working group and policy committee meetings.

They are also expected to provide technical guidance and practical advice to support the thematic capacity development activities of STDF at the national, regional or international level.

A global partnership to facilitate safe trade, contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security, STDF was founded by five international organizations namely Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), World Bank Group, World Health Organization (WHO) and World Trade Organization (WTO).

It also provides funding to institutions that develop and deliver innovative, cross-cutting projects that help developing countries improve food safety, animal and plant health to facilitate safe trade.