Project type: Loan- and Grant-financed, with Technical Assistance Project title: Trade Facilitation: Imported Sanitary and Phytosanitary Handling in Greater Mekong Sub-region Trade Project Project components: (i) Strengthened surveillance and inspection programs in the fields of (1) plant health through investment for (a) conducting systematic surveillance and gathering and managing survey-based data; (b) strengthening diagnostic and analytical services through technical regulations and investments in laboratory facilities, equipment, supplies, and human resources; (c) improving international reporting of pest situations; (d) conducting forest pest analysis to enable better understanding and management of forest health and associated SPS compliance; and (e) introducing risk-based approaches to plant imports; and (f) in the Lao PDR, strengthening the supply chains associated with crop products for growing regional markets, especially the People’s Republic of China; (2) animal health by strengthening surveillance programs by improving testing, diagnostic, and response capacity for priority transboundary animal diseases (foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and in Cambodia also hemorrhagic septicemia, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) with field implementation on a geographically targeted basis (i.e., border or livestock production provinces). In the Lao PDR, monitoring the safety of veterinary drugs, animal feeds, and animal products will be enhanced. In Cambodia, capacity to monitor veterinary drug residues will be supported. In both Cambodia and the Lao PDR, the project will promote risk-based import controls; and (3) food safety, focusing on (a) designing and implementing annual programs of surveillance, monitoring, and inspection based on known and perceived risks of food safety hazards in specific products, locations, markets, hotels, and restaurants; and (b) on hazard response capacity, which will include selectively strengthening laboratory capacities. The project will pursue improved food safety handling in the tourist industry by promoting good hygiene practices, good manufacturing practices, and enterprise grading. Once grading systems have been established, these services can be delivered by private providers. The project will support national studies on the possibilities for Cambodia and the Lao PDR to use assessments by other GMS countries for first-time market access requests for processed food products. Risk-based methods and updated manuals and procedures for controlling imported processed food in line with international recommendations and those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will also be introduced; (ii) Improved regional coperation and harmonization, by supporting Cambodia and the Lao PDR’s active participation in regional fora such as the Southeast Asia and China Foot and Mouth Disease project; International Food Safety Authorities Network; ASEAN Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed; and twinning arrangements between Cambodia, the Lao PDR, and other countries on SPS issues. The project will support SPS regional cooperation and harmonization through bilateral working groups (including the PRC and Thailand) in the areas of plant health, animal health, and food safety; and (iii) Enhanced education levels and university training of sanitary and phytosanitary specialists, focusing on upgrading academic education for SPS specialists by improving the quality of teaching at the Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia) and the Faculty of Agriculture at the National University of Laos (with some participation by the University of Health Sciences).