Bhutan Launches Landmark SPS Trade Facilitation Project with Support from WTO’s STDFThimphu, Bhutan – (14 May 2025) – A new project initiative to Modernize border management for safer Agri-food Trade, was officially launched today by the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority and the International Trade Center, WTO. The project aims at strengthening Bhutan’s capacity to manage cross-border trade in agricultural and food products. This project is funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and jointly implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, Ministry of Health.
This effort marks a pivotal milestone for Bhutan in addressing key Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) challenges impacting trade. The project originated in late 2019, when Bhutan secured a project preparation grant of approximately USD 38,000 from the STDF to design the initiative in response to agri-food trade challenges faced in the country, with the goal of building a safer, more efficient, and more reliable Agri-food trade system for Bhutan.
With a total value exceeding USD 1 million—including a three-year project budget of USD 986,888 and an additional in-kind contribution of USD 286,984 from the Royal Government of Bhutan—the project aims to deliver four major outcomes:
- Enhanced National Border and Risk Management Frameworks
Strengthening risk-based controls for selected border regulatory agencies (BRAs) to ensure SPS compliance and enable safe trade in food and agricultural products. - Implementation of the IPPC ePhyto Digital Solution
Introducing electronic phytosanitary certification in Bhutan to facilitate seamless ePhyto exchanges with regional trading partners. - Strengthened Coordination and Dialogue Mechanisms
Establishing or reinforcing national, bilateral, and regional platforms for SPS and trade facilitation dialogue. - Upgraded Quality Management and SPS Capacities
Aligning national quality management frameworks with international SPS standards to improve overall trade readiness.
The project integrates cross-cutting themes of gender-responsive trade facilitation and environmental sustainability into its design and implementation. This project initiative is set to play a pivotal role in strengthening Bhutan’s agricultural trade ecosystem and fostering sustainable economic growth. A key milestone of the initiative is the launch of e-Phyto solutions, which are expected to revolutionize the way thousands of Bhutanese food and agricultural exporters and importers conduct business. The launch event concluded with a resounding call for continued stakeholder collaboration and engagement to realize the project’s objectives.
Bhutan Food and Drug Authority