All countries maintain sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to ensure that food is safe for consumers and to prevent the spread of pests or diseases among animals and plants. Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs) are processes and tools to help improve the quality and effectiveness of SPS measures so that they protect human, animal, or plant life or health, without creating unnecessary barriers to trade. Using GRPs improves compliance with the WTO SPS Agreement, including greater alignment with international standards for food safety, animal and plant health.

In November 2021, the STDF published a Guide to help SPS regulators in developing countries use GRPs to improve SPS measures and facilitate safe trade. The Guide offers a handbook to navigate and use GRPs when designing, developing, and reviewing SPS measures. It may also be used to support the development and/or implementation of capacity development projects at the national or regional level, supported by the STDF or other partners.

See the briefing note on the use of GRPs to facilitate safe trade released in March 2022.