WTO Strengthens ePing Use to Enhance Transparency and Market Access in Five African Countries
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has initiated a project aimed at enhancing the use of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform, a critical tool for tracking evolving product requirements in international trade. This initiative, funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), is set to unfold over three years and will focus on five African nations: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. The project seeks to improve transparency, predictability, and market access for governments, exporters, and other stakeholders.
Project Implementation and Objectives
The WTO is implementing this project in collaboration with various stakeholders, including governments and the private sector. The primary goal is to enhance the sharing, access, and utilization of regulatory information related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT). By improving the use of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform, the initiative aims to facilitate better market access, particularly through national workshops designed to raise awareness and practical usage among regulators, exporters, trade associations, and other relevant parties.
Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam emphasized the importance of timely access to regulatory information for trade. He noted that the project aims to enhance the practical use of ePing on the ground and to upgrade the platform based on user feedback. This will assist traders, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in avoiding unexpected challenges at borders and making better use of market access opportunities.
The Role of ePing in Global Trade
As governments worldwide continue to revise regulations concerning food safety, animal and plant health, and product quality, keeping track of these changes can be daunting for exporters operating in multiple markets. The ePing platform, developed by the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), addresses this challenge. It offers a free, global platform for users to monitor notified draft SPS and TBT measures in real time, receive tailored email alerts, and engage with regulators before new requirements take effect.
The urgency of strengthening ePing’s usage is underscored by the increasing volume of regulatory activity. In 2025, over 7,000 SPS and TBT notifications were issued globally, marking the highest number on record. African members accounted for an increasing share of these notifications. As the volume of notifications rises, the risk of missed or delayed information can lead to rejected exports, compliance costs, and lost market opportunities. Effective utilization of ePing can help mitigate these risks by enhancing transparency and facilitating early dialogue both domestically and with trading partners.
Workshops and User Engagement
National and regional workshops are central to the project’s implementation. These workshops will combine hands-on training, peer exchange, and needs-assessment sessions to better understand how different users interact with ePing. They will also leverage synergies with other international projects and tools, such as the ITC’s global trade helpdesk.
These workshops aim to collect structured feedback from users regarding the challenges they face in navigating large volumes of notifications and identifying the most relevant information. This feedback, along with a survey among all WTO members, will directly inform technological and functional enhancements to the ePing platform, making it more intuitive and user-friendly.
Upcoming Activities and Future Prospects
The project builds on momentum generated at a regional launch event held in Nairobi in December 2025, which highlighted the role of digital tools in promoting regulatory transparency. The initiative is now transitioning into a national phase, commencing with a workshop in Arusha, Tanzania, scheduled for April 28-30, 2026. Similar events will follow in the other participating countries.
By enhancing capacity, raising awareness, and incorporating user-driven improvements, the WTO aims to ensure that ePing provides even greater value, not only in the five participating African countries but also for WTO members as a whole. This initiative contributes to creating a safer, more predictable, and inclusive trading environment.
For further information on ePing, visit the official page here. Details regarding the STDF project aimed at improving the use of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform can be found here.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-04-27 18:19:00 • By the Editorial Desk
