The Turkmen delegation is taking part in the World Trade Organization (WTO) regional seminar on the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus (CEECAC).

The seminar is taking place from July1 to 3 in Vienna, Austria. The event is organized by the WTO Secretariat in cooperation with the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) under the WTO Biennial Technical Assistance and Training Plan 2024–2025.

The delegation of Turkmenistan included specialists from the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Main State Service "Turkmenstandartlary".

The main objective of the regional workshop is to enhance the effectiveness of participation of countries in the CEECAC region in the WTO, as well as to deepen the understanding of the provisions of the SPS Agreement. The workshop will cover issues related to the SPS transparency framework, the activities of the WTO SPS Committee, as well as current initiatives of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

At the opening ceremony of the seminar, the head of the department of international and scientific relations of the State Veterinary Service Arslan Soltanmyradov delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan. In his speech, he emphasized Turkmenistan's continued commitment to fulfilling all international obligations in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, active interaction with relevant international organizations, as well as the importance of strengthening the technical and human resources potential for further improvement of the national SPS system.

Turkmenistan consistently implements state policy aimed at ensuring the safety and quality of food and agricultural products, protecting public health and the well-being of the environment.

Within the framework of their participation in this seminar, representatives of the Turkmen delegation will discuss current issues of implementing the provisions of the SPS Agreement, exchange experiences with colleagues from other countries, and also study the possibilities of expanding international cooperation in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, according to a press release from the State Veterinary Service of the country.