WTO Strengthens ePing Use to Enhance Transparency and Market Access in Five African Nations
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is advancing its initiative to enhance 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 focuses on five African nations: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. The project aims to bolster transparency, predictability, and market access for governments, exporters, and other stakeholders.
Enhancing Regulatory Information Sharing
The ePing SPS&TBT Platform is designed to improve how regulatory information is shared, accessed, and utilized, particularly in sectors impacted by sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT). By fostering collaboration among governments, the private sector, and international partners, the initiative seeks to streamline the flow of regulatory information.
Workshops will be conducted in the participating countries to raise awareness and enhance the practical use of ePing. These workshops will target regulators, enquiry points, exporters, trade associations, and other stakeholders who depend on timely regulatory information to navigate market access challenges.
Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam emphasized the importance of timely access to regulatory information for trade. He noted that as the project progresses, improving ePing’s functionality based on user feedback will assist traders—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—in avoiding unexpected issues at borders and maximizing market access opportunities.
Addressing Regulatory Challenges
As governments globally continue to revise regulations concerning food safety, animal and plant health, product quality, and technical standards, exporters face the challenge of keeping up with these changes. ePing, developed collaboratively by the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), addresses this issue by providing a free, global platform. Users can 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 enhancing ePing’s use is highlighted 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, with African members contributing a growing share. As the number of notifications rises, delays or omissions in information can lead to rejected exports, compliance costs, and lost market opportunities. Effective utilization of ePing can mitigate these risks by improving transparency and facilitating early dialogue both domestically and with trading partners.
Workshops as a Central Implementation Strategy
National and regional workshops are pivotal to the project’s implementation. These workshops will offer hands-on training, peer exchanges, and needs-assessment sessions to better understand user interactions with ePing. They will also leverage synergies with other international projects and tools, such as ITC’s global trade helpdesk.
Structured feedback will be gathered from participants regarding the challenges they encounter while navigating large volumes of notifications and identifying pertinent information. This feedback, along with a survey among all WTO members, will inform technological and functional enhancements to the ePing platform, making it more intuitive and user-friendly.
Building on Regional Momentum
The project builds on momentum established during a regional launch event in Nairobi in December 2025, which underscored the role of digital tools in promoting regulatory transparency. The initiative is now entering 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 greater value not only in the five participating African nations but also for WTO members globally. This initiative contributes to creating a safer, more predictable, and inclusive trading environment.
For further details on ePing, visit the WTO’s ePing flyer. Information regarding the STDF project aimed at improving the ePing SPS&TBT Platform for enhanced market access transparency can be found here.
Source: www.zawya.com
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