Common use of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Clause in Contracts

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building. 1. The Parties recognise that cooperation, information sharing, capacity building and technical assistance are important elements in promoting the objectives of this Chapter. 2. The Parties shall give full consideration to the provisions on technical assistance and special and differential treatment in the SPS Agreement, and the possible difficulties that the Parties may encounter in the implementation of this Chapter. The Parties agree to take such reasonable measures, as may be available, to enhance capacity building by providing technical assistance. 3. Consistent with the objectives of this Article, the Parties shall jointly consider technical assistance projects in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures for the purposes of implementing this Article. Such technical assistance projects may include, but are not limited to: (a) sharing knowledge, experience or research results in areas such as: (i) animal and plant pests and diseases; (ii) food safety; (iii) agri-chemicals and veterinary medicines; and (iv) other areas agreed by the Parties; and (b) consulting on positions in regional and international organisations and on relevant standards and programs. 4. The Parties shall explore opportunities for other forms of technical assistance or cooperation that the Parties jointly decide upon, including strengthening cooperation between their SPS enquiry points, sharing available translations of SPS notifications and related documents, and exchanging experience and information on SPS notifications.