Promoting Science based standards in the Gulf Standardization Organization | USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 20 0004

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 20 0004

This grant opportunity, titled "Promoting Science based standards in the Gulf Standardization Organization" (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 20 0004; CFDA 10.960), is a discretionary USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) initiative under Technical Agricultural Assistance. USDA/FAS proposes working with Michigan State University to design, plan, and deliver one to two in-person, two-day workshops or seminar-style conferences in a Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) member country, depending on available funding. The central purpose is to strengthen how GSO-country regulators and policymakers develop and approve food additive policies by emphasizing science, evidence, transparency, and internationally recognized regulatory approaches.

At a practical level, the project is meant to convene foreign regulatory officials and key stakeholders for structured training and dialogue on good regulatory practices and risk-based decision-making. The agenda is expected to cover how science- and rules-based standards for processed foods and ingredients are developed, core concepts in toxicology and risk assessment (including addressing common safety myths), how exposure and dosage inform safety determinations, and how food additives and other chemicals are evaluated and regulated when used in processed foods. A major theme is alignment with global norms and trade commitments, especially World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations such as the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, as well as the Codex Alimentarius framework, the Codex General Standard for Food Additives, and the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) safety evaluations. The U.S. FDA food additive evaluation process is also highlighted as a key reference point for explaining how a mature regulatory system uses scientific evidence to reach food safety decisions.

The workshops are designed to bring together a broad mix of speakers and participants. USDA/FAS expects sessions led by U.S. technical experts drawn from research institutions specializing in food additives and toxicology, academia, international organizations and regulatory experts, and current or former U.S. government officials. In addition, U.S. companies and trade associations are expected to participate to explain how industry engages with regulators, contributes data and comments, and supports transparent public-private approaches to standard-setting and compliance. The intent is not only to present the U.S. regulatory model, but also to show how stakeholder engagement can be structured in open and accountable ways while still protecting public health and maintaining regulatory independence.

Michigan State University would serve as USDA/FAS's implementing partner, collaborating on conference design, speaker selection, technical content development, and the creation of performance indicators to measure outcomes. USDA/FAS's Processed Products Division would lead the conferences and bring a U.S. delegation of subject matter experts to engage directly with Gulf regulators and standards officials. On the host-country side, the target audience includes officials from ministries of health, food and drug authorities, ministries of agriculture, and other agencies responsible for trade, standards, and WTO affairs, alongside local and international industry representatives. The anticipated scale per event is roughly 30 to 40 local government officials, 20 to 30 local and international industry participants, and 10 to 15 U.S. officials and representatives, with opportunities for host countries to present their own approaches and challenges and for follow-on consultations after the workshops.

The underlying policy rationale is explicitly tied to trade and regulatory harmonization. USDA notes that processed foods account for about one-third of U.S. agricultural exports by value, and that innovation in processed products (including lower-calorie or lower-sugar options that may rely on certain additives) can be slowed or blocked when foreign approval systems are inconsistent, slow, or not grounded in widely accepted scientific methods. In USDA's view, some GSO model standards and technical regulations are not sufficiently science- or evidence-based, may not reflect U.S. regulations, and can lead to inconsistent or conflicting requirements across GSO members. By improving technical capacity in risk assessment and good regulatory practice, and by reinforcing the role of Codex, JECFA, and WTO commitments, the program aims to support more predictable, transparent, and harmonized food additive regulations. The expected downstream effect is fewer technical barriers to trade and expanded market opportunities for U.S. processed food exports, while also supporting Middle East consumers' access to safe, high-quality products.

Success is intended to be measured in concrete ways agreed upon with USDA/FAS and U.S. technical advisors. The listed performance measures include: (1) increased understanding of science- and rules-based standards for food ingredients, measured through pre- and post-tests of participants; (2) the number of interactions between participants and U.S. technical advisors that occur because of the program; and (3) the degree of increased engagement with officials from GSO member states after the workshop. The opportunity listed an award ceiling of $250,000 with one expected award, and it was originally posted in August 2020 with an original closing date of August 24, 2020.

• The Department of Agriculture, Technical Agricultural Assistance 10.960 in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting Science based standards in the Gulf Standardization Organization" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.960.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 04, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 24, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for USDA FAS 10960 0200 10 20 0004

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