SPS-related border inspections are important to protect the life and health of domestic consumers, animals and plants, but can also be a source of unjustified delays and costs for importers when these inspections focus on low-risk commodities or affect a significant amount of all imported commodities. The use of risk assessment techniques in the planning of the inspections can help to reduce or restructure those inspections while maintaining an equivalent level of protection for the domestic population.

SAFOSO has assisted the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in delivering a workshop on the principles of risk-based SPS inspections for government officials from Kosovo, Albania and FYR Macedonia. The SAFOSO/IFC collaboration is now being continued in FYR Macedonia by supporting the local technical government agencies in developing their own risk-based SPS inspection system.