Fourth Review of the Operation and
Implementation of the Agreement
on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures
Summary of proposals submitted by members
Note by
the Secretariat[1]
The following
papers/contributions have been submitted by Members by the deadline of 12 February
2014, with relation to issues they wished to have considered during the Fourth
Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the Application
of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures:
Canada
(G/SPS/W/271)
Proposal: The Committee should develop a catalogue of instruments available
to WTO Members for the management of SPS issues. It is proposed that this
catalogue also include mechanisms relevant to the WTO SPS Agreement, e.g. IPPC
dispute settlement.
The European
Union (G/SPS/W/274)
Proposal: The Committee should review the implementation of the transparency
provisions of the SPS Agreement (Article 7 and Annex B), including - where
necessary - further developing the "Recommended Procedures for
Implementing the Transparency Obligations of the SPS Agreement"[2].
South
Africa
Proposal: The Committee should consider the assessment of risk and
determination of the appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection
(Article 5.4 of the SPS Agreement), and in particular the following questions:
(1) to what extent do Members take into account the objective of minimising
negative trade effects when determining the appropriate level of sanitary or
phytosanitary protection? (2) Furthermore, which levers are available to
Members when Article 5.4 provisions are being disregarded, especially
where historical trade data exists? (No document submitted).
The United
States of America (G/SPS/W/275)
Proposal: The Committee should consider organizing a second workshop on
decision making and communication during the risk analysis process, which would
build upon the workshop held in 2000. The US submission includes a draft agenda
for the proposed workshop.
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility
and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights or
obligations under the WTO.