SPS Technical Assistance and training
Activities
1 september 1994 to 31 dECEMBER 2013
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT[1]
Revision
1. This document provides an update of all the SPS technical assistance
(TA) and training activities undertaken by the Secretariat from 1 September
1994 to 31 December 2013. Detailed information is provided in the annexed table
on the TA activities undertaken by the Secretariat for the last three years
(2011-2013).[2]
2. The main objective of SPS technical assistance and training
activities undertaken by the WTO Secretariat is to increase participants'
awareness about Members' rights and obligations under the Agreement on the
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and its
implications for national policymaking. The SPS technical assistance activities
also provide an opportunity to inform participants on the discussions held and
latest documents considered by the SPS Committee. In addition, participants are
informed about upcoming SPS workshops and technical assistance initiatives
available to their countries on SPS matters.
3. The programme and presentations are adapted to take into account
specific needs identified by the countries, participants' knowledge of the SPS
Agreement, the level of development of the countries, and any specific concerns
relating to the implementation of the SPS Agreement in order to adequately
respond to individual requests. SPS technical assistance and training
activities typically include presentations on the basic provisions of the SPS
Agreement, the transparency provisions, specific trade concerns raised at the
SPS Committee, the WTO dispute settlement and SPS-related cases, and specific
issues such as risk analysis, regionalization and equivalence.
4. Altogether, 288 SPS training activities have been undertaken by the
WTO Secretariat from1 September 1994 to 31 December 2013. In 2013, 20
SPS training activities were undertaken: three regional or sub-regional
workshops, seven national seminars, nine other activities (including one
Special SPS workshop held back-to-back with the October SPS Committee meeting)
and one Advanced SPS Course.[3]
[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.
[2] Detailed information on TA activities from previous years is
available from the Secretariat upon request. In addition, G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.7
includes details of TA activities from 1994.
[3] The Advanced SPS Course includes a follow-up activity which is held
back-to-back with the June/July SPS Committee meeting of the following year.