Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Review of the operation and implementation of the SPS Agreement - Draft background document - Note by the Secretariat

REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

OF THE SPS AGREEMENT

DRAFT background document[1]

Note by the Secretariat[2]

INTRODUCTION

Article 12.7 of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ("the Agreement") provides that "the Committee shall review the operation and implementation of this Agreement three years after the date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement, and thereafter as the need arises". A First Review of the Agreement was completed in March 1999.[3]



[1] This document reflects the work of the SPS Committee from January 2014 until December 2017, unless stated otherwise.

[2] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.

[3] G/SPS/12.