annual report on the PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE
PROCESS
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
note by the secretariat[1]
1 Introduction
1.1. At its meeting of 15-16 October 1997, the SPS Committee adopted a
provisional procedure to monitor the process of international harmonization and
the use of international standards, guidelines or recommendations, as provided
for in Articles 3.5 and 12.4 of the SPS Agreement. The Committee extended the
provisional monitoring procedure in 1999, 2001, and 2003, and revised the
procedure in October 2004.[2]
In 2006, the Committee agreed to extend the provisional procedure indefinitely,
and to review its operation as an integral part of the periodic review of the
operation and implementation of the Agreement under Article 12.7.[3]
The procedure was reviewed as part of the Third Review of the Agreement[4],
and again in the context of the Fourth Review.[5]
[1] This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own
responsibility and is without prejudice to the position of Members or to their
rights and obligations under the WTO.
[2] G/SPS/14, G/SPS/17, G/SPS/25 and G/SPS/11/Rev.1.
[5] The draft report of the Fourth Review is contained in document
G/SPS/W/280/Rev.2.