Update on OECD ACTIVITIES of interest to the
SPS Committee
COMMUNICATION FROM the OECD
The following communication,
received on 21 February 2025, is being circulated at the request of the OECD.
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1 Sanitary and Phytosanitary electronic certificates: current
practices and benefits
1.1. The digitalization of agricultural trade via electronic Sanitary and
Phytosanitary (SPS) certificates is a crucial tool to reduce trade costs,
enhance supply chain efficiency, and ensure safe trade. Building on OECD
research, this report examines the current use and impact of SPS e‑certification.
Gravity model analysis demonstrates that SPS e-certification significantly
boosts trade. Counterfactual estimates reveal it helped avert a reduction in
trade by 33% in the meat processing sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Challenges remain, however, in the implementation and adoption of SPS
e-certification due primarily to the legal complexities and financial
constraints governments face, as well as resistance to change. Developing
countries face additional obstacles created by the digital divide. This report
highlights the critical importance of interoperability between systems and the
availability of data to fully realize the benefits of SPS e‑certification.
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