REPORT (2021) ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES

1.1.  The present report is being circulated by the Chairperson of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee) on his own responsibility. This report provides a summary of the activities of the SPS Committee during 2021.^[1]

1.2.  The SPS Committee held its regular meetings in 2021: on 25-26 March, and on 14-16 July. Due to COVID-19 sanitary conditions, the meetings were held either in hybrid format, i.e. in-person participation and via the virtual platform Interprefy, or virtually only, allowing for participation from Geneva-based and capital-based delegates.^[2] At these meetings, held to date in 2021, the SPS Committee made use of the online tool _eAgenda, which allowed Members to submit agenda items, raise and support specific trade concerns (STCs), and upload statements on the platform. The next regular meeting of the SPS Committee is scheduled to be held on 3-5 November.

1.3.  Mr Gregory MacDonald (Canada) had been elected in July 2020 as Chairperson for 2020-2021. Mr Juteau Déadjufo Toussé (Cameroon) was elected as the new Chairperson for 2021-2022.

1.4.  In 2021, Members continued discussion on an SPS Declaration for the 12^th WTO Ministerial Conference, initially submitted by Brazil, Canada and the United States, and now co-sponsored by 29 Members.^[3] The Declaration refers to the evolving global agricultural landscape which has led to new opportunities and pressures for international trade in food, animals and plants. It proposes a work programme to address issues that are currently impacting agricultural trade, including population growth, climate change and technological innovation, the importance of sustainable agriculture, new pests and diseases, and continued application of SPS measures as disguised trade restrictions. While overall Members welcomed this SPS Declaration, providing comments and expressing willingness to engage in further discussions on the text, several Members expressed concerns with the Declaration in its present form, but remained open to discuss the context, language, content and appropriateness of the work programme. In particular, they called for more robust references in the Declaration to biodiversity and ecosystems, global transformation towards sustainable food systems and animal welfare, among others. They suggested that the SPS Committee and other committees investigate how the WTO could contribute to these policy objectives with a view to reporting to MC13.