SIXTH REVIEW OF
THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT
ON
THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
proposal from AUSTRALIA
The following proposal, received on 19 April 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Australia.
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1 Introduction
1.1. Australia considers the Sixth Review
is an important opportunity to be forward-looking on issues of contemporary
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) relevance. The Sixth Review should not unduly
focus on business-as-usual type activities or focus on issues that have already
been well considered in previous reviews, or where issues sit outside the remit
of the SPS Committee.
1.2. Australia supports the Sixth Review
having a future focus on areas of innovation, emerging technologies and
increasing awareness and implementation of international standards that can
support improved approaches to implementation of the SPS Agreement and enhance
sustainable production and promote trade facilitation outcomes. These are all
areas broadly addressed in the M12 SPS Declaration work program and the Chair's
report and would therefore provide continuity to that body of work.
2 PROPOSALS
2.1 Digital Trade Solutions
2.1. The Sixth Review should have a
strong focus on the application of digital technologies such as electronic
certification, remote audits, remote inspection and verification activity, as
well as the potential application of artificial intelligence. Through outcomes
and reflections from thematic sessions and ongoing dialogue, the SPS Committee
can ensure that the benefits and challenges of these technologies can be
considered by all Members.
2.2. Digital enabled solutions (i.e. "ICT"
– information and communications technologies) are increasingly used within the
regulatory frameworks that govern agri-food trade. This includes ICT‑assisted
remote (virtual) audits, technologies that can support remote inspection and
verification activities, and the use of electronic certification to facilitate
paperless trade for compliance with food safety and SPS requirements.
Artificial intelligence (AI) platforms also have the potential for assessing
compliance and conformance and implementing real-time follow up and checking of
goods and accompanying documentation.
2.3. These approaches can provide
additional tools to facilitate trade through increasing the efficiency and
cost-effectiveness in the delivery of regulatory functions with trading
partners, and consideration of this by the SPS Committee will be important for
expanding their acceptance and wider use.
2.2 Science and Risk Based SPS Approaches
for Sustainable Agriculture
2.4. Science and risk based SPS
approaches will be increasingly critical to meeting global challenges around
sustainable agricultural and food production, while also meeting food security
and environmental challenges. A range of international standards have been
developed which can assist with managing these challenges, and consideration of
these and other new approaches by the SPS Committee through thematic sessions
and dialogue will be important in supporting their acceptance and
implementation.
2.5. Phytosanitary systems approaches and
phytosanitary irradiation can offer safe and effective alternatives to meet
biosecurity requirements for trade, while also unlocking market access
opportunities by overcoming restrictions on single-point treatments (such the
phasing out of methyl bromide) or managing future potential bans or
restrictions on certain treatments. They can provide effective chemical-free
import and export pathways to meet biosecurity requirements while also
supporting alternative approaches to achieve sustainable agricultural
production and trade outcomes in the future. Discussion by the SPS Committee of
the effectiveness, safety and sustainability of these approaches as well as the
potential role of new technologies for new detection and diagnostic approaches
will be important in increasing awareness of these options and encouraging the
acceptance and adoption of related standards.
2.6. Similarly, it is important to
acknowledge there are different pest, disease and environmental pressures
globally and that a variety of agricultural chemicals suitable to different
regional environments and agricultural purposes will be essential in supporting
the future sustainability of agricultural production. Given the absence of
Codex MRLs, or where MRLs differ between countries may create barriers to
trade, it will be important to consider how best to address these challenges.
Exporting countries must have the option to have import MRLs considered and/or
established based on science and risk that reflect their own unique production
systems and circumstances and have been set using Good Agricultural Practice
(GAP) appropriate for that country. This discussion will also be essential to
support agricultural sustainability and to meeting future growing food security
needs.
2.3 International Standards
2.7. The MC12 SPS Declaration work
program and Chairperson’s report acknowledged the importance of addressing
impediments to the adoption of international standards to facilitate trade.
Australia, like other Members, considers this an important area of focus for
the Sixth Review. However, in recognition of the broad scope of such an
initiative, Australia suggests that a more targeted look at the adoption of a
small group of contemporary trade facilitating standards would be an effective
focus for the Sixth Review.
2.8. Australia suggests a focus on standards
and guidelines relevant to contemporary and innovative SPS approaches which
support the uptake of technologies and science and risk based SPS approaches
which support sustainable agricultural and food trade, particularly regarding
barriers to uptake and challenges and constraints to their application. This
could include a particular focus on needs of least developed countries (LDCs)
in implementation of these standards and guidelines, given their potential SPS,
cost and efficiency benefits, and that capacity building for developing and LDC
Members will also be an essential component to bring domestic regulatory
frameworks in line with international guidance to realise these benefits.
2.9. Focus standards, in coordination
with relevant International Standards-Setting Bodies, could include:
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