SIXTH REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE AGREEMENT
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
APPROACHES
TO PESTICIDE MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS (MRLS): MEMBERS' EXPERIENCES AND COMPLIANCE
CHALLENGES
proposal
from india
The following proposal, received on 3 December 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of India.
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1 BACKGROUND
1.1. This proposal builds on India's
earlier submission (_G/SPS/W/358) made during the Sixth Review
of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the Application of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. In that submission, India suggested a
thematic session focused on the "Impact of Stringent MRLs and the
Experiences of Members in Compliance with MRL Requirements". Building upon
this proposal, India now presents a set of themes for further discussion and
consideration by the Members.
1.2. India recalls the work done by the
Members in the previous Thematic Sessions on MRLs held in October 2016 (_G/SPS/R/85) and March 2022 (Annex B, _G/SPS/R/105), respectively. India acknowledges
that the rights of the Members to set and maintain appropriate levels of
protection (ALOP) under the SPS Agreement. Nevertheless, through the thematic
session, India seeks to highlight the importance of science-based SPS
measures and practical implementation challenges faced by the Members in
compliance of the MRL related SPS measures adopted by the various WTO Members.
2 PROPOSED AGENDA
2.1 Session 1: Divergent Approaches for
Setting Pesticide MRLs
2.1. This session seeks to understand the
prevalence of various methodologies adopted by the Member countries in setting
up of pesticide MRLs. Given the absence of Codex pesticide MRLs, this session
may also explore different measures undertaken by the Member countries, in
particular regarding the use of provisional pesticide MRL measures. This
session will enable in comprehending the scientific methodology for setting
MRLs adopted with regard to facilitating safe trade.
2.2 Session 2: Compliance Challenges:
Member Experiences and its Impact on Trade
2.2. This session aims to encourage the
exchange of experiences among Members, with focus on the emerging challenges
faced by exporting countries. These challenges include difficulties in
complying with provisional MRLs and the existence of multiple pesticide MRLs
for the same product across different Member countries, which create trade
barriers. The session will explore the best ways to address these issues
including harmonisation with Codex pesticide MRLs.
2.3 Session 3: Crop protection solutions
available to growers in developing countries and LDCs
2.3. The focus of this session is to
facilitate Members sharing experience on the need for sufficient transition
periods and availability of feasible alternatives to active substances of
concern.
3 POSSIBLE SPEAKERS
3.1. India is considering to provide
speakers for experience sharing sessions 2 and 3, depending on the final
agenda.
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