SPS Committee thematic sESSION on innovative regulatory
approaches to facilitate safe trade

MONday 17 and tuesday 18 March 2025

WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA
AND ZOOM

PROGRAMME[1]

Revision

1.  The SPS Committee agreed to hold a thematic session on innovative regulatory approaches to facilitate safe trade, based on proposals submitted by Australia[2], India[3], Indonesia[4] and the United States[5] in the context of the Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement, and as a follow up to the November 2024 Thematic Session on Emerging Risks and New Agricultural Technologies to Address Them.[6]

2.  This thematic session will provide Members with an opportunity to share experiences, best practices, and plans to innovate their regulatory processes and practices by focussing on four topics:

a._    Addressing animal disease outbreaks: Regionalization, including different concepts of regional conditions. Promoting a common understanding of regionalization, including different concepts of regional conditions, as well as learning from the experiences of International Standard Setting Bodies (ISSBs) and Members, to identify and address the challenges faced by Members in relation to maintaining safe trade while addressing animal disease outbreaks;

b._    Addressing phytosanitary risks: Systems approaches. Identifying and discussing challenges and opportunities, including those associated with systems approaches, to minimize phytosanitary risks;

c._    Science-based approaches to pesticide MRLs and veterinary drug residues in food: Highlighting the importance of science-based SPS measures and the practical implementation challenges faced by Members when complying with maximum residue limit (MRL)-related SPS measures; and

d._    Innovative regulatory approaches for new technologies: Promoting regulatory approaches for emerging technologies and presenting regulators with an opportunity to discuss the application of such technologies in a real-world environment.

3.  The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 March 2025. The thematic session can be attended in person or virtually via Zoom with WTO credentials using this link. Interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Spanish. The full event will be livestreamed: Monday, 17 March, https://youtube.com/live/bHU60fBEmQU?feature=share and Tuesday, 18 March, https://youtube.com/live/X6f0skgWkiE?feature=share.

MONDAY 17 MARCH

Opening remarks

Chairperson of the SPS Committee: Ms Cecilia Risolo

morning segment - Addressing animal disease outbreaks: Regionalization, including different concepts of regional conditions

·_        Brief overview of relevant SPS Committee work (SPS team)

Session 1 – Concepts and categorization of regional conditions

This session will examine various concepts of regionalization in the animal health area, including the classification of disease-free zones, areas, and compartments. It aims to support the effective implementation of Article 6 of the SPS Agreement concerning animal disease outbreaks, ultimately promoting safer international trade in animal products.

·_        Ms Joyce Bowling-Heyward, Standards Department, World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Regionalization: forms, regulatory gaps, challenges in effective implementation.

·_        Mr Zilvinas Ilevicius, European Commission, Directorate General Health and Food Safety. Regionalization and other tools for ensuring animal disease control and safe trade within and beyond the European Union.

·_        Ms Xiangyan Teng, Director of China Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre. Animal disease prevention and regional management.

Followed by Q&A

Session 2 – Regulatory approaches on the recognition of regional conditions

This session aims to provide a platform to share experiences on the recognition of regional conditions, including areas of low disease prevalence, as well as experiences with other approaches to establish or maintain safe trade while addressing animal disease outbreaks. This will facilitate Members' understanding and application of regulatory approaches in this area.

·_        Dr Suminder Sawhney, Senior Director, International Affairs Branch, Animal Import/Export Division, and Mr Tom Smylie, Senior Staff Veterinarian, Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. […]

·_        Mrs Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, India. […]

·_        United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). […]

Followed by Q&A

afternoon segment - Addressing phytosanitary risks: Systems approaches

·_        Brief overview of relevant SPS Committee work (SPS team)

Session 1 – Overview of systems approaches and their implementation in agriculture trade

This session will present an overview of systems approaches, including their components and contributions in addressing potential plant health risks arising from regional and international trade of agriculture and horticulture produce. Relevant international organizations and national/regional plant protection organizations (NPPOs/RPPOs) will provide detailed presentations and share their expertise.

·_        Presentations by [IPPC; FAO; NPPOs/RPPOs]

·_        Dr Rieks Van Klinken, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia, An overview of the risk science to support the development, assessment and application of phytosanitary systems approaches.

Followed by Q&A

Session 2 – Opportunities and challenges linked with systems approaches to address phytosanitary risks

This session will provide an opportunity to share experiences, reviews and lessons learned regarding the challenges of implementing systems approaches or other phytosanitary measures. This session will also explore ways to further support the opportunities arising from the implementation of systems approaches, including through the development of national policies and relevant implementation mechanisms that are user friendly, economically viable, and available.

·_        Dr Rieks Van Klinken, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia, Science to support the practical implementation of phytosanitary systems approaches.

·_        Mr Tang-Kai Wang, Section Chief, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA), Chinese Taipei. From Farm to World Market: System Approaches for Orchid Export.

·_        Dr Antarjo Dikin, Senior Expert, Plant Quarantine Analyst, Indonesian Quarantine Authority. Pre-border Strategy through System Approach for Trade Harmonization.

·_        USDA, APHIS. […]

Followed by Q&A

Session 3 – Capacity Building Initiatives

This session will discuss capacity building initiatives and programmes that will enable Members to develop suitable and applicable systems approaches in line with relevant phytosanitary standards and regulations. Discussions will also explore how stakeholders may cooperate to enhance the application of systems approaches in other areas of phytosanitary protection. This session will take the form of an introductory presentation by a pertinent international organization followed by a panel discussion.

·_        Presentations by [IPPC; FAO]

·_        Dr Rieks Van Klinken, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Australia

·_        USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Global Programs. […]

·_        Speakers suggested by Members [for a panel discussion]

Followed by Q&A

TUESDAY 18 MARCH

MORNING SEGMENT - Science-based approaches to pesticide MRLs and veterinary drug residues in food

·_        Brief overview of relevant SPS Committee work (SPS Team)

Session 1 – Different approaches for setting pesticide MRLs

This session will focus on various methodologies adopted by Members in setting pesticide MRLs. It will also explore the use of Codex MRLs as well as provisional pesticide MRLs, thus improving regulators' overall understanding of science-based methodologies for setting MRLs.

·_        Setting the scene: Ms Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Alimentarius Commission

·_        Ms Adriana Torres de Sousa Pottier, Risk Management and Assessment Manager - Brazilian National Health Regulatory Agency. […]

·_        Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States. [Channels of trade approach]

·_        Minor Use Foundation, United States. […]

·_        Speakers suggested by Members

Followed by Q&A

Session 2 – Different approaches for setting veterinary drug MRLs

This session will focus on various methodologies adopted by Members in setting veterinary drug MRLs. It will also explore the use of Codex veterinary drug MRLs as well as provisional veterinary drug MRLs, thus improving regulators' overall understanding of science-based methodologies for setting MRLs.

·_        Setting the scene: Ms Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Alimentarius Commission

·_        Chair, Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF). […]

·_        Speakers suggested by Members

Followed by Q&A

Session 3 – Compliance challenges: Members' experiences and science-based approaches to facilitate safe trade

This session aims to encourage an exchange of experiences, with a focus on the challenges faced by exporters in relation to MRLs. These challenges include difficulties in complying with provisional MRLs and the existence of multiple MRLs for the same product across different Members. The session will explore both traditional and science-based ways to address these issues.

·_        Mr Philippe Binard, Freshfel Europe, European Fresh Produce Association. Export challenges for the EU fruit and vegetable sector.

·_        Dr Vandana Tripathy, Network Coordinator, All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). […]

·_        Dr Nilay Demîr, Food Engineer, General Directorate of Food and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye. […]

·_        United States. [Exporters' perspectives]

·_        United Stated. [Value/importance of transparency regarding testing methods for veterinary drugs]

Followed by Q&A