G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10/Add.1  
 
10 June  2020 
(20-4126) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
WTO SPS TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE ACTIVITI ES IN 20 20: 
GENERAL INFORMATION,  SELECTION PROCESS  AND APPLICATION FOR M 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Addendum  
1.  The WTO Secretariat had planned to organize the technical assistance activities on the Agreement 
on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS  Agreement) detailed in document 
G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10  of 3 March 2020 . Due to the COVID -19 pandemic , these activities have had 
to be reviewed.  
2.  This document pr ovides an update on the delivery of SPS -specific  WTO technical assistance 
activities to be provided by the WTO  in 2020 .  
1  E-LEARNING COURSE ON  THE SPS AGREEMENT  
3.  The WTO offers an E -Learning Course on the SPS Agreement  (SPS E -Learning Course) , which 
continue s to be delivered as detailed  in document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10 .  
2  NATIONAL SPS SEMINAR S 
4.  WTO developing country Members and Observers are entitled to request national seminars with 
a view to address specific training needs on the SPS Agreement and its implementation , as des cribed 
in document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10 .  
5.  National SPS seminars will continue  to be delivered , through videoconference  systems , until the 
conditions change and allow for the resumption of face -to-face activities.  
6.  The SPS Team is available to discuss the organization of v irtual national seminars with interested 
Members and Observers. To obtain more information about the options available for  virtual national 
seminar s, Members and Observers are invited to contact the SPS Team at  spscommittee@wto.org , 
indicating the ir areas of interest.  
3  THEMATIC SPS WORKSHO P 
7.  The special Thematic SPS Workshop  on risk assessment, risk management and risk 
communication , to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled to  take place on Monday, 22 June and 
Tuesday, 23 June 2020, has been postponed and will most likely be held in 2021.   
8.   Consequently, the online application  form available at 
https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2020 -wto-sps-technical -assistance -application -
form/  will be closed . Interested individuals shoul d submit a new application once the activity has 
been rescheduled.   
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.10/Add.1  
 
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  4  REGIONAL SPS WORKSHO PS 
9.  A Regional SPS Workshop for Latin America, with a focus on transparency and the role of National 
Notification Authorities , was planned in cooperation  with the Inter -American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture  (IICA) . This workshop  will not be held in 2020 . The co -organizers will 
explore the possibility of holding it in 2021.  
10.   Consequently, the online application  form available at 
https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2020 -wto-sps-technical -assistance -application -
form/  will be closed .  Interested individuals should submit a new application once the activity has 
been rescheduled.  
5  OTHER SPS WORKSHOPS  
11.  The WTO Secretariat is available to organize tailored  SPS Workshop s, to be delivered via 
videoconference . These workshops can address horizontal requests and may include participants 
from more than one Member. They cover training on the eping alert system, the SPS Notification 
Submission System, the use of the SPS Committee eAgenda and other areas, as requested.  
12.  The objective of the se workshop s is to provide continuous training on the tools made available 
to Members through the WTO, and therefore support the use of these in the daily work of relevant 
agencies.  
6  ADVANCED SPS COURSE AND FOLLOW -UP SESSION  
13.  The 20 20 Advanced SPS Course was scheduled to  be held from 26 October  to 13 November  
2020 in Geneva, Switzerland, in French . The 2020 version of this course has been cancelled .  
14.   Consequently, the online application  form available at 
https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.com/forms/2020 -wto-sps-technical -assistance -application -
form/  will be closed . Interested individuals are i nvited  to apply for future technical assistance 
activities.  
 
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