G/SPS/GEN/1769  
 
27 March  2020 
(20-2473) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
SPS COMMITTEE WORKSHOP  ON RISK ANALYSIS: RISK ASSESSMENT, MANAGEME NT, 
AND COMMUNICATION  
MONDAY, 22 JUNE – TUESDAY, 23 JUNE 2020  
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
COMMUNIC ATION  FROM CANADA  
The following document , received on 23 March  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Canada . 
 
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PROGRAMME  
In the context of the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  (SPS Agreem ent), Canada submitted a 
recommendation for the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee) to 
consider holding a workshop on risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication in 2020.  
The workshop  will explore concepts within Article 5 of the Agreement and related issues concerning 
the implementation of the Agreement. The workshop will focus on risk assessment, risk 
management, and risk communication. This  workshop builds on  the following : the Thema tic 
SPS Workshop on Risk Analysis, which was held on 13 -14 October 2014; and the SPS Thematic 
Session on Risk Communication, which was held on 15 July 2015.  
The workshop  will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22-23 June 2020, beginning at 10 am . 
Chairper son: TBC 
1  RISK ASSESSMENT  
Explore the concept of risk assessment , including elements such as hazard identification, hazard 
characterization, exposure assessment, consequence assessment, and risk characterization,  and 
related issues concerning the implementation of relevant provisions of the SPS Agreement.  
1.1  The SPS Agreement, guidance and relevant disputes  
Review of the p rovisions of the SPS Agreement,  Committee guidance and relevant dispute settlement 
reports relat ed to risk assessment.  
Speaker : WTO Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  G/SPS/GEN/1769  
 
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  1.2  Relevant international standards  
Explore the relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations relating to risk 
assessment.  
Speakers:  
▪ Codex Alimentarius  
▪ IPPC  
▪ OIE  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
1.3  Sharing of successes, challenges, considerations, impacts and best practices related 
to risk assessment  
Explore and discuss Member, Observer, and academia and non -governmental organization 
persp ectives and e xperiences related to risk assessment . 
1.3.1   Member  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
1.3.2   Observer  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
1.3.3   Academia and Non -Governmental Organization Perspectives  
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
2  RISK MANAGEMENT  
Explore the concept of risk management , including the evaluation of risk management options,  
implementation, monitoring and review, and related issues concerning the implementation of 
relevant provisions of the SPS Agreement.  
2.1  The SPS Agreement, guidance and relevant disputes  
Review of the provisions of the SPS Agreement , Committee guidance and relevant dispute settlement 
reports related to risk management.  
Speaker:  WTO Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  G/SPS/GEN/1769  
 
- 3 - 
 
  2.2  Relevant international standards  
Explore the relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations relating to risk 
management.  
Speakers:  
▪ Codex Alimentarius  
▪ IPPC  
▪ OIE  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
2.3  Sharing of successes, challenges, considerations, impacts and best practices related 
to risk management  
Member, Observer, and academia and non -governmental organization perspectives and e xperiences 
related to risk management . 
2.3.1   Member  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
2.3.2   Observer  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
2.3.3   Academia and Non -Governmental Organization Perspectives  
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3  RISK COMMUNICATION  
Explore the concept of risk communication , including how to ensure through internal and external 
communications that t he results of the risk assessment, risk management options , and assumptions 
and uncertainty  of the risk assessment are clearly understood , forming trust, transparency, and 
confidence in regulatory decisions; challenges associated with significant institutiona l, capacity, and 
technical constraints ; and related issues concerning the implementation of relevant provisions of the 
SPS Agreement.  
3.1  The SPS Agreement and guidance  
Review of the provisions of the SPS Agreement, Committee guidance , and relevant Committee 
discussions, in particular the Thematic Session on Risk Communication, related to risk 
communication.  
▪ Speaker:  WTO Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3.2  Relevant international standards  
Explore the relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations relating to risk 
communication.  
Speakers : 
▪ Codex Alimentarius  G/SPS/GEN/1769  
 
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  ▪ IPPC  
▪ OIE  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3.3  Sharing of successes, challenges, considerations, impacts and best practices related 
to risk communication   
Explore and discuss Member, Observer, and academia and non -governmental organization 
perspectives and e xperiences related to undertaking risk commu nication . 
3.3.1   Member  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
3.3.2   Observer  Perspective s 
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
3.3.3   Academia and Non -Governmental Organization Perspectives  
▪ Speakers:  TBC 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
4  CASE STUDIES  
Explore case studies of practical examples of experiences undertaking (i)  risk assessment, (ii) risk 
management, and (iii) risk communication  for sanitary and phytosanitary issues in order to examine 
how these three components of risk analysis are interlin ked and where there may be common 
challenges with the application of these concepts.  
▪ Speakers : TBC 
Followed by Q&A  session and discussion  
 
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