G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
30 April  2024 
(24-3473) Page: 1/13 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
SIXTH  REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
OVERVIEW OF ISSUES/ PAPERS /PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS  
Note by the Secretariat1 
Revision  
This document summarizes  issues, proposals  and related submissions  circulated  by Members for 
consideration during the Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on 
the Application of Sani tary and Phytosanitary Measures  (SPS Agreement) .2 Annex I p rovides an 
overview of proposals grouped by key topics.  
1  Australia (G/SPS/W/361 ) 
1.1  Digital trade solutions  
1.1.  The Committee should 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  (AI). Through thematic sessions and ongoing dialogue, the 
Committee can ensure that the benefits and challenges of these technologies can be considered by 
all Members.  The Committee should consider new approaches using additional tools (like ICT -
assisted remote audits, technologies that can support remote inspection and verification activities, 
electronic certification , AI platforms ) to facilitate trade through increasing the efficiency and cost -
effectiveness in the delivery of regulatory functions  with trading partners.  
1.2  Science - and risk-based SPS approaches for sustainable agriculture  
1.2.  The Committee should consider, through thematic sessions and dialogue, the different science - 
and risk -based approaches developed which can assist in the management of different global 
challenges around sustainable agriculture and food production, while al so meeting food security and 
environmental challenges. The Committee should discuss the effectiveness, safety , and 
sustainability of phytosanitary systems approaches  and phytosanitary irradiation, as well as the 
potential role of new technologies for new d etection and diagnostic approaches, to increas e 
awareness of these options and encourag e the acceptance and adoption of related standards. The 
Committee should also explore  how best to consider the challenges associated to the absence of 
Codex MRLs or the differences of MRLs between countries.  
1.3  International standards  
1.3.  The Committee should take a targeted look at the adoption of certain  standards  relevant to 
contemporary and innovative SPS approaches that support the uptake of technologies and science 
and ris k based SPS approaches toward  sustainable agricultural and food trade . This could include a 
 
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.  
2 A dedicated webpage for the reviews of the operation and implementation of the SPS Agreement is 
available at https://wto.org/sps_review . Proposals and documents submitted by Members in the context of the 
Sixth Review are available here.  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 2 - 
 
  particular focus on needs of developing and least developed countr y (LDCs) Members  in the 
implementation of these standards and guidelines.  Focus standards  could include:  guidance on 
irradiation (ISPM 18 and annexes under ISPM 28) ; systems approaches (ISPM 14, ISPM 35, e.g. 
CXG 101 -2023 on national food control system ); guidance on remote audits (CXG 102 -2023) ; and 
guidance on electronic certification (ISPM 1 2 and CAC/GL 38 -2001).  A thematic session could also 
consider where there may be gaps in the development of such approaches across international 
standards and guidance and where additional effort could be applied by international standards 
bodies.  
2  Belize (G/SPS/W/355 )  
2.1  Monitoring the Use of International standards: Implementation of the CCFICS 
Guideline on the Use of Voluntary Third -Party Assurance Programmes (CXG 93 -2021)  
2.1.  The Committee should organize a thematic  session o r workshop on the implementation of the 
Codex Guideline: Principles and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third -Party 
Assurance Programmes (CXG 93 -2021), which was adopted in 2021 . The thematic session will  
explore the different approaches used by Members in  the implementation of the Codex Guideline;  
provide an opportunity for Members to share experiences and best practices;  explore the variety of 
tools available to Members to assist in the evaluation of third -party assurance programmes;  receive 
updates on pi lot projects on Data Sharing; and  identify capacity building opportunities to assist 
developing countries in enhancing their risk -based inspection and auditing frameworks.  The thematic 
session will also provide  an opportunity to  the beneficiary countries o f the STDF Pilot projects in 
West Africa ( STDF/PG/665 ) and in Central America ( STDF/PG/682 ) to report on their experience in 
establishing a roadmap for the implementation of the guideline at the national level.   
3  Belize ( G/SPS/W/362 ) 
3.1  Thematic session on Monitoring the Use of International Standards: Implementation 
of the CCFICS Guideline on the Use of Voluntary Third -Party Assurance Programmes 
(CXG  93-2021)  
3.1.  The submission  includes a draft programme for the proposed Thematic Session on Monitoring 
the Use of International Standards: Implementation of the CCFICS Guideline on the Use of Voluntary 
Third-Party Assurance Programmes (CXG 93 -2021) . The Thematic Session  could include sessions 
on: (1) relevant international standards; (2) Members' experience in the implementation of the 
Codex guideline CXG 93 -2021; (3) a roundtable on experiences and lessons learnt on piloting the 
use of the Codex guideline CXG 93 -2021; (4) capacity building initiatives; and (5) next steps: scaling 
public -private partnerships by addressing gaps identified through vTPA pilots.  
4  Brazil (G/SPS/W/352 ) 
4.1  Proposal on transparency of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations: notifying at an 
early appropriate stage  
4.1.  The Committee should share its experience  in making and receiving comments on notifications 
and how they are taken into account. The Committee could have a separate standing agenda item 
"Notifications - Consideration of comments" to open the dialog on SPS regulations. Under that 
agenda item, if r equested by a Member at least three weeks before the Committee meeting, the 
notifying Member could respond on how comments received from Members were taken into account.  
5  Canada  (G/SPS/W/349 ) 
5.1  Agriculture technologies addressing modern SPS challenges  
5.1.  The Committee should organize a thematic session to explore SPS challenges associated with 
the adoption/implementation and recognition of new agriculture technologies. The objective of the 
workshop would be to explore how the SPS Committee can facilitate productive discussions between 
developed, developing and LDC Members around the development, assessment , and implementation 
of new agricultural technologies by Members to address sustainability, while facilitating trade. 
Articles 6, 7 and 9 of t he SPS Agreement could be areas for consideration. Specific topics could G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  include mitigating  the impact of climate change with tools and technologies in agriculture, how  to 
sustainably increase production (e.g. vertical farming), emerging technologies (e.g.  AI in 
agriculture), and policy challenges when developing/implementing innovative agricultural tools.  
5.2.  Canada subsequently submitted  suggestions for the proposed  thematic session , which could 
include presentations  by: (1) the Secretariat on the relevant pr ovisions within the SPS Agreement 
that can impact or facilitate the identification of emerging risks and the approval of new agricultural 
technologies; (2) the ISSBs on their work to identify emerging challenges and assess technologies 
to address them;  and (3) Members on their experiences developing policies and tools for the 
identification and communication of emerging challenges and how new agricultural technologies 
have been implemented to address emerging risks, including how approval procedures have 
impacted their application. Canada stood forward to work with the Secretariat to organize the event 
as of November 2024 and would reach out to Members who had submitted aligned proposals.  
6  Chile  (G/SPS/W/364 ) 
6.1  Strengthening the principle of transparency through follow -up to the comment 
process on SPS notifications  
6.1.  The Committee should address the comment process on SPS notifications, which would be a 
substantial support to th e work of the Committee and the strengthening of the principle of 
transparency. Very little information is available on comments submitted on notified measures and 
on their impact on the final measure. New tools including the ePing SPS & TBT Platform may h ave 
potential to allow for a better follow -up of these comments. The Committee should explore this topic 
through a thematic session or in another relevant manner to seek specific interests and proposals 
from Members  to promote discussion and to strengthen the exchange of new ideas . 
7  European Union  (G/SPS/W/353 ) 
7.1  Emerging risks  
7.1.  The Committee should continue the discussions on modern challenges and emerging risks 
through a thematic session on how Members and the relevant international organizations identify 
emerging risks in the SPS field, assess their potential impacts and develop methods to address them  
(also see section 8 below on the related proposal for a thematic  session in G/SPS/W/354 ). 
7.2  Cooperation with ISSBs and observer organizations  
7.2.  The Committee should explore ways to enhance the cooperation with the international 
standard -setting bodies (ISSBs ), with special regards to their ongoing observatory projects on 
monitoring the implementation of the international standards in their areas . The Committee should 
also look at possibilities to foster enhanced cooperation with the observer organization s to better 
use their expertise.  
7.3  Support for special needs of developing and LDC Memb ers 
7.3.  The Committee should  continue  to explor e how the existing flexibilities in the SPS Agreement  
could be used more efficiently  to better address the special needs of developing and LDC Members 
in the SPS area  and provide more targeted support.  
7.4  Recognition  of regionalization  
7.4.  The Committee should continue to exchange on the recognition of regionalization in view of 
building high levels of trust and confidence needed between Members to recognize their 
regionalization measures and ultimately facilitate trade.  Members could consider technical assistance 
and mentorship for developing countries as tools for supporting the implementation of Article 6  of 
the SPS Agreement . The Committee should carry out targeted reflections on how to further improv e 
its understanding and application of som e horizontal issues highlighted both during the G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  implementation of the MC12 SPS Declaration W ork Programme3 and throughout the previous review 
of the SPS Agreement.  
7.5  Transparency  
7.5.  The Committee should continue to wor k towards improving the quality of SPS notifications, 
the comments on notifications , and the replies to comments. Building on the recommendations of 
the working group o n approval procedures , the Committee should also further examine the 
possibilities of gr eater transparency on national SPS  legislation, timelines for approval procedures , 
and other related information which would facilitate safe trade.  
7.6  Better use of available IT tools in order to facilitate safe trade  
7.6.  The Committee should take stock of the developments in the information technology  and 
increased availability of IT tools and explore further possibilities to facilitate safe trade via new IT 
solutions  (e.g. improvement of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform , wider use of e -certificates, more IT 
platforms ). 
8  European Union  (G/SPS/W/354 ) 
8.1  Proposal for a thematic session on SPS -related emerging risks  
8.1.  The Committee should hold a thematic session on SPS-related emerging risks as a  first step to 
continue the discussions on modern challenges and emerging risks.  The session would deal with the 
definition and identification of emerging risks, the development and improvement of emerging risk 
identification methodologies and approaches f or characterization, the communication on possible 
issues and risks , and the development of effective measures to address these risks by Members and 
the relevant international organi zations . 
9  European Union  (G/SPS/W/359 ) 
9.1  Thematic session on digital tools  
9.1.  The submission contains suggestions for the thematic session on the use of digital tools  
scheduled for June 2024, which  could include sessions on: (1) better use/further development of 
the ePing SPS&TBT Platform ; (2) e-certification and r ecent developments in the light of the 
COVID -19 pandemic; (3) enhanced transparency and information sharing through more efficient use 
of Members' website s to publish information on SPS legislation, new developments, FAQs , and ot her 
specific projects; and (4) the use of new technology, for example AI.   
10  India  (G/SPS/W/356 ) 
10.1  Transparency  in SPS notifications  
10.1.  The Committee should address challenges relating to the translation  of notified SPS 
regulations in a collaborative manner. To that aim: (1) the Committee should hold a thematic session 
on translation s of notified SPS regulations ; (2) the Committee should explore IT solutions for 
obtaining translations given technological a dvancements; (3) Members should provide an additional 
period for comments beyond 60 days where the notified measure is not in a WTO language;  and (4) 
the Secretariat should provide a service for translation of notified measures at the request of a 
Member.  
11  India  (G/SPS/W/357 ) 
11.1  Adaptation of SPS measures to regional conditions  
11.1.  The Committee should further exchange on the recognition and harmonization of regional 
conditions to ensure trust and confidence among Members on variations of regional conditions. In 
 
3 More information is available on the dedicated webpage 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_declaratio n_mc12_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  addition, the Committee should establish a work programme which identifies the reasons for non -
recognition of regional conditions, including disease or pest status recognized by relevant 
international organizations and non -recognition of effective eradication  programmes of exporting 
Members even though endorsed by relevant international organizations. The work programme 
should provide guidelines and parameters to enable harmonization of regions like zones and 
compartments in line with the regions already estab lished by Members.  
11.2.  Regarding the establishment and recognition of areas of low pest or disease prevalence, the 
Committee should conduct workshops to improve  the understanding of Members on areas of low 
pest or disease prevalence, with emphasis on building trust among the importing Members on  the 
safety of products originating from such areas.  
11.3.  Regarding areas of low prevalence, the Committee should establish a work programme to 
discuss the elements and science -based analyses for establishing areas of low dis ease prevalence 
and for importing Members to recognize such areas. The work programme must create a common 
understanding of and recommend the factors which should be considered and procedures which 
should be followed by Members while establishing and recog nizing areas of low disease prevalence, 
in consultation with WOAH, on the same lines as ISPM 22.  
12  India  (G/SPS/W/358 ) 
12.1  Challenges posed by stringent MRLs  
12.1.  The Committee should address the challenges caused by low or default MRLs in a collaborative 
manner and Members should explore the means of addressing the trade barriers imposed by the 
increasing use of stringent MRLs . India made the following proposals: (1) the Committee shou ld 
organize thematic sessions on the impact of stringent MRLs and experiences of Members in 
compliance with MRL requirements; (2) Members should work towards developing guidelines for 
determining default MRLs in the absence of international MRL standards, in collaboration with FAO 
and Codex ; (3) Members should adhere to Article 5.7 of the SPS Agreement when international MRL 
standards are not available  – not rely on hazard based approaches – and Members should inform 
the SPS Committee periodically of measur es to collect additional information and base any restriction 
on approval or non -renewal of any active substances on risk -assessment and scientific evidence ; 
(4) the SPS Committee should develop a mechanism for monitoring harmonization of Members' SPS 
meas ures with the available Codex texts and reporting to the SPS  Committee ; (5) the WTO should 
monitor MRL -related measures and discussions in Committees other than the SPS Committee ; (6) 
the Committee and Members should continue to support the work of  Codex i n developing MRL 
standards and identify gaps ; (7) Members should have longer time -frames for compliance for 
products from developing and LDC Members and positively consider requests for extended time -
limits ; (8) Members should work towards increasing trans parency regarding support extended to 
developing and LDC Members to facilitate compliance with the new MRLs ; and (9) technical  
assistance and support should be extended to Members for effective management of pests which 
significantly impact crop production  and cause significant loss.  
 
13  Indonesia ( G/SPS/W/ 365) 
13.1  Addressing the challenges of the application of a systems approach to minimizing 
phytosanitary risk  
13.1.  The Committee should hold a thematic session on a ddressing the challenges of the application 
of a systems approach for minimizing phytosanitary r isk to: (1) draw insights from the experience 
of Members that have already implemented systems approaches, such as ISPM 7, ISPM 14 , or similar 
measures, with a view to optimize Members' own phytosanitary certification processes; (2) identify 
challenges in preparing a national phytosanitary capacity development strategy, including with 
regard to the issuance of phytosanitary certificates ; (3) identify challenges in meeting phytosanitary 
requirements of importing Members as well as seek to explore the appropr iate solutions to address 
such challenges ; and (4) promote compliance with the SPS Agreement and facilitate trade of pest - 
and disease -free plant and plant products.  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  14  New Zealand  (G/SPS/W/ 348) 
14.1  Monitoring the process of int ernational harmonization  
14.1.  Given continued  discussions in the ISSBs, specifically around the use, implementation, and 
impact of their standards on trade and how best to monitor the process of international 
harmonization , the Committee should revisit previous proposals : (1) a review/analysis of specific 
trade concerns (STC), highlighting the themes and evidence of harmonization with ISSB standards; 
(2) review  the list of international standards, guidelines, or recommendations relating to SPS 
measures which the Committee determines to have a major trade impact and use the data  from this 
analysis  to inform future proposals to monitor the use of the international standards; and (3) review, 
in consultations with the ISSBs,  the notification template to gather more specific inf ormation on 
international harmonization and ensure that useful data can be extracted from the WTO/SPS 
notification system  and discuss with the ISSBs what previous analysis may have been done to date . 
14.2  G-90 document for the Special Session of the Committee o n Trade and Development 
(CTD -SS) on 10 Agreement -specific special and differential treatment proposals – 
Mentoring system  
14.2.  The Committee should revisit the mentoring system  it had  established in 2007  to assist LDCs 
with the transparency obligations ( G/SPS/W/214 ), so as to provide valuable assistance for Members 
to address some of the concerns raised in the G-90 document for the CTD-SS on 10 Agreement -
specific special and differential treatment proposals .4 The original transparency mentoring system 
could be improved and extended to other areas of the SPS Agreement as needed. The Committee 
should develop a set of criteria for both mentors and mentored Members, and the types of support 
provided could include c ontact points for issues , legislative guidance , as well as assistance with 
resources, translations , and training. The Secretariat would register expressions of interest and 
match Members based on the level of mentoring offered/needed and on geographical re gion and 
language. A review process would be integrated to ensure that the system meets its objective of 
providing reliable and focused assistance on key areas of the SPS Agreement.   
14.3  Meaning and understanding of terms such as reservation and abstention fro m 
acceptance in the context of the WTO SPS Agreement  
14.3.  The Committee should agree to promote informal exchanges among Members on the meaning 
and understanding of terms, such as "reservation " and "abstention from acceptance " in terms of the 
SPS Agreement and facilitate more informed consideration of these terms during the process of 
standards development and decision making in the ISSBs . Such a discussion could be helpful 
guidance for  the ISSBs  as they seek to progress issues in situations when Members have di ffering 
views, especially with respect to non -science considerations.  
14.4  Notification procedures under the SPS Committee – Use of TBT/SPS notifications – 
Enhancing transparency  
14.4.  The Committee should propose solutions, in collaboration with the TBT  Committee, t o find 
innovative ways to address the issue of notification of measures not clearly fitting within the scope 
of either the SPS or TBT Agreements . This could take the form of a three -step process to discuss/take 
stock of: (1) challenges faced by Members in situations where it is difficult to establish whether a 
measure falls under the TBT and/or SPS Agreement s; (2) Members' responses to these situations; 
and (3) possible solutions, such as ideas for how the SPS and TBT Committee s can coordinate a 
solution an d options for improving the current system.  
15  Norway  (G/SPS/W/366 ) 
15.1.  Norway suggested in the following topics for  the thematic session on digital tools  scheduled 
for June 2024 : (1) the work on electronic certificates in international  organisations such as IPPC, 
Codex , and WOAH, and analysis from  the OECD ; (2) the use of electronic certificates (paperless 
 
4 The overall G -90 document containing ten agreement -specific proposal s is available in document 
JOB/TN/CTD/2;  JOB/TNC/106 ; the G -90 proposal relating to the SPS Agreement is contained in document 
JOB/TN/CTD/3; JOB/TNC/110 . G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  trade facilitation) , experiences learned, barriers and future developments ; and (3) future possibilities 
related to new technologies such as AI. Norway reiterate d its interest in contributing with national 
experiences concerning the topic of electronic health certificates to present a flexible paperless trade 
facilitation solution developed by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) to accommodate for 
different syste m with different trading partners.  
16  United Kingdom  (G/SPS/W/360 )5 
16.1  Explore how to further enhance effective utilisation of existing flexibilities and 
support for developing and least developed countries on the development and application 
of SPS measures to build on the MC13 SPS and TBT Declaration  
16.1.  In light of  the recent MC13 S&D Declaration and building on the MC12 SPS Declaration Work 
Programme (Group 5), the  Committee should further consider ways to enhance accessibility and 
effective utili zation of existing flexibilities within the SPS  Agreement that suppor t developing and 
LDC Members to engage and benefit from international trade, with a focus on sharing and exploring 
best practices.  
16.2  Review and promote the role of electronic/IT technologies ranging from but not 
limited to electronic certifications , ePhyto s ystem, e Ping SPS&TBT P latform, remote 
audits and verifications; and virtual communication tools to aid the effective application 
and operation of SPS measures to facilitate trade and support the functioning of the 
SPS Committee by enabling more effective i nformation sharing between Members  
16.2.  The Committee should explore the role of electronic tools and techniques that can be 
employed to aid the application of SPS measures, including ensuring that cost and ease of 
implementation do not create undue barriers to  trade (for developing and LDC Members  in 
particular).  
17  United States ( G/SPS/W/350 ) 
17.1.  The Committee should identify and explore Members' experiences and lessons learned during 
the COVID -19 pandemic  along the lines of the following proposals . 
17.1  Technology and innovation  
17.2.  The Committee should learn lessons from early adopters  of virtual communication tools to 
support various types of SPS -related regulatory activities, including bilateral negotiations and 
various types of audits, or on where in -person meetings are preferable to virtual exchanges, and 
vice versa.  In addition, the Committ ee should engage in discussions to further a shared 
understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by the greater use and adoption of 
electronic certificates, including sanitary certificates and other digitalized documents.  The Committee  
should also continue discussions that took place under the MC12 SPS Declaration Work Program me 
regarding  new tools and technologies, including pesticides, veterinary medicines, and biotechnology 
products , and further advance constructive engagement around appropria te SPS regulatory 
practices that encourage innovation in the production and facilitate trade of safe food and agricultural 
products.  
17.2  Facility registration  
17.3.  The Committee should  explore best practices related to facility registrations such that 
Members can work together to enhance the Committee 's common understanding of their purpose, 
while strengthening and improving the resiliency of international trade without imposing undue 
burdens on trading  partners.  
17.3  Misinformation/disinformation  
17.4.  The Committee should further analyse the implications of misinformation and disinformation 
on consumer perception about the safety of food and about SPS issues generally, including how to 
 
5 The United Kingdom withdrew earlier proposals contained in G/SPS/W/351 . G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
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  strengthen  efforts to identify and combat misinformation and disinformation when developing 
SPS measures and negotiating with trading partners. The Committee should consider further 
SPS work encouraging Members to enhance transparency in their agricultural practices , policies, and 
regulations with the goal of addressing misinformation and disinformation. The Committee could 
continue to facilitate international cooperation and encourage cooperation among Members to share 
best practices in combating misinformation. The  Committee should promote initiatives aimed at 
enhancing digital literacy, critical analysis, and media literacy skills to support capacity -building 
initiatives, especially in developing and LDC Members.  
18  United States ( G/SPS/W/363 ) 
18.1  Thematic session on digit al tools  
18.1.  The thematic session on digital tools scheduled for June 2024 could cover : (1) international 
standards and frameworks for digitalization by IPPC, Codex , and WOAH; (2) e-Phyto experience 
sharing from Members and private sector stakeholders, with a focus on strategies employed to 
overcome barriers to adoption; (3) electronic certification of animal products for human 
consumption; (4) use of AI or machine learning for the digitization of food product import processes; 
and (5) a moderated session on ho w the Committee and Members used digital tools to function 
during the COVID -19 pandemic.  
_______________   
  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 9 - ANNEX I: OVERVIEW  OF PROPOSALS  GROUPED BY KEY TOPICS  
Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/  
S&D Treatment  Technology/  
IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
Australia  G/SPS/W/361  
(Proposal s to: 
consider different 
science - and risk -
based approaches 
which can assist in 
the management of 
global challenges ; 
discuss 
phytosanitary 
systems approaches, 
irradiation, and new 
technologies for 
detection and 
diagnostic 
approaches; tak e a 
targeted look, 
including through a 
thematic session, at 
the adoption of 
certain standards 
relevant to 
contemporary and 
innovative SPS 
approaches that 
support the uptake 
of technologies and 
science and risk 
based SPS 
approaches toward 
sustainable 
agricu ltural and food 
trade ) - - - G/SPS/W/361  
(Proposal to focus on 
the application of 
digital technologies )  - G/SPS/W/361  
(Proposal to 
explore  the 
challenges 
associated to the 
absence of Codex 
MRLs or the 
differences of 
MRLs between 
countries )  
  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 10 - Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/  
S&D Treatment  Technology/  
IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
Belize  - - - - - - G/SPS/W/355  and 
G/SPS/W/362  
(Proposal to hold 
a Thematic 
Session on 
Monitoring the 
Use of 
International 
Standards: 
Implementation of 
the CCFICS 
Guideline on the 
Use of Voluntary 
Third-Party 
Assurance 
Programmes [CXG 
93-2021)]  
Brazil  - - - - - G/SPS/W/352  
(Proposal for a new 
standing agenda item on 
consideration of comments 
on notifications)  - 
Canada  G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to explore 
SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture 
technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7 and 9)  - G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to explore 
SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agricultu re 
technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7 and 9)  G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to explore 
SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture 
technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7 and 9)  - G/SPS/W/349  
(Propo sal for a workshop 
to explore SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: Articles 6, 7 
and 9)  - 
Chile - - - - - G/SPS/W/364   
(Proposal to address the 
comment process on SPS 
notifications through a 
thematic session or other 
relevant manner)  -  
  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 11 - Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/  
S&D Treatment  Technology/  
IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
European 
Union  G/SPS/W/353  and 
G/SPS/W/354  
(Proposal for a 
thematic session on 
SPS-related 
emerging risks)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to explore 
ways to enhance 
cooperation with 
ISSBs and with 
observer 
organizations)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to 
exchange on the 
recognition of 
regionalization and 
to consider technical 
assistance and 
mentorship to 
support the 
implementation of 
Article 6)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to explore 
a more efficient use 
of existing 
flexibilities in the 
SPS Agreement)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to take 
stock of the 
developments in IT 
and explore further 
possibilities to 
facilitate safe trade 
via new IT  solutions)  
 
G/SPS /W/359   
(Suggestions  of 
topics  for the 
thematic session on 
digital tools)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to continue 
improving the notification 
procedures and explore 
possibilities for greater 
transparency of national 
SPS legislation and 
timelines for approval 
procedures)  - 
India - - G/SPS/W/357  
(Proposal to 
exchange on 
recognition and 
harmonization of 
regional conditions 
through a work 
programme ; conduct 
workshops on 
improving the 
understanding of 
Members on areas of 
low pest or disease 
prevalence ; and to 
establish a work 
programme to 
discuss science -
based analyses for 
establishing areas of 
low disease 
prevalence and for 
importing Members 
to recognize such 
areas)  - - G/SPS/W/356   
(Proposal to discuss 
challenges  relating to the 
translation of notified SPS 
regulations , including 
through a thematic 
session)  G/SPS/W/358  
(Proposal to 
address the 
challenges caused 
by low or default 
MRLs and explore 
the means of 
addressing the 
barriers imposed 
by the use of 
stringent MRLs, 
including through 
a thematic 
session)   
  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 12 - Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/  
S&D Treatment  Technology/  
IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
Indonesia  - - - - - - G/SPS/W/365  
(Proposal to hold 
a thematic 
session on 
addressing the 
challenges of the 
application of a 
systems approach 
to minimizing 
phytosanitary 
risk) 
New 
Zealand  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal to review 
STCs, list of relevant 
international 
standards, and 
notification template)  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal for a 
mentoring system)  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal to explore 
solutions, in collaboration 
with TBT, to address the 
issue of notification of 
measures not clearly 
fitting within the scope of 
either the SPS  or TBT 
Agreements)  G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal for 
exchanges on the 
terms 
"reservation" and 
"abstention from 
acceptance" in 
standards 
development in 
the ISSBs)  
Norway  - - - - G/SPS/W/366  
(Suggestions  of 
topics for  the 
thematic session on 
digital tools ) - - 
United 
Kingdom  - - - G/SPS/W/360  
(Proposal to consider 
ways to enhance 
accessibility and 
effective utilization of 
existing flexibilities 
within the 
SPS Agreement)  G/SPS/W/360  
(Proposal to explore 
the role of electronic 
tools and techniques 
to aid the application 
of SPS measures ) - -  
  G/SPS/GEN/2194/Rev. 2 
 
- 13 - Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/  
S&D Treatment  Technology/  
IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
United 
States  G/SPS/W/350  
(Proposal to continue 
discussions that took 
place under the 
MC12 SPS 
Declaration Work 
Programme)  - - - G/SPS/W/350  
(Proposal for 
discussions on 
technology and 
regulatory practices 
that encourage 
innovation and 
facilitate trade . 
 
In relation to 
misinformation and 
disinformation on 
consumer perception 
about SPS issues, 
proposal to enhance 
transparency in 
regulatory practices, 
facilitate and 
encourage 
cooperation and 
support capacity  
building initiatives ) 
 
G/SPS/W/363  
(Suggestions  of 
topics for the 
thematic session  on 
digital tools)   G/SPS/W/350  
(Proposal for 
discussions on 
best practices 
related to facility 
registrations)  
__________