. /. WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
G/SPS/W/147 
10 June 2004 
 (04-2508) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
   
PROPOSED PROCESS FOR THE REVIEW OF THE  
OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
 
Note by the Secretariat 
 
 
At the Fourth Session of the Ministerial Conf erence, Ministers instructed the Committee to 
review the operation and implementation of the SPS Agreement at least once every four years, pursuant to the provisions of Article 12.7 of the Agreement.
1  The report of the next such review 
should be prepared for the Sixth Session of the Ministerial Conference.  In order to facilitate an 
efficient review process, the Secretariat, in consu ltation with the Chairperson, is proposing that the 
Committee agree to the following procedure. 
1. The Review will initially be conducted throug h open-ended informal meetings of the 
Committee.  The informal meetings will normally be scheduled back-to-b ack with the regular 
meetings of the Committee.  If necessary, further informal and special meetings of the Committee 
may be scheduled. 
2. Members will be invited to identify issues for di scussion as part of the Review.  On the basis 
of the issues identified, the Chairperson will propose which issues will be consid ered at each informal 
meeting of the Committee.  For each meeting, Members will be invited to submit  papers on the issues 
proposed for consideration at least 15 days in advance of the meeting.   
3. An item relating to the Review will be included in the agenda of each regular meeting of the 
Committee during the Review period, at which the Chairperson will present orally a brief factual 
report on the informal Review process.  Upon co mpletion of the informal process, the Chairperson 
will submit a summary report to the Committee iden tifying issues discussed and conclusions reached.  
On the basis of this report, the SPS Committee will c onsider what further action may be appropriate.  
4. The Review process will be conducted on the basis of the following calendar: 
30 July 2004 
 Submission by Members to the Secretariat of issues they wish to be considered during the 
Review. 
 Submission by Members of any written comments on the background paper prepared by 
the Secretariat and/or requests for background  information on additional specific issues. 
                                                      
1 Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns, Decision of 14 November 2001, WT/MIN(01)/17, 
paragraph 3.4. G/SPS/W/147 
Page 2  
 
 15 day prior to the meeting of 27-28 October 2004  
 Submission by Members of papers on the issues proposed for consideration. 
 Identification by Members of any further issues for consideration during the Review. 
10 days prior to the meeting of27-28 October 2004   
 Proposal by Chairperson of the order in which issues will be considered, in light of the 
proposals and submissions received. 
 Circulation of updated background document. 
Informal meeting of 25 October 2004 
 Initial discussions on issues identified. 
November - end December 2004   
 Submission by Members, in writing, of any further papers on issues proposed for 
consideration. 
Informal meeting of --- March 2005  
 Further discussion on issues identified. 
 Identification of issues for fu rther work by the Committee. 
Mid-April 2005  
 Circulation of first draft of report of the Review. 
15 days prior to the meeting of --- June 2005  
 Submission of written comments by Members on the draft report of the Review. 
Informal meeting of --- June 2005  
 Consideration and, if possible, fina lization of the report on the Review. 
Formal meeting of --- June 2005  
 Adoption of the report on the Review. 
 
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