. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/19/Add.2
15 July 2003
(03-3841)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 4 OF THE
AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY
AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Decision by the Committee
Addendum
At its meeting of 24-25 June 2003, the Committee agreed on the following clarification with
respect to paragraph 7 of the Decision, as foreseen in the Programme for Further Work adopted by theCommittee in March 2002 (G/SPS/20), and in conformity with paragraph 3.3 of the Ministerial
Decision on Implementation-Related I ssues and Concerns (WT/MIN(01)/17).
Clarification relating to Paragraph 7
1. The Committee notes that conscientious implementation of the Guidelines to Further the
Practical Implementation of Article 5.5 (G/SPS/15) will assist Members in determining equivalence.
2. The Committee further notes that the relationship  between the level of protection provided by
the importing Member’s own measures and what it requires from imported products has been
explicitly addressed in the draft Codex Guidelines on the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary
Measures Associated with Food Inspection and Certification Systems.1  The Committee notes that the
OIE Guidelines for Reaching a Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures also recognizes theimportance of facilitating comparison of the exporting and importing Members' measures.  The
Committee agrees that Members should consider the Codex approach of establishing an objective
basis for comparison or the similar OIE approach when determining the equivalence of sanitary
measures.
3. The Committee encourages the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Office
International des Epizooties to ensure that the recognition of the importance of facilitating comparison
of the exporting and importing Members' measures is maintained in any elaboration of guidance by
these organizations.
4. The Committee requests that the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM)
take into consideration the Decision on Equivalence and this clarification in its future work onjudgement of equivalence with regard to measures to address plant pests and diseases.
                                                     
1 The Committee recognizes that the Codex Guidelines for the Development of Equivalence
Agreements Regarding Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems are also relevant in this
regard.G/SPS/19/Add.2
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5. The Committee agrees that where the objective basis for comparison, or a similar approach
established by a relevant international organization, demonstrates that the level of protection achieved
by the importing Member's sanitary or phytosanitary measure differs from its appropriate level of
protection, the importing Member should resolve this difference independently of the procedure for
determination of equivalence.
6. If the exporting Member demonstrates by way of an objective basis of comparison or similar
approach established by a relevant international organization that its measure has the same effect in
achieving the objective as the importing Member's measure, the importing Member should recognize
both measures as equivalent.
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