WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/20
21 March 2002
(02-1531)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
EQUIVALENCE - PROGRAMME FOR FURTHER WORK
Decision by the Committee
In the light of paragraph 13 of the Committee' s decision on equivalence (G/SPS/19) and the
decision at the Fourth Ministerial Conference regarding implementation-related issues and concerns
(WT/MIN(01)17, paragraph 3.3), at its meeting of 19-21 March 2002, the Committee adopted the
following programme to further the implementation of Article 4, with particular consideration of theproblems encountered by developing country Members.
Informal and regular meetings of 18-21 March 2002
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
Information submitted by Members should take into account the various elements
contained in the Decision and particularly:  (i) any successfully concluded bilateral
equivalence agreements or arrangements;  (ii)  on-going discussions on recognition of
equivalence;  (iii)  technical assistance activities related to the implementation of
Article 4;  and (iv)  assistance provided to developing countries to facilitate their
participation in the work of the standard-setting bodies.
• Consideration of information from the Codex,  OIE and IPPC regarding their work on the
issue of equivalence.
• Consideration and adoption of a format for the notification of agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• In the course of its review of the transparency provisions, consideration of specific text
drawing attention to the responsibility of national Enquiry Points to provide information.
• Further examination and discussion of the proposals submitted by Argentina regarding
clarification of paragraph 5 of the Decision with respect to accelerated procedures for
determining equivalence in respect of products historically imported from the exporting
Member.1
• Preliminary discussion of paragraph 6, including with regard to the relationship between
current imports and potential compliance problems.
                                                     
1 G/SPS/W/116.G/SPS/20
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Informal and regular meetings of 17-20 June 2002
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
• Consideration of information from the Codex,  OIE and IPPC regarding their work on the
issue of equivalence.
• Consideration of any notifications received regarding agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• Information from Members (and from the relevant observer organizations) regarding
usual procedures for the determination of equivalence with respect to products which
have not been previously imported from the interested exporting country.
• Examination of procedures to identify which steps might be accelerated, minimized or
eliminated altogether with respect to produ cts which have previously been imported from
the exporting country, on the basis of categorization of historic or previous trade patterns
(e.g., whether previous trade has been sporadic  or virtually continuous;  whether previous
trade has fully complied with the importing country's SPS requirements or problems havebeen identified);  and the nature of the health risks posed by the imported product and
their potential severity.
• Suggestions by Members for clarification of the provisions of paragraph 6, including with
regard to the relationship between current imports and potential compliance problems.
• Preliminary discussion of paragraph 7.
Informal and regular meetings of 7-8 November 2002
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
• Consideration of information from the Codex,  OIE and IPPC regarding their work on the
issue of equivalence.
• Consideration of any notifications received regarding agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• Consideration of draft guidance for accelerated procedures for the recognition of
equivalence of products historically traded, on the basis of categorization of trade patterns
and risks.
• Consideration of a draft text clarifying the provisions of paragraph 6, including with
regard to the relationship between current imports and potential compliance problems.
• Suggestions by Members for clarification of the provisions of paragraph 7.
• Consideration and adoption of the report to the Trade Negotiating Committee regarding
progress on the implementation of Article 4, as stipulated in paragraph 12 ofWT/MIN(01)/DEC/1.
First informal and regular meetings of 2003
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
• Consideration of information from the Codex,  OIE and IPPC regarding their work on the
issue of equivalence.
• Consideration of any notifications received regarding agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• Consideration and, if possible, adoption of guidance for accelerated procedures for the
recognition of equivalence of products historically traded.
• Consideration and, if possible, adoption of text clarifying the provisions of paragraph 6.
• Consideration of a draft text clarifying the provisions of paragraph 7.G/SPS/20
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Second informal and regular meetings of 2003
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
• Consideration of information from the Codex, OIE and IPPC regarding their
consideration of the issue of equivalence.
• Consideration of any notifications received regarding agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• Consideration and, if possible, adoption of text clarifying the provisions of paragraph 7.
Third informal and regular meetings of 2003
• Information from Members on their experiences regarding implementation of Article 4.
• Consideration of information from the Codex,  OIE and IPPC regarding their work on the
issue of equivalence.
• Consideration of any notifications received regarding agreements recognizing
equivalence.
• Commence review of the Decision on Equivalence in light of the experience of Members
and work undertaken in the Codex, OIE and IPPC.
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