. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/GC/45
7 March 2001
(01-1093)
General Council
Special Session on Implementation
ACTIONS TO INCREASE THE PARTICIPATION OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRY MEMBERS IN THE WORK OF RELEVANT SANITARY AND
PHYTOSANITARY INTERNATIONAL STANDARD-SETTING ORGANIZATIONS
Second Report by the Director-General
1. You will recall that in October 2000 the General Council requested that, with respect to the
Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), I explore with the relevant
international standard-setting organizations and relevant intergovernmental organizations financial
and technical mechanisms to assist the participation of developing countries in standard-settingactivities; and further that I coordinate efforts with the relevant international standard-setting
organizations to identify SPS-related technical assistance needs and how best to address these, taking
into consideration the importance of bilateral and regional technical assistance in this regard.
2. As previously reported (WT/GC/42), I invite d the FAO, WHO and OIE to participate in an
informal meeting at the level of Deputy Directors-Ge neral, to identify ways of facilitating developing
country participation in standard-setting activities and addressing their technical assistance needs.  At
this meeting, held on 7 February 2001, Mr. Rodriguez Mendoza met with: Dr. B. Vallat, Director-
General of OIE;  Dr. A. Theirmann, Chairman of the OIE Code Commission;  Dr. T. Chillaud, Chief
of the OIE Information Department; Ms. L. Fresco, FAO Assistant Director-General;  Dr. A. Randell,
Senior Officer Codex Secretariat;  Dr. A. Prost, WHO External Relations;  and Drs. J. Schlundt and
Y. Sahara of the WHO Food Safety Unit.  WTO officials from the Agriculture and Commodities
Division also participated in the meeting.
3. The meeting was very useful and constructive, and permitted an open exchange of views.  In
general, the standard-setting organizations felt that  there are substantial current and growing levels of
participation and understanding of developing countries in their work.
1  They believe that the primary
problem does not lie with the standard-setting process or organizations, but with (i) a perception that
numerous international standards are not relevant for developing countries, and (ii) the need for betterability to use/implement international standards.  Consequently, decision-makers in developing
countries need to be informed of how the use of international standards helps to expand trade, while
protecting health and often improving the related national infrastructure.
2  In this context, it was
suggested that the elaboration of practical examples  could be helpful in fostering the understanding of
officials in developing countries.  Decision-makers also need to be informed of the importance ofparticipating in SPS Committee activities, and it was noted that there are various examples of trade
concerns which have found resolution after consideration by the Committee.
                                                     
1 Specific information on participation has recently been provided by the FAO International Plant
Protection Convention (IPPC) in document G/SPS/GEN/227 and by the WHO in document G/SPS/GEN/231.
2 The standard-setting organizations stressed that risk assessment should only be used for the protection
of human, animal or plant health or life.  They were concerned that some industrialized countries might too
frequently use national risk assessments to justify their SPS measures, which could undermine the development,
utility and use of international standards.WT/GC/45
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4. In the course of the discussions, it was observed that there is a need to identify and target
countries facing particular problems, and to elaborate specific actions to assist them.  Furthermore, the
"regional dimension" needs to be better explored, including the possibility of channelling technical
assistance and capacity-building through regional organizations.  National administrations have to be
encouraged to establish dialogue channels among di fferent services/bodies and to coordinate efforts.
5. All of the organizations involved in the discussions agreed that there is a need for more
assistance to developing counries, both financial and technical.  At the same time, they all recognized
that there is already considerable coordination of technical assistance between the standard-setting
organizations and the WTO, although efforts to achieve greater consistency should be pursued.  All of
the relevant organizations are also committed to pursue efforts to achieve greater consistency in the
technical assistance activities provided by intern ational organizations, including the World Bank and
regional organizations, including through regular inter-organizational meetings at both technical andpolicy levels.  It was agreed that the first of such  meetings should be tentatively held before the
Summer break to further discuss progress.  I will of course keep you informed of further progress in
this matter.
6. In conclusion, all standard-setting organizatio ns confirmed their commitment to ensure the
fullest possible participation of developing countries in their work, especially in the development ofinternational standards.  At the request of the WTO, the standard-setting organizations agreed to
participate in a WTO-organized workshop to provide information on their respective standard-setting
processes, with a focus on maximizing developing country involvement.  This workshop has been
scheduled for the morning of 13 March 2001, to immediately precede the meeting of the SPS
Committee.
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