WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/77
24October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4443)
Original: Spanish Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WTO/SPS AGREEMENT AND
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATIONS
Communication from Uruguay attheMeeting of8-9October 1996
Working documents G/SPS/W/65 andG/SPS/W/69 havebeensubmitted bythedelegation
ofUruguay forthepurpose ofdrawing theSPSCommittee 'sattention toabroader topicthanthespecific
content ofthedocuments. Thesubstance thatitishoped todiscuss isthenature, scope and
implementation oftherelationship between theWTO/SPS Agreement andtherelevant organizations,
inthisparticular case-inview oftherevision ofthetext-withtheInternational Plant Protection
Convention.
Inthiscontext, theWTO/SPS Agreement maybeviewed asaninterface between thetasks
oftheWTO andthose ofinternational technical standardization organizations, forwhich reason, it
delegatestosuchorganizationsthetechnicalaspectsofthedevelopmentandharmonizationofinternational
technical standards, guidelines andrecommendations -sanitary andphytosanitary measures asdefined
inAnnex A-establishing asetofprinciples anddisciplines toregulate theirapplication ininternational
trade.
When looked atfrom thelegalstandpoint, itseems tobeaone-way situation, since theSPS
expresslyrecognizestheworkofrelevantorganizationsinelaborating(harmonized)internationaltechnical
standards, guidelines andrecommendations. However, since thetechnical standards, guidelines and
recommendations ofsuchorganizations arenotbinding, except under theprovisions oftheWTO/SPS,
aninformal two-way linkage iscreated between therespective legalinstruments.
Thesituation issomewhat complex, since bothparties (theSPSAgreement andtherelevant
organizations) have anindependent legal framework andthere isnoformal mechanism toensure
consistency between them. Forexample, thedefinition of"phytosanitary measure", isdifferent under
theSPSandtheIPPC (G/SPS/W/65), thescope oftheIPPC hasbeeninterpreted asexclusively relating
to"quarantine pests" (FAO standards), butscope oftheSPSandoftheIOEextend toother types of
pest,andsoon(G/SPS/W/65).
Obviously, these andother contradictions mayhaveagreat impact onandevenhinder the
achievement oftheobjectives established bytheSPSAgreement reached intheUruguay Round.
Accordingly, ithastobeinferred thattheamendment ofthetextofthepresent IPPC should beacentral
topiccommanding theconstant attention oftheWTO/SPS Committee, which mustensure consistency
between thenewIPPC textandtheSPSAgreement. InthecaseoftheIPPC, consistency mainly includes
matters relating toscope, incorporation ofSPSprinciples anddisciplines andaccuracy ofdefinitions
andterms.
Without prejudice totheforegoing, thedelegation ofUruguay isoftheview thatthelegal
frameworksgoverningtherelevantorganizationsshouldbediscussedandnegotiatedwithintherespective
legalsettings andthatitisfortheSPSCommittee todothefollow-up, making anyassessments itdeems
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appropriate. Italsoconsiders thatarticulating international instruments inorder tomake themconsistent
should bedonebasically byimplementing theinternal coordination mechanisms oftheMembers for
thepurposes ofmaintaining consistent positions inthevarious forums.
Onthebasis ofthese considerations, thedelegation ofUruguay proposes thattheWTO/SPS
Committee, inthelightoftherevision oftheIPPC, should recommend:
- ToMembers tocreate internal coordination mechanisms thatwillmake forconsistency
inthepositions tobeadopted towards thenewIPPC text,withthecommitments entered
intounder theWTO/SPS Agreement, particularly withregard toscope, definitions
andterms andincorporation ofprinciples anddisciplines.
- Inthiscontext, thatitshould beemphasized thattheIPPC should cover allthelegitimate
objectives concerning pestregulation ininternational trade thatarefound inthe
WTO/SPS, inasmuch asthecosmetic effects (notdirectly related totheproposed use
ofplants) ofpests, should notbeconsidered inthenewtextoftheConvention, since
anyregulation ofthem asdefects inmerchantable quality (notaspests) comes under
theprovisions oftheWTO/TBT Agreement.
- Toagree onaframework fortheidentification ofpriority activities relating tothe
interests oftheWTO/SPS Agreement andthose oftherelevant organizations.
- Tokeepitem(i)Revision oftheInternational PlantProtection Convention, asastanding
itemunder K"Matters ofinterest arising from thework ofobserver organizations"
ontheCommittee 'sagenda untilthenewtextisapproved.