G/SPS/GEN/1884  
 
4 March 2021 
(21-1832) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
APEC MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS (MRLS) HARMONIZATION WORKSHOP SUMMARY  
SUBMISSION  BY AUSTRALIA, CANADA, THE PHILIPPINES  
AND THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA  
The following document , received on 3 March  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation s of Australia , Canada , the Philippines , and the United Sta tes of America . 
 
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1.1.  On 16 -17 December 2020, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies held a 
virtual workshop to discuss best practices on maximum residue limits (MRL) compliance and to build 
support for a like -minded approach throughout the Pacific Rim to address trade challenges related 
to the lack of MRL harmonization. The virtual workshop titled, "Pes ticide Maximum Residue Limits 
(MRLs) Harmonization: A Trade Facilitative Approach to MRL Compliance," was attended by thirteen 
APEC economies including Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, 
the Philippines, Singapore, South Kor ea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and the United States.  
1.2.  The workshop included presentations from experts across the Pacific Rim on: the impact of 
MRL violations compliance issues on regional food security and trade, including recent trends 
following the COVID -19 crisis; the role of import tolerance -setting and transition periods in avoiding 
MRL compliance issues; how risk -based inspection systems can simultaneously facilitate trade and 
support greater MRL compliance; how post -border market surveillance program s can inform border 
priorities; and an update on APEC regional harmonization efforts. A second workshop will be held in 
June 2021.  
1.3.  As next steps, APEC economies will work together to produce a best practice guide on 
MRL regulatory approaches, including eff ective management transition periods that protect food 
safety and minimize negative trade effects. A regional initiative to share more information about 
MRL compliance issues will also be undertaken.  
1.4.  This workshop builds on previous APEC investments to str engthen technical capacities around 
MRLs, including those reported to this Committee through G/SPS/GEN/1746  regarding the 
"APEC  Import MRL Guideline for Pesticides: A Guideline on Possible Approaches to Achieve Alignment 
of International MRLs". Given the potential of pesticide MRLs t o serve as non -tariff barriers to trade, 
APEC engagement in this area is both timely and relevant, and APEC economies welcome use of 
technical materials developed through APEC activities by countries outside the APEC economies.  
1.5.  As SPS Committee Members will recall, one of the recommendations adopted in the Fifth Review 
states, " The Committee welcomes efforts by Members and the relevant observer organizations to 
provide regular updates to the Committee on their activities on MRLs, including update s on regional 
initiatives on MRLs. The Committee notes that such information could provide the basis for other 
Members to implement similar activities at the national and regional levels to improve harmonization 
to Codex MRLs, as well as to regional MRLs, where no Codex standards exist, in order to facilitate 
trade. " 
1.6.  As active Members of APEC, we are pleased to share this work with Members of the 
WTO SPS Committee, and we will keep the Committee updated as this work continues.  
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