WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/231
28 February 2001
(01-0986)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
STANDARD-SETTING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE SPS AGREEMENT
Submission by the World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO1. The World Health Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations System, is the
directing and coordinating authority for international public health.  It comprises 191 member states, a
secretariat with headquarters in Geneva, six regional offices, over 100 country offices, and liaison
offices with major regional institutions.  The organization is governed by the World Health Assembly,in which delegates from all member states participate, an Executive Board, made up of members from
each of the six WHO regions, and six regional committees, composed of representatives of the
countries concerned.  Its activities are financed by its regular budget, made up of member's
contributions, and extrabudgetary resources provided by donors, which also include extra funding
from member states for specific activities.
WHO's constitutional responsi bility in standard setting
2. A core function of WHO, set out in its Constitution (Article 2), is to "develop, establish and
promote international standards with respect to food, biological, pharmaceutical and similar
products".  Provision is also made (Article 21 ) for the Health Assembly to adopt regulations
concerning, among other, "sanitary and quarantine requirements and other procedures designed to
prevent the international spread of disease".
3. With regard to food safety , the standards, recommendations and guidelines of the Joint
FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) on food additives, veterinary drugs and pesticide
residues, contaminants, methods of analysis and sampling, and codes and guidelines of hygienic
practice are recognized as the international reference for food safety requirements.  Based on
scientific risk assessment, they are regarded as a benchmark for national food safety legislation interms of both protection of human health and promotion of international trade.  Compliance with
Codex requirements is therefore a key to acceptance of foodstuff on the international market.
4. WHO concentrates on cooperating with developing countries to strengthen their food
regulatory systems so that they can meet Codex requirements.  Its member states recently reiterated
their support for these efforts through Health Assembly resolution WHA53.15 (20 May 2000), whichnot only encouraged active participation of members in the work of CAC , but also urged WHO:
• to provide support for capacity building, especially in developing member states, and
to facilitate their full participation in the work of CAC and its different committees,
and in the food-safety risk-analysis process;
• to promote the largest possible use of information from developing countries in risk
assessment for international standard-setting, and to strengthen technical training in
developing countries;G/SPS/GEN/231
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• to help assure that the level of technological development in developing countries is
taken into account in the adoption and application of international food safety
standards.
WHO is currently preparing its food-safety strategy, which emphasizes tangible support to developing
countries in drawing up national food safety legislation.
5. In terms of sanitary regulations , the International Health Regulations are a legally binding
instrument that sets out sanitary and quarantine requirements and other procedures to be observed by
member states.  These requirements are designed to prevent the international spread of disease with
minimum interference with world traffic and trade.
Examples of current standard-setting activities
(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
6. CAC is an intergovernmental body that adopts food standards recommended by its subsidiary
committees.  Meetings, where decisions are made, are attended mostly by non-scientists who
represent their governments, including of a grow ing number of developing countries (see attached
chart).  Is it now proposed:
• to increase the involvement of developing  countries in drafting standards (Annex 1
indicates the developing countries presenting positions in selected CAC committees);
• to convene more sessions of Codex committees in developing countries (Annex 2
shows developing countries that have hosted committee meetings);
• to organize technical seminars in conjunction with Codex meetings;
• to create a trust fund to support participation of developing countries in CAC.
(b) Independent expert advisory bodies (JECFA and JMPR, JEMRA, JECFoB)1
7. CAC relies for its scientific advice on WHO and FAO joint committees, which are not part of
the CAC but are convened by the two organizations.  These joint scientific committees are composedof scientists drawn from an expert panel, who se rve in their individual capacity as experts, not as
representatives of their governments or employers.  Efforts are under way:
• to seek experts from developing countries, through a "Call for Experts" disseminated
through the diplomatic missions;
• efficiently to collect scientific data from developing countries, through a "Call for
Data";
• to select experts taking into account geographical balance (Annex 3 indicates
geographical representation in the four expert advisory bodies and the expert panel).
(c) National capacity building
8. Facilitating participation of developing countries in the work of CAC should not be
interpreted only as the physical presence of delegations at international meetings;  they should also be
in a position actively to take part in the standard-se tting process.  In the longer term, capacity building
                                                     
1 JECFA:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JMPF:  Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide ResiduesJEMRA:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeti ng on Microbiological Risk Assessment
JECFoB:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food derived from Biotechnology.G/SPS/GEN/231
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is the most important prerequisite for such participation.  WHO, together with FAO, is currently
providing technical support in areas such as:
• strengthening of national Codex committees and Codex activities at national or
regional levels;
• training in risk analysis;
• building up capacity in surveillance of foodborne diseases;
• updating food legislation and improving food-safety control systems.
(d) Revision of the International Health Regulations
9. WHO has actively sought the opinion of developing countries by sponsoring their
involvement in field trials for the revision of the International Health Regulations.  The revised
instrument will provide an international standard fo r notification and response to urgent international
disease risks, including foodborne diseases.
Future action10. It is proposed to pursue activities in support of developing countries along the following lines:
• to convene joint seminars and workshops for capacity building, such as seminars on
risk analysis and the SPS Agreement, and a short course on the public health
implications of the multilateral trade agreements;
• to improve the exchange of information on the capacity-building work of WHO, FAO
and WTO;
• to launch joint fund-raising for training in risk analysis, and for improving
surveillance of foodborne diseases;
• to organize joint information or training sessions with the SPS Committee on
application of the revised International Health Regulations and the SPS Agreement.G/SPS/GEN/231
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Participation in Codex Alimentarius Commissions
1963-1999 
Industrial 
CountriesDeveloping 
Countries
020406080100120
Session
G/SPS/GEN/231
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ANNEX 1
LIST OF COUNTRIES DEVELOPING POSITION/DISCUSSION PAPERS
IN SELECTED COMMITTEES
(AS OF JUNE 2000)
Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Risk analysis principles and methodologies of the CCRVDF:
France, Poland, Australia, Brazil , Canada, Chile , Japan, Mexico , Netherlands, New Zealand,
Philippines , Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand , USA, JECFA Secretariat, EC, OIE, WHO, CI
and COMISA.
Antimicrobial resistance and the use of antimicrobials in animal production:
Australia, Brazil , Canada, Costa Rica , Denmark, Finland, Germany, Thailand , UK, USA,
EC, OIE, WHO, CI and COMISA.
Criteria for the selection of methods of analysis:
Canada, USA, Australia, Costa Rica , France, Netherlands and COMISA.
Codex Committee on Food Hygiene
Discussion Paper on Proposed Draft Guidelines for the Hygienic reuse of Processing Water in
Food Plants:
Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, India , US, IDF;
Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for the Primary Production and, Harvesting and
Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables :
Argentina , Chile, Denmark, Guatemala , Honduras, India , Japan, Mexico , Netherlands,
Spain, Sweden, UK, US;
Proposed draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Milk and Milk Products:
Argentina , Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India , New Zealand,, United Kingdom,
Uruguay , US, IDF;
Codex Committee on Food Export and Import Inspection and Certification Systems
Guidelines for Food Import Control Systems:
Australia, Canada, France, India , Japan, Mexico , Morocco , UK, USA.
Guidelines for Generic Official Certificate Formats and the Production and Issuance of
Certificates:
Australia, Canada, France, India , the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa , UK, USA,
EC.
Guidelines for the Utilization and Promotion of Quality Assurance Systems to Meet
Requirements in Relation to Food:
Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, India , the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa ,
Switzerland, USA, EC.G/SPS/GEN/231
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Discussion Paper on the Judgement of Equivalence of Sanitary Measures Associated with
Food Inspection and Certification Systems:
New Zealand, Argentina , Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Morocco , USA, EC.
Discussion Paper on the Judgement of Equivale nce of Technical Regulations Associated with
Food Inspection and Certification Systems:
Australia, France, South Africa , USA.
Position Paper on the Potential Need for Guidance on Food Export Control Systems:
Morocco
Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants
Revised Sampling Plan for Aflatoxins in Peanuts:
Argentina, China, India , Italy, Netherlands, South Africa , Thailand,  Turkey, USA, EC.
Application of Risk Analysis Principles fo r Food Additives and Contaminants: Australia,
Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand , UK, USA.
General Code of Practice for the Prevention of Mycotoxin Contamination in Cereals:
Argentina , Canada, Norway, South Africa , Sweden, USA.
Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues
Problems relative to pesticide residues in food in developing countries: South Africa  .
Methods of analysis: Netherlands.Feasibility of establishing MRLs for genetically modified crops and for metabolite residues:
Canada, Australia, South Africa , USA, Commission of EC, GCPF.
Feasibility of establishing specific MRLs for cereal-based foods and infant formula:
Germany, USA, Commission of EC, CI.
Need for EMRL for camphechlor in fish:
Germany.
MRL restrictions when the chronic dietary intake estimate(s) exceed the ADI: Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, USA, EC.G/SPS/GEN/231
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ANNEX 2
CODEX COMMITTEE MEETINGS CONVENED IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(AD HOC  BASIS)
Committee YearRegular Host
CountryDeveloping
Country
Committee on Food Hygiene(planned)2001 USA Thailand
Committee on Food Additives and
Contaminants2000 Netherlands China
Committee on Food Additives and
Contaminants1996 Netherlands Philippine
Committee on Residues of
Veterinary Drugs1996 USA Costa Rica
Committee on Pesticide Residues 1993 Netherlands CubaG/SPS/GEN/231
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ANNEX 3
PARTICIPANTS FOR THE MEETING OF FOUR EXPERT ADVISORY BODIES AND THE EXPERT PANEL
(Participants from developing countries / Participants)
Expert Bodies Africa The Americas South East
AsiaEurope Eastern
MediterraneanWestern
PacificTotal
JECFA
(June 2000)0/0 0/3 0/0 0/8 1/1 1/3 2/14
JMPR
(September 2000)0/0 1/4 0/0 0/6 1/1 1/4 3/15
JEMRA
(July 2000)1/1 2/6 1/1 0/3 0/3 1/3 4/14
JECFoB
(May 2000)1/1 1/6 0/0 0/3 1/1 1/2 4/13
Expert Panel
(as of December 2000)4/4 4/16 2/2 0/18 0/1 2/4 12/45
JECFA:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
JMPR:  Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide ResiduesJEMRA:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetin g on Microbiological Risk Assessment
JECFoB:  Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on Food derived from Biotechnology
Expert Panel:  WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Food Safety
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