RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/85
13October 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4394)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
ECCOMMENTS ONG/SPS/W/82: APROCEDURE TOMONITOR
THE PROCESS OFINTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Thefollowing comments werereceived fromtheEuropean Commission on10October 1997.
_____________
Document G/SPS/W/82 wasdiscussed atthemeeting oftheSPSCommittee on1-2July1997.
While welcoming theprogress made inthedebate onthismatter, theEuropean Community signalled
thatanumber ofmodifications were necessary tothepaper, toenable ittorespond properly tothe
provisions ofArticle 12,paragraph 4oftheSPSAgreement.
TheEuropean Community endorses theideaofimplementing amonitoring procedure ona
provisional basis. Further, there would bemerit inastaged implementation toenable members to
starttoparticipate atanearly stage intheprocess, andtoenable anynecessary modifications tobe
made tothesystem inthelightofexperience.
TheEuropean Community proposes thefollowing modifications todocument G/SPS/W/82:
Paragraph 1:Final sentence should bereplaced by:
"InthelightofMembers 'reasons fornon-application, theSPSCommittee might wanttomake
anappropriate recommendation toMembers, ortoinvite therelevant international standard-
setting body toconsider reviewing andpossibly revising toconsider reviewing theexisting
standard, guideline orrecommendation."
Paragraph 6:Replace "[15]" with"30".
Paragraph 7:Second sentence should bereplaced by:
"The Secretariat should circulate thesubmissions ithasreceived toallMembers, asmuch in
advanceoftheCommittee'smeetingaspossible,andnolaterthan15daysbeforethemeeting,
inorder toprovide allMembers which haveaninterest intheidentified standards, guidelines
orrecommendations withsufficient theopportunity toprepare anyresponses comments they
deem appropriate, inparticular withrespect totheirontheuseornon-use ofthestandards
andthereasons therefor."
Paragraph 8:Renumber as"paragraph 9",delete "ortheChairperson" inthefirstline,andinthe
thirdlinereplace "thestandard" with"anystandard ".
./.G/SPS/W/85
Page2
Paragraph 9:Renumber asparagraph 8andreplace by:
"9. Inthelight oftheinformation provided byMembers, anddiscussion inthe
Committee, alistofstandards, guidelines orrecommendations which haveamajor impact
oninternational trade shallbeestablished bytheCommittee. Thislistshall bereviewed
ateach meeting oftheCommittee. Members should provide information, foreach of
thestandards, guidelines orrecommendations identified, onanytrade problems, andon
theiruseornon-use ofthestandard, guidelines orrecommendation andthereasons thereof.
TheCommittee mayinvite therelevant international standard-setting body toconsider
reviewing theexisting standard, guideline orrecommendation. "
Paragraph 10:Replace thefirstsentence by:
"The Secretariat should prepare anannual report totheCommittee onthelistofstandards,
guidelinesandrecommendationsestablishedunderparagraph8,thetradeproblemsidentified
byMembers andtheircomments regarding theuseoftheidentified international standards,
guidelines andrecommendations ,andanyconclusions drawn bytheCommittee. "
Paragraph 12:Replace thesecond sentence by:
"Inparticular, theCommittee maywishtoconsider developing standard formats forthe
supply ofinformation under paragraphs 6-8,andusing those standards which havebeen
identified ashaving amajor impact oninternational trade andareofwidespread concern to
Members (paragraph 108refers) asthebasis forapilot project toobtain additional
information astoascertain howMembers aredealing withmeasures pertaining tothestandards
ofconcern.