G/SPS/GEN/1704  
 
26 June 2019 
(19-4298) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMAT IC SESSION ON APPROVAL PR OCEDURES  
TUES DAY, 5 NOVEMBER  2019 
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
In the context of the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  (SPS Agreement), Canada submitted a proposal 
for the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Co mmittee) to consider holding a 
thematic session on approval procedures in November 2019.1 At the March 2019 meeting, the 
SPS Committee agreed to the proposal.  
The session will explore concepts within Article 8 and Annex C of the Agreement, as they relate to  
approval procedures in the context of the current trading environment, and any related issues 
concerning the implementation of the Agreement. It will focus on – but not be limited to – approval 
procedures related to those products or categor ies of product s that require approval as a pre -
requisite to their importation or placing on the market, including for approval of the use of  additives 
or for the establishment of tolerances for  contaminants in food, beverages or feedstuffs . 
This thematic session builds on the Workshop on Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures which 
was held on 9 -10 July 2018.2 
Further to Canada's proposal, Members were invited to submit any inputs on the programme and 
speakers by 3 May 2019. This draft  programme is based on the structure suggested by Canada.  
Members are further invited to provide oral or written comments on this draft programme at the 
July 2019 meeting of the SPS Committee . 
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 5 November  2019, beginning 
at 10 a.m.  
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1  THE SPS AGREEMENT , GUIDANCE  AND RELEVANT JURISP RUDENCE  
Review of the provisions of the SPS Agreement (Article 8 and Annex C), Committee guidance and 
relevant jurisprudence related to approval procedures.  
Speakers:  WTO Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
                                                
1 G/SPS/W/310.  
2 G/SPS/GEN/1613/Rev.2 (workshop programme) and G/SPS/R/91 (report of the workshop). 
Presentations are also available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps _e/workshop910718_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/1704  
 
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  2  RELEVANT INTERNATION AL STANDARDS  
Explore how  the relevant international standards , guidelines or recommendations  can inform 
approval procedures and assist in meeting the obligations related to approval procedures as 
outlined in Annex C . 
Speakers:  International Standard Setting Bodies  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3  SHARING OF MEMBERS ' SUCCESSES, CHALLENGE S, CONSIDERATIONS, IMPAC TS AND 
BEST PRACTICES RELATED TO APPROVAL PROCEDURES  
3.1  Importing Member s' perspective  
Experiences related to completing approval procedures . 
Speakers: TBD 
▪ Canada  
▪ China - System evaluation and enterprise  registration  in the SPS area  
3.2  Exporting Member s' perspective  
Experiences related to approval procedures . 
Speakers:  TBD 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
4  APPROACHES TO FACILI TATE APPROVAL PROCED URES  
Overview of initiatives that could facilitate effective, efficient approval procedures , enable access 
to tools and technologies , and facilitat e international trade . 
4.1  Alignment of regulatory approaches  
Speakers:  TBD 
4.2  Regulatory cooperation – regional and global initiatives  
Speakers:  TBD 
4.3  Regional/International perspectives  
Speakers:  TBD 
▪ International  Grain Trade Coalition  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
5  CLOSING REMARKS  
• Key takeaways  
• Identification of possible areas for future work by the SPS Committee   
 
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