G/SPS/W/344  
 
21 June 2023  
(23-4256) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY DECLARATION WORK PROGRAMME : 
RESPONDING TO MODERN SPS CHALLENGES  
DRAFT REPORT TO THE THIRTEENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE  
1.  The Committee  on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ( SPS Committee ) has undertaken a work 
programme to examine challenges in the implementation of the SPS Agreement  and the mechanisms 
available to address them , and the impacts of emerging challenges on the application  of the 
SPS Agreement , as instructed by Ministers in the SPS Declaration adopted at the Twelfth Ministerial 
Conference ( WT/MIN(22)/27 ). In doing so, the SPS Committee  has explored the following topics:  
• How to facilitate global food security and more sustainable food systems, including through 
sustainable growth and innovation in agricultural production and international trade, and 
through the use of international standards, guidelines, and recommendations developed by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission  (Codex) , the World Organisation for  Animal Health  
(WOAH)  and the International Plant Protection Convention  (IPPC)  as the basis of harmonized 
SPS measures to protect human, animal or plant life or health.  
• How to support basing SPS measures on scientific evidence and principles, including whe re 
international standards, guidelines, or recommendations do not exist or are not appropriate; 
and how to promote the use by Members of principles employed by the international 
standard setting bodies for considering scientific uncertainty in risk analysi s. 
• How to enhance the safe international trade in food, animals and plants and products thereof 
through the adaptation of SPS measures to regional conditions, including pest - or disease -
free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence which can stren gthen Members' ability 
to protect plant and animal life or health through efforts to limit the spread of pests such as 
the Mediterranean fruit fly, diseases such as African swine fever, disease -carrying 
organisms, or disease -causing organisms.  
• How to encou rage cooperation with observer organizations that support the work of the 
SPS Committee  and the international standard setting bodies through technical exchanges 
and assistance in the context of this work programme.  
• How to increase participation of and sup port for the special needs of developing and least 
developed country Members in the development and application of SPS measures; and in 
particular, to increase awareness of and sensitivity to the impacts of SPS measures on the 
export possibilities of such Members.  
2.  The Committee consulted with a wide range  of stakeholders , including the international standard 
setting bodies, other SPS Committee  observer organi zations, Member s' competent authorities, 
agricultural producers , food manufacturers and traders , and the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF) , amongst others.  The process benefitted from Members' positive engagement in a 
constructive dialogue with these stakehol ders and with each other. The discussions covered new 
opportunities and emerging challenges for international trade in food, animals and plants, including 
but not limited to expanding global populations;  increased pace of innovation in tools and 
technologi es; climate change and increasing environmental challenges;  growing importance of 
sustainable agricultural practices and production systems, including their contribution to addressing 
climate change and biodiversity conservation;  shifting pressures due to the spread of pests  and 
diseases, increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, as well as emerging infectious diseases linked 
with the human -animal -environment interface; and  continued application of SPS measures that 
would constitute a disguised restric tion on international trade . G/SPS/W/344  
 
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  3.  Based on its discussions, the Committee presents  the following findings : 
a. The SPS Agreement  remains fit for purpose to  support safe international trade in food, 
animal and plant products, thereby contributing to food security. Aligning SPS measures 
and procedures with the SPS Agreement , in particular with provisions on the  use of 
international standards , scientific principles and risk assessment as the basis for 
SPS measures, remains of fundamental importance, including when dealing with emerging 
challenges and opportunities . 
b. The Committee acknowledges  the importance of  sustainable and resilient food systems , 
and the particular relevance  of science, research and innovation as a means to sustainably 
increase production to feed a growing world population, while securing the livelihood of 
farmers and addressing the emerging challenges listed in paragraph 2.  In this  regard, the 
Committee recognizes that there  is no "one -size-fits-all" approach to the regulation of 
sustainable agricultural farming practices across WTO Members, taking into account the 
differences in local and regional conditions.  
c. Codex, WOAH and IPPC g uidance can support Members in addressing scientific uncertainty 
in risk analysis, including the recommendation that the approach taken to deal with 
uncertainty be clearly documented . 
d. Adaptation of SPS measures to regional conditions, based on WOAH and IPP C guidance 
and Committee guidelines in G/SPS/48 , can help avoid unnecessary trade restrictions. 
Capacity building can assist in bringing domestic regulatory frameworks in line with 
relevant international recommendations.  
e. The Committee values its exchanges with Codex, WOAH and IPPC in the SPS Committee , 
and invites them to continue providing regular updates on their work, in particular on 
updated standards, guidelines and recommendations relating to emerging challenges and 
opportunities.  
f. The Committee also values the work of all SPS Committee  observer organizations and 
invites the Secretariat to engage  with these organizations to foster enhanced cooperation  
and improve practices for information exchange . 
g. Engagement with developing country and least  developed country  Members , including 
through t echnical assistance , capacity building and South -South  cooperation,  is of 
fundamental importance, both to support implementation of the SPS Agreement  and to 
create, maintain or expand market access opportunities by complying with SPS import 
requirements . The STDF plays a key role in providing and coordinating assistance in this 
regard. Ensuring adequate resources for its activities will enable the STDF to continue 
addressing the growing number of requests for assistance.  
4.  The SPS Committee  recommends  contin uing its targeted discussions and reflections on the 
implementation of the SPS Agreement  in light of emerging challenges and opportunities beyond the 
finalization of the MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme, including in the context of the upcoming 
Sixth Re view of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement  and in specific thematic 
sessions and events, as appropriate.  
 
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