G/SPS/W/319  
 
23 September  2019 
(19-6107) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
STRENGTHENING THE DE LIBERATIVE FUNCTION OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
SUBMISSION FROM BRAZ IL 
The following communication, received on 20 September 2019, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Brazil . 
 
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The list of topics presented here is the result of four informal discussions held at the sidelines of the 
SPS Com mittee this year. The issues included are the ones where there seems to be convergence. 
If Members agree, they could be the basis of a decision to strengthen the deliberative function of 
the Committee without any changes to Members' rights and obligations under WTO rules.  
The decision seeks to improve the consultation process among Members, so that we can make better 
use of the Committee 's meetings. Being able to discuss issues effectively and efficiently will facilitate 
consultations among Members, increas ing the likelihood of resolving concerns within the Committee, 
which should be one of our main goals.  
Possible issues:  
1.  When requesting the inclusion of a trade concern in the agenda of the Committee's regular 
meeting, Members shall provide a substantive de scription of the concern. Such description shall, 
when appropriate, clearly identify the proposed, adopted or implemented sanitary or phytosanitary 
measure(s) or issue(s) at stake; the product(s) affected by the measure(s); the provision(s) of the 
Agreemen t that is (are) supposedly being violated through the adoption of the measure(s); and any 
previous treatment or discussion of the same or a similar trade concern in another WTO body.  
[Elaboration of a template in light of the Secretariat's project "e -agend a"] 
2.  The request to include a trade concern in the agenda shall be submitted through an online system 
established for that purpose, no later than 22 calendar days before the meeting in which the concern 
is intended to be discussed.  
3.  The Secretariat shall ci rculate, in advance of the Committee's regular meeting, a notice convening 
the meeting in the form of an annotated agenda that contains the compilation of all trade concerns 
submitted to be discussed in that meeting.  
4.  Without prejudice to any oral statement  delivered at the meeting, the responding Member shall 
submit its written reply to the raised concern through the online system established for that purpose, 
no later than 20 calendar days after the meeting. For greater certainty, the responding Member 
could either submit the statement delivered at the meeting or a more comprehensive response. In 
any case, in its reply, the responding Member shall endeavor to address fully the substance of the 
concerns.  
5.  All written trade concerns and replies submitted to th e online system shall be made publicly 
available. The Secretariat shall establish and manage a searchable online database on trade 
concerns, in which all written trade concerns and replies shall be recorded.  G/SPS/W/319  
 
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  6.  At the beginning of each regular session, the Secretariat shall remind Members about the 
existence of the Catalogue of Instruments Available to WTO Members to Manage SPS Issues 
(G/SPS/63 ), as well as about the possibility to request Chairperson's assistance pursuant to 
paragraph 6 of the Working Procedures of the Committee ( G/SPS/1 ) and to resort to the procedures 
set forth in document "Procedure to Encourage and Facilitate the Resolution o f Specific Sanitary or 
Phytosanitary Issues among Members in Accordance with Article 12.2" ( G/SPS/61 ). 
7.  When organizing thematic sessions and workshops, the Secretariat shall provide the means for 
the remote participation (through live streaming) [of previously registered attendees].  
8.  The summary report of a regular meeting of the Com mittee should be circulated within 
30 calendar days after the meeting and not later than 40 calendar days before the next regularly 
scheduled meeting of the Committee.  
9.  The Secretariat shall adjust the online notification database [SPS -IMS or ePing] in orde r to 
facilitate the submission and publication of translations of notified SPS measures, provided that such 
translations are prepared or authorized by the notifying Member.  
10.  Nothing in this Decision shall be construed as affecting the rights and obligations  of Members 
contained in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  
 
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