G/SPS/GEN/1799  
 
1 July  2020 
(20-4561) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
EU STATEMENT AT THE SPS COMMITTEE INFORM ATION SHARING SESSIO N 
ON COVID -19 
COMMUNICATION BY THE  EUROPEAN UNION  
The following communication , received on 1 July  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the European Union . 
 
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1.  Five months after the first outbreak of COVID -19, the European Union observes that global 
agricultural production and agri -food supply chains have overall  shown resilience to the health crisis. 
Agri-food trade has so far broadly continued to flow, overcoming initial logistic and transport 
bottlenecks.  
2.  The joint call on 31 March by the WTO, the WHO and the FAO to avoid trade restrictive measures 
that would disrupt the food supply chain, as well as the commitment by G20 Trade and Agriculture 
Ministers in March and April and the statement by a number WTO Members submitted to the WTO 
on 13 May, seem to have borne fruits.  
3.  We would like to take the opportunity of  today 's meeting to welcome trade facilitating measures 
introduced by WTO Members to maintain an open trade of agri -food products and to encourage other 
Members to follow suit.  
4.  We would like in particular to thank those Members who have implemented measure s similar to 
the ones adopted by the European Union measures at an early stage of the C OVID -19 crisis.  
5.  To recall, on 1 April 2020, in view of the situation linked to COVID -19, the European Union 
informed trading partners that the European Union  would acce pt, on a temporary basis, scanned 
copies of certificates. This measure was communicated to WTO Members directly and via a 
notification to the WTO SPS Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/380). These measures have recently been 
extended until 1  August 2020.  
6.  However, the European Union regrets that the C OVID -19 outbreak has also led few countries to 
adopt trade restrictions for agri -food products that are not science based, not targeted and not 
proportionate to the risk.  
7.  Let me recall that according to the assessment of th e World Health Organisation, and of the 
European Food Safety Authority, there is no evidence that food may be a source of virus 
transmission. There is wide consensus among experts that adherence to general hygiene measures 
along the food production and tra nsport chain prevent the spreading of the virus through trade.  
8.  Based on currently available information, and with the support of expert advisory groups, the 
OIE does not recommend that any COVID -19 related sanitary measures be applied to the 
international  movement of live animals or animal products without a justifying risk analysis.  
9.  The European Union is thus very concerned about the introduction by some WTO Members of 
unnecessary additional requirements related to C OVID -19, in the form of tests, inspect ions or 
certificates, on imported food products.  G/SPS/GEN/1799  
 
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  10.  In particular, we would like to share our deepest concern about one very recent development 
and the request by one WTO Member, which is also one of the largest global trading country for 
agri-food products,  of stringent additional verification measures on all imported food products.  
11.  Strict adherence to general hygiene measures along the food production and transport 
chain  - as it is the established practice all over the EU in full respect of international 
standards  - prevent the spreading of the virus through trade. Good hygiene practices at all stages 
of food production, including cleaning and, where appropriate, disinfection of facilities and 
equipment, personal hygiene and staying at home, away from work whenever feeling ill are the 
appropriate response.  
12.  If individual Members insist on additional, unnecessary verification measures, the situation 
could easily lead to a global spiral towards imposing unjustified import controls in the agri -food 
chain. This would do nothing to control the current pandemic but will be very harmful to food 
security, food prices and global trade relations and it will also undermine the trust of the public.  
13.  In light of developments related to COVID -19, the Europea n Union will continue to work together 
with trading partners with a view to keep an open trade on agri -food products via trade facilitating 
measures where possible and urges trading partners to abstain from imposing and to remove any 
unnecessary and unjust ified trade measures linked to COVID -19. 
 
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