G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
7 February  2024 
(24-1010) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
SIXTH  REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
OVERVIEW OF ISSUES/ PAPERS /PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS  
Note by the Secretariat1 
Members have submitted the following issues, papers , and proposals for consideration during the 
Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the Application of Sani tary 
and Phytosanitary Measures2 (SPS Agreement) : 
1  Brazil (G/SPS/W/352 ) 
1.1  Proposal on transparency of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations: notifying at an 
early appropriate stage  
1.1.  The Committee should share its experience in making and receiving comments on notifications 
and how they are taken into account. The Committee co uld have a separate standing agenda item 
"Notification s – Consideration of comments" to open the dialog on SPS regulations . Under that 
agenda item , if requested by a Member at least three weeks before the Committee meeting, the 
notifying Member could respond on how comments received from Members were taken into account.  
2  Canada  (G/SPS/W/349 ) 
2.1  Agriculture technologies addressing modern SPS challenges  
2.1.  The Committee should organize a workshop to explore SPS challenges associated with the 
adoption/implementation and recognition of new agriculture technologies. The objective of the 
workshop would be to explore how the SPS Committee can facilitate productive discussions between 
developed, developing and least developed country (LDC) M embers around the development, 
assessment , and implementation of new agricultural technologies by Members to address 
sustainability, while facilitating trade.  Articles 6, 7 , and 9 of the SPS Agreement  could be areas for 
consideration. Specific topics could include mitigating the impact of climate change with tools and 
technologies in agriculture, how  to sustainably increase production (e.g. vertical farming), emerging 
technologies (e.g. AI in agricultu re), and policy challenges when developing/implementing 
innovative agricultural tools.  
3  European Union  (G/SPS/W/353 ) 
3.1  Emerging risks  
3.1.  The Committee should continue the discussions on modern challenges and emerging risks 
through a thematic session on how Members and the relevant international organizations identify 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 Proposals and documents submitted by Members are available on the dedicated  webpage 
https://wto.org/sps_review . G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
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  emerging risks in the SPS field, assess their potential impacts and develo p methods to address them  
(also see section 4  on the related proposal for a thematic session in G/SPS/W/354 ). 
3.2  Cooperation with ISSBs and observer organizations  
3.2.  The Committee should explo re ways to enhance the cooperation with the international 
standard -setting bodies (ISSBs ), with special regards to their ongoing observatory projects on 
monitoring the implementation of the international standards in their areas . The Committee should 
also look at possibilities to foster enhanced cooperation with the observer organization s to better 
use their expertise.  
3.3  Support for special needs of developing and LDC Members  
3.3.  The Committee should  continue  to explor e how the existing flexibilities in the SPS Agreement  
could be used more efficiently  to better address the special needs of developing and LDC Members 
in the SPS area  and provide more targeted support.  
3.4  Recognition of regionalization  
3.4.  The Committee should con tinue to exchange on the recognition of regionalization in view of 
building high levels of trust and confidence needed between Members to recognize their 
regionalization measures and ultimately facilitate trade.  Members could consider technical assistance 
and mentorship for developing countries as tools for supporting the implementation of Article 6  of 
the SPS Agreement . The Committee should carry out targeted reflections on how to further improve 
its understanding and application of som e horizontal issues highlighted both during the 
implementation of the MC12 SPS Declaration W ork Programme3 and throughout the previous review 
of the SPS Agreement.  
3.5  Transparency  
3.5.  The Committee should continue to work towards improving the quality of SPS notifications, 
the comments on notifications , and the replies to comments. Building on the recommendations of 
the working group o n approval procedures , the Committee should also further examine the 
possibilities of greater transparency on national SPS  legislation, timelines for approval procedures , 
and other related information which would facilitate safe trade.  
3.6  Better use of available IT tools in order to facilitate safe trade  
3.6.  The Committee should take stock of the developments in the information technology  and 
increased ava ilability of IT tools and explore further possibilities to facilitate safe trade via new IT 
solutions  (e.g. improvement of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform , wider use of e -certificates, more  IT 
platforms ). 
4  European Union  (G/SP S/W/354 ) 
4.1  Proposal for a thematic session on SPS -related emerging risks  
4.1.  The Committee should hold a thematic session on SPS-related emerging risks as a first step to 
continue the discussions on modern challenges and emerging risks.  The session would deal with the 
definition and identification of emerging risks, the development and improvement of emerging risk 
identification methodologies and approaches for characterization, the communication on possible 
issues and ris ks, and the development of effective measures to address these risks by Members and 
the relevant international organi zations . 
 
3 More information is available on the dedicated webpage 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_declaration_mc12_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
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  5  India  
5.1.  India indicated interest in examining the following topics under the Sixth Review: 
regionalization of pest and disease -free areas; and issues of concern, particularly unilateral 
measures related to MRLs.  
6  New Zealand  (G/SPS/W/ 348) 
6.1  Monitoring the process of int ernational harmonization  
6.1.  Given continued  discussions in the ISSBs, specifically around the use, implementation, and 
impact  of their standards on trade and how best to monitor the process of international 
harmonization , the Committee should revisit previous proposals : (1) a review/analysis of specific 
trade concerns (STC), highlighting the themes and evidence of harmonization with ISSB standards; 
(2) review  the list of international standards, guidelines, or recommendations relating to SPS 
measures which the Committee determines to have a major trade impact and use the data  from this 
analysis  to inform future proposals to monitor the use of the international standards; and (3) review, 
in consultations with the ISSBs,  the notification template to gather more specific information on 
international harmonization and ensure that useful data can be extracted from the WTO/SPS 
notification system  and discuss with the ISSBs what previous analysis may have been done to date . 
6.2  G-90 document for the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and 
Development  (CTD -SS) on 10 Agreement -specific special and diffe rential treatment 
proposals – Mentoring system  
6.2.  The Committee should revisit the mentoring system  it had  established in 2007  to assist LDCs 
with the transparency obligations ( G/SPS/W/214 ), so as to provide valuable assistance for 
Members  to address some of the concerns raised in the G-90 document for the CTD-SS on 
10 Agreement -specific special and differential treatment proposals .4 The original transparency 
mentoring system coul d be improved and extended to other areas of the SPS Agreement as needed. 
The Committee should develop a set of criteria for both mentors and mentored Members, and the 
types of support provided could include contact points for issues , legislative guidance , as well as 
assistance with resources, translations , and training. The Secretariat would register expressions of 
interest and match Members based on the level of mentoring offered/needed and on geographical 
region and language. A review process would be in tegrated to ensure that the system meets its 
objective of providing reliable and focused assistance on key areas of the SPS Agreement.   
6.3  Meaning and understanding of terms such as reservation and abstention from 
acceptance in the context of the WTO SPS Agre ement  
6.3.  The Committee should agree to promote informal exchanges among Members on the meaning 
and understanding of terms, such as "reservation " and "abstention from acceptance " in terms of the 
SPS Agreement and facilitate more informed consideration of these terms during the process of 
standards development and decision making in the ISSBs . Such a discussion could be helpful 
guidance for  the ISSBs  as they seek to progress issues  in situations when Members have differing 
views, especially with respect to non -science considerations.  
6.4  Notification procedures under the SPS Committee – Use of TBT/SPS notifications – 
Enhancing transparency  
6.4.  The Committee should propose solutions, in collaboration with the TBT  Committee, to find 
innovative ways to address the issue of notification of measures not clearly fitting within the scope 
of either the SPS or TBT Agreements . This could take the form of a three -step process to discuss/take 
stock of: (1) challenges faced by Members in situations where it is difficult to establish whether a 
measure falls under the TBT and/or SPS Agreement s; (2) Members' responses to these situations; 
 
4 The overall G -90 document containing ten agreement -specific proposal s is available in document 
JOB/TN/CTD/2;  JOB/TNC/106 ; the G -90 proposal relating to the SPS Agreement is contained in document 
JOB/TN/CTD/3; JOB/TNC/110 . G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
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  and 3) possible solutions, such as ideas for how the SPS and TBT Commi ttees can coordinate a 
solution and options for improving the current system.  
7  United Kingdom  (G/SPS/W/351 ) 
7.1  Examine how the ongoing work of the SPS Committee should/could continue to 
engage with the emerging challenges and opportunities identified in the MC 12 SPS 
Declaration and the broader debates on global food security and sustainable food systems  
7.1.  The Committee should continue to consider emerging challenges and opportunities including 
those identified in the MC12 SPS Declaration, and the contribution of SPS measures to food 
sustainability/security.  The Committee could focus on aspects such as the role of international 
standards (the implementation of Article 3  of the SPS Agreement on  harmonization) , interactions 
between emerging challenges , and SPS -related science and risk analysis.  
7.2  Explore how to further enhance effective utilization of existing flexibilities and 
support for developing and least developed countries on the development and application  
of SPS measures  
7.2.  The Committee should further consider ways to enhance accessibility and effective utilization 
of existing flexibilities within the SPS Agreement that support developing and LDC Members to 
engage and benefit from international trade . The Co mmittee should organize a thematic session on 
"Increasing awareness and compiling best practice on the utilizing the development -orientated 
flexibilities in the SPS Agreement to support developing and LDC Members " to explore in more detail 
some of the issu es that the G -90 have raised  around the A greement -specific proposals.  
7.3  Review and promote the role of electronic/IT technologies as a tool to aid the 
effective application and operation of SPS measures to facilitate trade  
7.3.  The Committee should explore the ro le of electronic tools and techniques that can be employed 
to aid the application of SPS measures, including ensuring that cost and ease of implementation  do 
not create undue barriers to trade (for developing and LDC Members  in particular). The Committee 
should organize a thematic session on "Facilitating safe trade – Supporting developing and least 
developed countries in the development and application of SPS measures" . This topic is based on  the 
work of Thematic Group 5 of the MC12 SPS Declaration and als o links to the proposal by the G -90 
on the SPS Agreement.5  
8  United States ( G/SPS/W/350 ) 
8.1.  The Committee should identify and explore Members' experiences and lessons learned during 
the COVID -19 pandemic  along the lines of the following proposals . 
8.1  Technology and innovation  
8.2.  The Committee should learn lessons from early adopters  of virtual communication tools to 
support various types of SPS -related regulatory activities, including bilateral negotiations and  
various types of audits, or on where in -person meetings are preferable to virtual exchanges, and 
vice versa.  In addition, the Committee should engage in discussions to further a shared 
understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by the greater  use and adoption of 
electronic certificates, including sanitary certificates and other digitalized documents.  The Committee  
should also continue discussions that took place under the MC12 SPS Declaration Work Program me 
regarding  new tools and technologies , including pesticides, veterinary medicines, and biotechnology 
products , and further advance constructive engagement around appropriate SPS regulatory 
practices that encourage innovation in the production and facilitate trade of safe food and agricultural  
products.  
 
5 The proposal is available in document JOB/TN/CTD/3;  JOB/TNC/110 . G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
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  8.2  Facility registration  
8.3.  The Committee should  explore best practices related to facility registrations such that Members 
can work together to enhance the Committee 's common understanding of their purpose, while 
strengthening and improving the resil iency of international trade without imposing undue burdens 
on trading  partners.  
8.3  Misinformation/disinformation  
8.4.  The Committee should further analyse the implications of misinformation and disinformation 
on consumer perception about the safety of food and about SPS issues generally, including how to 
strengthen efforts to identify and combat misinformation and disinformation when developing 
SPS measures and negotiating with trading partners. The Committee should consider further 
SPS work encouraging Members to enhance transparency in their agricultural practices, policies, and 
regulations with the goal of addressing misinformation and disinformation. The Committee could 
continue to facilitate international cooperation and encourage cooperation among Members to share 
best practices in combating misinformation. The Committee should promote initiatives aimed at 
enhancing digital literacy, critical analysis, and media li teracy skills to support capacity -building 
initiatives, especially in developing and LDC Members.  
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  G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
- 6 - ANNEX I: LIST OF TOPICS AND PROPOSALS  
Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and 
observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/ S&D 
Treatment  Technology/ IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
Brazil  - - - - - G/SPS/W/352  
(Proposal for a new 
standing agenda item on 
consideration of comments 
on notifications)  - 
Canada  G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to explore 
SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture 
technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7, and 9)  - G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to 
explore SPS 
challenges 
associated with 
new agriculture 
technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7,  
and 9)  G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a 
workshop to explore 
SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture 
technol ogies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration: 
Articles 6, 7, and 9)  - G/SPS/W/349  
(Proposal for a workshop 
to explore SPS challenges 
associated with new 
agriculture technologies. 
Possible areas for 
consideration:  
Articles 6, 7, and 9)  - 
European 
Union  G/SPS/W/353  and 
G/SPS/W/354  
(Proposal for a 
thematic session on 
SPS-related 
emerging risks)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to 
explore ways to 
enhance 
cooperation with 
ISSBs and with 
observer 
organizations)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to 
exchange on the 
recognition of 
regionalization and 
to consider 
technical 
assistance and 
mentorship to 
support the 
implementation of 
Article 6)  G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to explore 
a more efficient use 
of existing 
flexibilities in the 
SPS Agreement)  - G/SPS/W/353  
(Proposal to continue 
improving the notification 
procedures and explore 
possibilities for greater 
transparency of national 
SPS legislation and 
timelines for approval 
procedures ) - 
India - - Topic of interest 
(regionalization of 
pest- and disease -
free areas)  - - - Topics of interest 
(issues of 
concern, 
particularly 
unilateral 
measures related 
to MRLs)   
  G/SPS/GEN/2194  
 
- 7 - Members  Addressing modern 
challenges  and 
emerging risks  Cooperation with 
ISSBs and 
observer 
organizations  Regionalization  Technical 
assistance/ S&D 
Treatment  Technology/ IT tools  Transparency/ 
Notification Procedures  Other Topics  
New 
Zealand  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal to review 
STCs, list of 
relevant 
international 
standards, and 
notification 
template)  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal for a 
mentoring system)  - G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal to explore 
solutions, in collaboration 
with TBT, to address the 
issue of notification of 
measures not clearly 
fitting within the scope of 
either the SPS  or TBT 
Agreements)  G/SPS/W/348  
(Proposal for 
exchanges on the 
terms 
"reservation" and 
"abstention from 
acceptance" in 
standards 
development in 
the ISSBs)  
United 
Kingdom  G/SPS/W/351  
(Proposal for 
discussions on 
emerging challenges 
and opportunities 
and contribution of 
SPS measu res to 
food security and 
sustainable food 
systems, with a 
focus on 
harmonization and 
science and risk 
analysis)  G/SPS/W/351  
(Proposal for 
discussions on 
emerging 
challenges and 
opportunities and 
contribution of SPS 
measures to food 
security and 
sustainable  food 
systems, with a 
focus on 
harmonization and 
science and risk 
analysis)  - G/SPS/W/351  
(Proposal to explore 
ways to enhance 
accessibility and 
effective utilization of 
existing flexibilities in 
the SPS Agreement.  
Related proposals for 
thematic sessions)  G/SPS/W/351  
(Proposal to explore the 
role of electronic tools 
and techniques to aid 
the application of 
SPS measures)  - - 
United 
States  G/SPS/W/350  
(Proposal to continue 
discussions that took 
place under the 
MC12 SPS 
Declaration Work 
Programme)  - - - G/SPS/W/350  
(Proposal for discussions 
on technology and 
regulatory practices that 
encourage innovation 
and facilitate trade)  G/SPS/W/350  
(In relation to 
misinformation and 
disinformation on 
consumer perception 
about SPS issues, proposal 
to enhance transparency 
in regulatory practices, 
facilitate and encourage 
cooperation and support 
capacity -building 
initiatives)  G/SPS/W/350  
(Propo sal for 
discussions on 
best practices 
related to facility 
registrations)  
__________