G/SPS/GEN/1854  
 
5 November  2020 
(20-7889) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
EU STATEMENT ON COVID -19 AT THE SPS COMMITTEE INFORMAL MEETING , 
4 NOVEMBER 2020  
SUBMISSION  BY THE EUROPEAN UNION  
The following document , received on 4 November  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Union . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.  The European Union would like to refer to its earlier made statement under document with 
reference G/SPS/GEN/1799  on COVID -19-related measures impacting on the agri -food supply chain s 
which remains still valid.  
2.  The European Union welcomes WTO Members' efforts to maintain an open trade of agri -food 
products and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade in times of COVID -19. In this regard, the 
European Union appreciates the extensions by several WTO Members of trade facilitating measures 
as well as the removal of trade restrictions applied on grounds of COVID -19. 
3.  The European Union would like to inform that the European Union has also further extended until 
1 February 2021 its trade facilitating measures1 to accept on a temporary basis, scanned copies of 
certificates. The European Union will further consider a prolongation in the light of developments 
seen with regard to  COVID -19. 
4.  The European Union would like to recall that according to the assessment of the 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 a mong experts that adherence to general 
hygiene measures along the food production and transport chain prevent s the spreading of the virus 
through trade. Since the beginning of the COVID -19 pandemic, there is currently no evidence of 
transmission to humans of COVID -19 from food.  
5.  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 produ cts without a justifying risk analysis.  
6.  With regard to packaging materials for trade of animal products, the OIE states that " precautions 
for packaging materials are unnecessary over and above the observation of basic hygiene, such as 
ensuring it is clean and free of visible contamination ". 
7.  Unfortunately, the European Union regrets that the COVID -19 outbreak has also led a few 
countries to adopt trade restrictions for agri -food products that are not science based, not targeted 
and not proportionate to  the risk.  
8.  The European Union is thus very concerned about the introduction by some WTO Members of 
unnecessary additional requirements related to COVID -19, in the form of tests, inspections or 
certificates, on imported food products.  
 
1 https://eur -lex.europa.eu/legal -content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02020R0466 -20201002 . G/SPS/GEN/1854  
 
- 2 - 
 
  9.  It is regrettable that  the People's Republic of China, as announced with G/SPS/N/CHN/1173 , is 
imposing COVID -19 related measures on imported cold -chain foods without providing a risk 
assessment based on science to justify these measures. Herewith, the People's Republic of China is 
deviating from the r ecommendations made by the international organisations.  
10.  The European Union would like to recall the G20 Leaders' commitment at the Extraordinary G20 
Leaders' Summit on 26 March 2020 that " Emergency measures aimed at protecting health will be 
targeted, prop ortionate, transparent, and temporary ". 
11.  In the interest of all trading partners, as the People's Republic of China indicate s to base its 
measures on Art. 5.7 of the WTO SPS Agreement, the European Union  would like to invite the 
People's Republic of China t o share its risk assessment based on science, which justifies its 
emergency measures on imported food and to explain why these measures are considered to be 
proportionate. Moreover, the European Union would like to invite China to inform WTO Members on 
the expected date when these emergency measures will be terminated.  
12.  Strict adherence to general hygiene measures along the food production and transport chain – 
as it is the established practice all over the European Union  in full respect of international sta ndards 
– prevent s 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 w henever feeling ill are the appropriate 
response.  
13.  If individual Members insist on additional, unnecessary verification and testing measures, the 
situation could easily lead to a global spiral towards imposing unjustified import controls in the agri -
food ch ain. 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.  
14.  In light of developments related to COVID -19, the European Unio n 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 unjustified trade measures linked to COVID -19. 
__________