G/SPS/W/320  
 
18 October  2019 
(19-6827) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMAT IC SESSION ON VOLUNT ARY THIRD -PARTY ASSU RANCE AS 
PART OF NATIONAL SPS  CONTROL SYSTEMS  
MARCH 2020  
WTO, GENEVA  
SUBMISSION FROM BELIZE  
The following communication, received on 18 October  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Belize . 
 
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INTRODUCTION  
Members may recall that at the 75th Meeting of the SPS Committee, it was agreed that a thematic 
session on Voluntary Third -Party Assurance Programmes wou ld be held in March 2020. The main 
objectives of the thematic session include:  
• to receive updates from the International Standard Setting Bodies on relevant work being 
undertaken on guidelines for the use of voluntary third -party assurance by competent 
authorities;  
• to facilitate an exchange of information among Members on the use of voluntary third -party 
assurance as part of national sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) control systems. This will 
include the different approaches taken by some competent authorit ies, experiences, 
benefits, challenges and lessons learnt;  
• to obtain the perspectives and experiences of the private sector on the use of voluntary 
third-party assurance by competent authorities; and  
• to be apprised of the capacity building initiatives, along with potential presentations on pilot 
projects and other work being undertaken in the area of voluntary third -party assurance as 
part of national SPS control systems.  
The proposed draft agenda is being circulated for consideration by Mem bers. 
1  RELEVANT INTERNATION AL STANDARDS  
Update from the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and Certification Systems 
(CCFICS) on the "Draft Principles and Guidelines for the Assessment and Use of Voluntary Third -
Party Assurance" and presen tations on other available guidance from the IPPC and the OIE.  
Speakers:  International Standard Setting Bodies  
Followed by Q & A session and discussion  
2  MEMBERS' EXPERIENCE IN RECOGNIZING VOLUN TARY THIRD -PARTY ASS URANCE 
PROGRAMMES FOR USE A S PART OF NATIONA L SPS CONTROL SYSTEM S 
Importing and Exporting Members’ experiences with their own use, and other Members' use, of these 
programmes as part of national SPS control systems to facilitate trade. (What changes, if any, had 
to be made at the national level to e nable the use of these programmes?)  G/SPS/W/320  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Speakers:  TBD 
Followed by Q & A session and discussion  
3  SHARING OF MEMBERS' EXPERIENCES (EXPORTI NG AND IMPORTING) ON  THIRD -
PARTY ASSURANCE PROG RAMMES (CONTINUED)  
Experiences of both exporting and importing Members on the application/use of voluntary third -
party assurance programmes. (Any cost savings which enable extra resources to be channelled to 
other needed areas? If yes, what are some of the other benefits? Any challenges?)  
Speakers:  TBD 
Followed by Q & A session and discussion  
4  PRIVATE SECTOR EXPER IENCES REGARDING VOL UNTARY THIRD -PARTY A SSURANCE 
PROGRAMMES USED AS P ART OF NATIONAL SPS CONTROL SYSTEMS  
Private sector (Global Food Safety Initiative and other private sector representatives) experiences 
with government use of voluntary third -party assurance schemes as a means to facilitate safe trade.  
Any benefits? Challenges?  
Speakers:  TBD 
Followed by Q & A session and discussion  
5  CAPACITY BUILDING EF FORTS  
Presentations on capacity -building efforts regarding use of voluntar y third -party assurance 
programmes as part of national SPS control systems, potentially including presentations on relevant 
STDF pilot projects and any other relevant work.  
Speakers:  TBD 
Followed by Q & A session and discussion  
 
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