G/SPS/GEN/1694/Rev.2  
 
8 July 2019  
(19-4536) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
WORKSHOP ON TRANSPARENCY AND COO RDINATION  
MONDAY, 15 JULY – TUESDAY, 1 6 JULY 2019  
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
Note by the Secretariat1 
Revision  
1.  The SPS Committee decided that the July SPS thematic workshop would focus on transparency 
and coordination. Th e first draft of the programme  was discuss ed at the 2019 March SPS Committee 
meetings . Members were invited to submit comments on that first draft programme and subsequent 
revision, and suggest speakers. The Secretariat is circulat ing this final version  of the programme  
after taking into consideration comments and suggestions received.  
                                                
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.  G/SPS/GEN/1694/Rev.2  
 
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  PROGRAMME  
MONDA Y, 15 JULY 2019  (10:00 –18:00)  
10:00 – 10:15  
Opening remarks by  Ms Noncedo Vutula, Chairperson  of the SPS Committee  
Overview of t he workshop and its objectives  
10:15 – 11:15  
Session 1: Introduction  
This session will briefly present the key SPS transparency provisions and recommendations. It will give 
an overview of the d ifference in scope between the SPS and TBT Agreements , including examples . It 
will also review the relevant transparency provisions and procedure s. The session will end with a report 
on the TBT Committee T hematic Session on Transparency held on 18 -19 June  2019.2 
Speakers:  Mr Rolando Alcala and Ms Serra Ayral, WTO Secretariat   
11:15 – 13:00  
Session 2: Implementation of the transparency provisions: Members' experience with 
SPS/TBT notifications3 
Speakers:   
▪ Brazil :  
o Submitting notifications : the Brazilian experience , Mr Diogo Penha Soares, Brazilian 
Health Regulatory Agency ; and  
o Incoming notifications : the  Brazilian experience , Ms Naiana  Campos Gil Ferreira 
Santiago, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply  
▪ Japan : Implementation and handling of SPS and TBT notifications : Japan's experience , 
Mr Minoru Iijima, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
▪ Chinese  Taipe i: Coordination mechanism of SPS/TBT notifications , Mr Hung -Jen Liao , Section 
Chief of International Affairs, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, 
Council of Agriculture  
▪ Canada : Regulations containing elements under both the WTO SPS and TBT Agreements : 
Canada 's experiences,  Ms Emma Pagotto, Analyst,  Canadian Food Inspection Agency  
▪ Uganda : Notifying draft measures which contain both SPS and TBT provisions: Ugandan 
experience , Mr George Opiyo, TBT National Enquiry Point, Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
13:00–15:00  Lunch break  
                                                
2 See programme in G/TBT/GEN/264/Rev.1 . 
3 See G/SPS/W/312.  G/SPS/GEN/1694/Rev.2  
 
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  15:00 – 16:00  
Session 3: Tools and sources of SPS/TBT  information  
▪ Overview of WTO tools (Documents Online; SPS IMS ; updated Practical Manual for SPS NNAs 
and NEPs (2018 edition); and 
▪ Update on ePing: SPS & TBT notification alert system and coordination forum , Mr Rolando Alcala,  
WTO Secretariat   
▪ The Non -Tariff Measures Initiative: Enhancing transparency in SPS and TBT , Mr Christian 
Knebel, UNCTAD  
▪ Global Trade Helpdesk: Single entry point for trade-related information , Mr Mathieu Loridan, 
ITC 
16:00 – 17:45  
Session 4 : Sharing of Members' experiences: Transparency -related coordination  
This session will cover transparency -related coordination mechanisms including tools such as the use of 
ePing  and other systems. It will also cover Members' experiences in using these systems to ensure the 
notification of all SPS/TBT regulations and to exchange information.  
Speakers:   
▪ Uganda : Transition from using email to disseminate SPS and TBT notifications to adoption and 
implementation of ePing notification alert system in Uganda , Mr George Opiyo, TBT National 
Enquiry Point, Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
▪ China: Domestic coordination of SPS transparency in China , Mr DENG Jie , China Nanjing Custom  
▪ Australia : Using ePing and engaging the private sector , Mr John Heaslip, Senior Policy Officer, 
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  
▪ New Zealand: How training contributes to better transparency , coordination and delivery ,  
Ms Sally Jennings, Coordinator, SPS New Zealand  
17:45 – 18:00 
Closing remarks  and wrap -up of day 1  
 
  G/SPS/GEN/1694/Rev.2  
 
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  TUESD AY, 16 JULY 2019  (10:00 -17:30) 
10:00 – 10:15 
Opening remarks  
10:15 – 11:15  
Session 5: Guidelines and available tools for domestic coordination  
This session will broaden the perspective, cover ing coordination  tools and experiences beyond  the 
scope of the SPS Agreement . It will include coordination e xperiences from the tra de facilitation area , 
from use of  the STDF's "Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access " (P-IMA) tool. 
Roundtable : 
▪ WTO Secretariat:  Ms Sheri Rosenow , Trade Facilitation  
▪ UNCTAD:  Ms Pamela Ugaz,  Trade Facilitation Section   
▪ STDF:  Ms Roshan Khan , Standards and Trade Development Facility  
▪ Belize: Ms Delilah Cabb Ayala , Coordinator Sanitary and Phytosanitary Enquiry Point, Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority  Central Farm  
11:15 – 13:00 
Session 6: Sharing domestic  coordination  experience s4 
This session will explore the use of domestic  coordination mechanisms for purposes broader  than 
transparency -related coordination, includ ing develop ing strategies to prevent and resolve SPS trade 
concerns  and establishing  Members'  positions and priorities : 
Speakers:  
▪ Canada : Canada 's national coordination mechanisms , Ms Annie Bourque, Deputy Director, 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency  
▪ Peru: National coordination on SPS issues : Peru's experience , Mr Marcelo Valverde , 
Coordinator of SPS Measures, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism  
▪ Kenya: SPS coordination in Kenya, and efforts towards better national and regional 
coordination , Mr Philip Njoroge, Coordinator, Trade and Standards, Chairman, WTO/SPS 
Committee Kenya , Kenya Plant Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)  
▪ United States: National coordination procedures,  transparency and WTO notifications: The  US 
experience , Ms Mara Burr, International Food Safety Policy Manager (Public Health and Trade), 
US Food and Drug Administration  
▪ Senegal: Coordination mechanism of the national SPS committee  activities, Mr Abdoulaye 
Ndiaye, Head of Phytosanitary Legislation and Plant Quarantine Division, Plant Protection 
Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture  and Rural Infrastructure  
Taking advantage of the expertise in the room, participants will have the opportunity to share 
experiences and lessons learnt.  
13:00–15:00 Lunch break  
                                                
4 See G/SPS/W/297. G/SPS/GEN/1694/Rev.2  
 
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  15:00 – 17:00  
Session 7: Regional/International initiatives to support domestic  coordination  
Speakers:   
▪ African  Union : Initiatives  of the African Union  to support national and regional coordination 
on SPS issues , Mr John Oppong -Otoo, Food Safety Officer InterAfrican Bureau for Animal 
Resources, African Union Commission  and Ms Diana Ogwal Akullo Oyena , Policy Officer, 
Department of Rural  Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission  
▪ ECOWAS : Regional coordination and status on application of the transparency provision of the 
WTO SPS A greement : ECOWAS ' experience , Dr Benoit Gnonlonfin , Senior SPS standards 
adviser  
▪ IICA : Lessons learnt from domestic coordination: Best practices , Mr Erick Bolaños , Agricultural 
Health and Food Safety Specialist  
▪ Chile:  Action plan for strengthening the National Notification Authorities of the Pacific Alliance 
(Chile, Colombia, Per u, Mexico ) in the area of S PS, Ms Roxana Inés Vera Muñoz, Head 
International Agreements Sub-departmental , Agricultural and Livestock Service  (SAG)  
▪ APEC : Encouraging transparency in food safety regulatory systems in the APEC Region,  
Ms Megan  Crowe, Senior International Economist, US Department of Commerce, International 
Trade Administration, and Administrator of the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) 
Partnership Training Institute Network (PTIN)  
17:00 – 17:30 
Closing remarks by Ms Noncedo Vutula,  Chairperson of the SPS Committee  
 
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