G/L/1476  
G/SPS/65  
 
22 December 2022  
(22-9722) Page: 1/18 
Council for Trade in Goods  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
REPORT ON THE CURRENT FUNCTIONING OF THE  COMMITTEE  
ON SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS BY  
THE CHAIRPERSON  OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
The following report is being submitted by the Chairperson of the Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee), Mr Tang -Kai Wang, under his own responsibility, at the 
request of the Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods.1 The r eport was prepared with the 
assistance of the Secretariat.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  CURRENT STATUS OF COMMITTEE PRACTICES  
1.1.  This section describes the current practices of the SPS Committee, including changes  adopted 
over the past years to improve its functioning.  These practices have resulted from  general and more 
specific suggestions from Members, Chairpersons and the Secretariat, and have also been the 
subject of various discussions in the Committee.  
1.1  Assistance to delegates  
1.2.  In order to support the engagement of Geneva -based delegates in the Committee's work, 
various training activities are organized by the Secretariat on the practical aspects of the 
SPS Committee's functioning, including training on available online SPS tools (see additional 
information in sectio ns 1.2.1  and 1.3.2 ). For example, in September 2019, the Secretariat 
organized a one -hour presentation  for new and continuing delegates  on the functions of the SPS 
Committee, which also focused on the ways that the Secretariat  can support delegates' participation 
in the Committee.  
1.3.  The initial  idea was to regularly organize this type of introductory activity, in advance of 
SPS Committee meetings. However, due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the March  2020 
SPS Committee meeting was cancelled, and subsequent conditions did not immediately allow for the 
resumption of in -person activities. In order to further s upport Geneva -based delegates in becoming 
familiar with the work and functioning of the SPS Committee, the Secretariat created a dedicated 
SPS Committee webpage. This webpage contains  an introductory presentation on the 
SPS Committee  (with audio), as well as  a FAQ section  which provides practical  information for new 
SPS delegates.  
1.4.  The Secretariat has also participated in training activities organized by regional bodies, to 
sensitize officials on the role and work of the SPS Committee ahead of their participation in 
Committee meetings. For example,  the Secretariat has presented at several training sessions held 
for SPS delegates from the African, Caribbean and Latin American regions.2 
 
1 See document JOB/CTG/18 . 
2 These training sessions were organized by the African Union and the Inter-American Institute for 
Cooperation on Agriculture  (IICA), who were providing funding and support to African/Latin American 
delegations as part of their technical assistance programm es. G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  1.5.  The Secretariat also participates in bilateral meetings, at the request of Members, to assist in 
providing the nece ssary information to new Geneva -based SPS delegates on relevant procedures 
and work of the SPS Committee, as well as to respond to any queries or points of clarification.  
1.6.  In addition, the Secretariat has undertaken several initiatives to increase the parti cipation of 
capital -based officials, such as the development of SPS courses targeted at equipping capital -based 
officials to effectively participate in the SPS Committee. Some recent courses include  the 
2022 Course on Essentials for SPS Committee Participation (virtual course in French)  and the 
2021 SPS In -depth Virtual Course (in Engli sh). 
1.7.  During the period 1995 -2019, the Secretariat also offered a yearly three -week, face -to-face 
Advanced SPS Course3 which had a strong focus on enhancing the participation of capital -based 
officials in the SPS Committee, and equipping them to address pa rticular SPS areas of concern.  
1.8.  Information on all planned SPS courses (and also other SPS TA activities) is normally 
disseminated to WTO Members around March of every year as a document in the G/SPS/GEN/997  
series, and also p resented at every March SPS Committee meeting. Following which, the Secretariat 
sends a communication with information on planned SPS TA -related activities (including eligibility 
criteria, application process and form) to all Members and Observers, as well  as to the SPS Delegates 
mailing list (see section 1.2.3.1   for more information on the mailing list). This information is also 
made available on the SPS Technical Assistance webpage, and widely shared via other organizations 
(e.g. Codex, IPPC, WOAH, STDF, etc.).  
1.9.  Each year, the Secretariat also prepares a report on the SPS technical assistance act ivities 
undertaken (see section 1.3.4  for more information on reports by the Secretariat).  
1.2  Organization of Committee work  
1.2.1   Digital tools used for Committee work  
1.10.  The SPS Committee has pioneered the development of various digital tools in the Secretariat, 
often in close coordination with the TBT Committee. These tools are necessary to support the 
significant volume of SPS notifications, other documents and specific tra de concerns  (STCs)  
(more  than 30,000 notifications and 5,700 other documents, and 558 specific trade concerns 
since 1995).  
1.11.  The first online SPS database, the Information Management System for Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
Measures (SPS IMS), was launched in 2 007 to facilitate searching, reporting and analysis of 
SPS information; and the first online notification submission system (SPS NSS) was launched in  2011.  
1.12.  These aging systems were replaced by the new ePing SPS&TBT Pl atform , officially launched 
in July 20224, integrating all the SPS (and TBT) IMS and NSS , as well as the ePing  alert system, into 
a single platform. Members use the Platform to search SPS/TBT information on notifications, 
specific  trade concerns, as well as the contact information of notification authorities and enquiry 
points. Registered users benefit from additi onal features, including receiving email alerts on 
notifications on products and/or markets of interest. Officials with additional rights can use the 
ePing  SPS&TBT Platform to submit notifications to the WTO and, on a voluntary basis, disseminate 
their com ments/replies on notifications. For searches on specific trade concerns, the Platform mirrors 
the data available in the WTO Trade Concerns Database (TCD) , available to Members since 
February 2021.5 This adv anced analytical tool integrates concerns raised in the SPS and 
TBT Committees, as well as in the Committee on Market Access. It may incorporate concerns raised 
in other WTO bodies in the future.  
1.13.  The eAgenda  system, launched in 2020, was developed to allow  Members, ahead of the 
SPS Committee meeting, to include any item on the proposed agenda, including specific trade 
 
3 This flagship course, which was conducted in person during the period 2005 -2019, provided the overall 
framework for the development of the recent courses which were held virtually in 2021 and 2022, due to 
COVID -19 considerations.  
4 See G/SPS/GEN/2058 . 
5 The WTO TCD was launched  in beta version in the margins of the February 2021 TBT Committee 
meeting and presented to the SPS Committee at its March 2021 meeting.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  concerns, as well as to upload statements.  The Secretariat then generates the annotated draft 
agenda for formal meetings of the SPS Committee  using the eAgenda system.  Its use has been 
extended to support the work of other WTO bodies.  
1.14.  Additional information on the use of these tools and the various training activities offered is 
available in section 1.3.2 . 
1.2.2   Planning and organization of meetings  
1.15.  In order to facilitate coordination among and participation of SPS officials in SPS Committee 
meetings, a tentative schedule of upcoming Committee meetings (and the matic sessions) is usually 
circulated in June/July of the previous year  as a G/SPS/ GEN document . For example, a tentative 
schedule  of the 2023 SPS Committee meetings is available in document G/SPS/GEN/2036 , which 
was circulated  in June 2022.  
1.16.   In setting these dates, the Secretariat l iaises internally to check the meeting dates of other 
relevant Committees ( those  covered by many of the same delegates, e.g. the TBT Committee and 
the Committee on Agriculture), and also externally with other bodies of importance to SPS delegates, 
such as Codex, IPPC and WOAH.  The Secretariat also coordinates meeting dates with other 
CTG subsidiary bodies through the CTG coordination process.  For logistical reasons, other major 
events taking place in Geneva, as well as official holidays, are also considered. Each June/July the 
Secretariat draws Members' attention to the GEN document with tentative meeting dates for the 
following year, and invites Members to inform the Secretariat of any potential issues with the dates. 
The Secretariat also  highlights the upcoming SPS Committee meeting dates at the end of each 
Committee meeting.  
1.2.3   Formal meetings  
1.2.3.1   Communication before meetings  
1.17.  The Secretariat uses s everal means of communication before Committee meetings to ensure 
that Members are kept well info rmed of the upcoming meetings, the status of Committee work and 
other Committee -related developments. One of the ways that the Secretariat communicates directly 
with SPS delegates is via the SPS Delegates mailing list . 
1.18.  Specifically, the Secretariat maintains an e -mail list for Geneva - and capital -based 
SPS delegates which is used to transmit messages from the Chairperson and the Secretariat, 
regarding  certain Committee documents, reminders of deadlines, etc. The Secretariat has separate 
lists for Members and for Observer  Organization s. Delegates  can e -mail a request  to the Secretariat  
to be included in this list.6  
1.19.  In order to keep this list updated, the Secretariat normally reminds delegations at the start 
of each Committee meeting to su bmit requests for inclusion of new delegates in the list. Similarly, 
the Secretariat invites Members to indicate any other changes to the list.  
1.20.  The Secretariat and the Chairperson send out periodic communications to Members  and 
Observers , via the SPS Delegates mailing list, ahead of Committee meetings (and in -between 
Committee meetings, as necessary) with relevant information to facilitate delegates ' preparation for 
meetings.7 The Secretariat also circulates communications through annotated draft agendas 
(JOB/SPS  series), and airgrams (WTO/AIR/SPS  series).  Additional information on airgrams and 
agendas is presented in section 1.2.3.3  . 
1.2.3.2   Number of meetings  
1.21.  Since the beginning of 2019, the SPS Committee has held 11 formal and 11 informal meetings, 
including the November 2022 meeting ( see Table 1). Due to the COVID -19 pandemic , 
 
6 Communication between delegates and the Secretariat is channelled through a dedicated email 
address, SPSCommittee@wto.org , as much as possible.  
7 Members are also informed through eAgenda of the opening of the platform for submissions  and of 
various deadlines, if they have registered to use eAgenda.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  only two formal meetings took place in 2020 ; normally, there are three formal meetings per year . 
Since 2021, as a result of the increasing number of trade concerns raised by Members, the duration 
of formal meetings has been extended by half a day. In gen eral, the Committee week has more 
recently been scheduled as follows:  
▪ Monday : Workshop (normally only for the June/July meeting)  
▪ Tuesday : Thematic Session  
▪ Wednesday (am) : Informal Committee meeting  
▪ Wednesday (pm) – Friday : Formal Committee meeting  
1.22.  The Comm ittee has organized 9 thematic sessions during th is period, to allow for more 
detailed discussions and experience -sharing on SPS topics of interest to the Committee (see Tables  1 
and 5). Other types of events are also normally organized back -to-back with C ommittee meetings, 
such as workshops, information -sharing sessions and side events (either organized by Members, 
international organizations or the Secretariat).  
1.23.  Further to the establishment of the Working  Group (WG) on Approval Procedures  in 
November 2020 , based on a  recommendation in the Report of the Fifth Review ( G/SPS/64 , para. 
3.12), WG members have typically met on the Monday of the Committee week, with a few 
exceptions . The WG has also held additional meetings in between Committee meetings , as necessary 
(see Table 1 below) .8 
1.24.  More recently, the Committee commenced its work on the SPS Declaration work 
programme9 through five thematic groups .10 These thematic groups have held several meetings 
between Committee meetings and also during the Committ ee week to discuss  the themes outlined 
in the Declaration.  The Committee has also convened an intersessional consultation for these groups 
to report on their work and for the Committee to consider related proposals.  
Table 1: Number of formal and informal m eetings  
Year  Formal meetings  
(number and duration)  Informal meetings  
(number and duration)  Other (e.g. workshops, symposia, 
etc.)  
2019  21-22 March 2019 (2 days)  
18-19 July 2019 (2 days)  
7-8 November 2019 (2 
days)  Informal:  
20 March 2019 (0.5 days)  
17 July 2019 (0.5 days)  
6 November 2019 (0.5 
days)  
Thematic Sessions:  
18 March 2019 (1 day)  
19 March 2019 (1 day)  
5 November 2019 (1 day)  
Working Groups:  
20 March 2019 ( 0.5 days) 
Working Group on Fall 
Armyworm  
Informal Consultations:  
20 March 2019 (0.5 days) 
Informal consultations on 
strengthening the Workshops:  
15-16 July 2019 Workshop on 
Transparency and Coordination  
Side events:  
20 March 2019 STDF Information 
Session on transboundary animal  
diseases  in Cameroon  
21 March 2019 EU Information 
Session on the EU Animal Health Law  
3 July 2019 Launch of joint 
WTO/OECD publication  
17 July 2019 United States and 
International Seed Federation ev ent 
on "The promise of precision breeding 
in seed innovation"  
18 July 2019 Information Session on 
"Low level presence: An agricultural 
trade issue", organized by Canada  
5 November 2019 OECD Information 
Session – "Trade and economic effects 
 
8 The WG is expected to fina lize its work in March 2023.  
9 The SPS Declaration  was adopted in  document WT/MIN(22)/27  at the 12th Ministerial Conference, 
launching a work programme . 
10 The proposed process for the work programme is available in document G/SPS/W/330/Rev.1 . 
A dedicated webpage ( www.wto.org/spsdeclaration ) contains all relevant documents and meeting dates to help 
delegates keep track of this inf ormation.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  Year  Formal meetings  
(number and duration)  Informal meetings  
(number and duration)  Other (e.g. workshops, symposia, 
etc.)  
Committee's functioning, led 
by Brazil  
7 June 2019 ( 0.5 days) 
Informal consultations on 
strengthening the 
Committee's functioning, led 
by Brazil  
17 July 2019 ( 0.5 days) 
Informal consultat ions on 
strengthening the 
Committee's functioning, led 
by Brazil  
6 November 2019  (0.5 
days) Informal consultations 
on strengthening the 
Committee's functioning, led 
by Brazil  of IRC: Further empirical evidence from 
SPS and TBT provisions"  
6 November 2019 WTO SPS 
Information Session – Presentation of 
the eAgenda project  
7 November 2019 STDF Information 
Session - "Strengthening capacity to 
meet pesticide export requirements: 
Findings and recommendations of an 
independent evaluation of STDF 
projects in ASEAN, Africa and Latin 
America " 
2020  25-26 June 2020 (1.5 
days)  
5-6 and 13 November 
2020 (2 days)  Informal:  
24 June 2020 Information -
sharing session on COVID -
19 
25 June 2020 (0.5 days)  
4 November 2020 (0.5 
days)  
Thematic Sessions:  
3 November 2020 (1 d ay) 
Informal consultations:  
16 September 2020 ( 0.5 
days) SPS Committee 
informal consultations  
23 November 2020 ( 0.5 
days) SPS Committee 
informal consultations on 
the proposed SPS 
Declaration for the 12th 
Ministerial Conference  
Working Groups:  
4 November 20 20 (0.5 
days) Working Group on 
Approval Procedures  Other events:  
2 November 2020 SPS@25: 
Commemorating 25 years of the 
SPS Agreeme nt 
Side events:  
2 November 2020 Information session 
on "Farmers' Perspectives on 
SPS Challenges for Sustainable Food 
Production and Tr ade"11 
4 November  2020 OIE Information 
Session to launch two new 
publications12 
5 November  2020 FAO Information 
Session on pesticide MRLs13 
2021  25-26 March 2021 (2 days)  
14-16 July 2021 (2.5 days)  
3-5 November 2021 
(2.5 days)  Informal:  
24 March 2021 (0.5 days)  
14 July 2021 (0.5 days)  
3 November 2021 (0.5 
days)  
Thematic Sessions:  Workshops:  
12-13 July 2021 Workshop on Risk 
Assessment, Risk Management and 
Risk Communication  
Side Events:  
 
11 Organized by the Permanent Missions of Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, 
Paraguay and the United States . 
12 The OIE Scientific and Technical Review  on "Ensuring safe trade in animals and animal products", and 
the OIE Technical It em 2020 on "Required competences  of Veterinary Services for  international trade") . 
13 "Understanding international harmonization of pesticide maximum residue limits with Codex 
standards - A case study on rice" . G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  Year  Formal meetings  
(number and duration)  Informal meetings  
(number and duration)  Other (e.g. workshops, symposia, 
etc.)  
23 March 2021 (1 day) 
2 November 2021 (1 day)  
Working Groups:  
22 March 2021 (0.5 days)  
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
14 June  2021 (0.5 days) 
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
7 July 2021 (0.5 days) 
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
1 November 2021 (0.5 
days)  Working Group on 
Approval Procedures  23 March 2021 IPPC Information 
Session: " Promoting safe trade in the 
International Year of Plant Health " 
24 March 2021 STDF Webinar, as part 
of WTO's  Aid-for-Trade  COVID -19 
Stocktaking Event: Investing in safe 
trade systems to protect health and 
market access  
24 March 2021 WTO Information 
Session:  WTO Trade Concerns 
Database  
26 March 2021 OECD Information 
Session: Digital opportunities for 
SPS systems and the trade facilitation 
effects of SPS electronic certification  
14 July 2021 STDF and World Bank 
Webinar: Systems Approaches in Food 
Safety and Plant Health  
15 July 2021 US Information session: 
Improved SPS Capacity through 
Distance Learning , G/SPS/GEN/1914  
3 November 2021 STDF Side Event: 
Launch of the STDF guide on good 
regulatory practices to improve 
SPS measures  
2022  23-25 March 2022 
(2.5 days)  
22-24 June 2022 (2.5 
days)  
9-11 November 2022 
(2.5 days)  Informal:  
23 March 2022 (0.5 days)  
22 June 2022 (0.5 days)  
9 November 2022 (0.5 
days)  
Thematic Sessions:  
22 March 2022 (1 day)  
21 June 2022 (1 day)  
8 November 2022 (1 day)  
Working Groups:  
7 February  2022 (0.5 days)  
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
20 May 2022 (0.5 days) 
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
20 June 2022 (0.5 days) 
Working Group on Approval 
Procedures  
16 September 2022 
(0.5 days) Working Group 
on Approval Procedures  
7 November 2022 (0.5 
days) Working Group on 
Approval Procedures  
SPS Declaration Thematic 
Groups Meetings  (0.5 
days):  Workshops:  
20 June 2022 Workshop on 
Transparency  
Side events:  
21 March 2022  STDF Side Event in 
collaboration with Canada and France: 
Exploring SPS technical assistance in 
Francophone Africa  
23 March 2022 Side event organized by 
Uganda and the United States: 
Responding to Fall Armyworm – 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and 
Policy Approaches  
9 November 20 22 World Bank IFC 
Side event: Presentation of IFC Scan 
Guide and IFC Food Safety Handbook  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  Year  Formal meetings  
(number and duration)  Informal meetings  
(number and duration)  Other (e.g. workshops, symposia, 
etc.)  
20 September 2022 (Group 
1) 
26 September 2022 (Group 
2) 
27 September 2022 (Group 
3) 
28 September 2022 (Group 
4) 
29 September 202 2 (Group 
5) 
20 October 2022 (Group 3)  
21 October 2022 (Group 5)  
26 October 2022 (Group 4)  
31 October 2022 (Group 2)  
7 November 2022 (Group 3)  
9 November 2022 (Group 1 
and Group 2)  
Intersessional SPS 
Committee consultations:  
4 October 2022 (0.5 days)  
1.2.3.3   Preparation of airgrams and agendas  
1.25.  The SPS Committee 's practices with respect to airgrams  and annotated agendas for formal 
meetings ha ve evolved. Until October 2019,  the Secretariat circulated a "reminder airgram" about 
30 days before a formal meeting, containing a rough outline of the agenda, and a "convening 
airgram" at least 10 days before a meeting, listing the detailed agenda items, including specific trade 
concerns and other sub -items.  
1.26.  In November 2017 , the Committee agreed to a Member's proposal  for the Secretariat to 
circulate the convening airgram earlier, allowing  more time between th e circulation of the detailed 
agenda and the meeting, to facilitate the preparation of responses to specific trade concerns.14 
The convening airgram was then circulated about 20 days in advance of formal meetings. 
In July 2019, after consulting with Member s, the Secretariat prepared an annotated draft agenda, 
which was informally circulated15 in addition to the convening airgram, to provide more information 
on what was expected under individual agenda items . Since March 202016, the annotated draft 
agenda ha s replaced the convening airgram.17 
1.27.  The current practice includes the circulation of an airgram about six weeks prior  to a formal 
meeting , containing an outline of the agenda, as well as the deadlines for submission of documents and 
agenda items, and the d ates of any informal meetings, thematic sessions and other meetings planned in 
conjunction with the formal meeting.18 The annotated draft agenda is circulated about 20 days 
before the formal meeting  as a JOB/SPS document , and includes all detailed agenda items and specific 
 
14 See G/SPS/R/88, paragraphs 10.1 -10.7. 
15 This annotated draft agenda was informally circulated for illustrative purposes via the SPS Delegates 
mailing list, and was not assigned a document symbol. Since November 2019, the annotated draft agenda has 
been circulated as an official document in the JOB/SPS  series.  
16 An annotated draft agenda was prepared and circulated for the March 2020 meeting, however, this 
meeting was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID -19 pandemic ( JOB/SPS/5/Rev.1  and 
JOB/SPS/5/Rev.1/Corr.1 ). 
17 See G/SPS/R/97 , paragraph 10.3.  The above -mentioned changes did not require amending the 
Committee's Rules of Procedure (G/L/170 ). 
18 At the same time, eAgenda opens for the online subm ission of agenda items and statements for the 
upcoming meeting.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  trade concerns.19 It also includes hyperlinks to all documents submitted by the deadline, and information 
on informal meetings, thematic sessions, side events, meetings of working groups, etc. In addition, about 
one w eek before the informal meeting, the Secretariat sends an e -mail to the SPS Delegates mailing list, 
with the annotated agenda for the informal meeting  (also circulated as a JOB/SPS document) , other 
relevant documents, as well as an overview of the meetings  planned for each day of the Committee 
week.  For example, for the Committee meeting on 9 -11 November 2022, the airgram in 
WTO/AIR/SPS/39  was circulated on 23  September 2022, and the annotated draft agenda in JOB/SPS/23  
on 21 October 2022.  
Table 2: Preparation of airgrams and annotated agendas  for formal meetings  
Year  Date of formal meeting  Date of circulation of  
Airgram  and Agenda  No. of days before 
the meeting  
2019  21-22 March 2019  
 
 
18-19 July 2019  
 
 
 
7-8 November 2019  15 February 2019  (Reminder a irgram)  
1 March 2019  (Convening airgram ) 
 
7 June 2019  (Reminder a irgram)   
28 June 2019  (Convening airgram ) 
July 2019 (Annotated d raft agenda)20 
 
30 September 2019 (Reminder a irgram)  
18 October 2019  (Convening a irgram)  
24 October 2019  (Annotated draft agenda ) 34 days 
20 days  
 
41 days 
20 days  
- 
 
38 days  
20 days 
14 days  
2020  25-26 June 2020  
 
 
5-6 and 13 November 202021 9 June 2020  (Airgram)   
16 June 2020  (Draft agenda)  
 
21 September 2020  (Airgram)  
19 October 2020  (Annotated d raft agenda)  16 days 
9 days  
 
45 days 
17 days  
2021  25-26 March 2021  
 
 
14-16 July 2021  
 
 
3-5 November 2021  5 February 2021  (Airgram)   
5 March 2021  (Annotated draft agenda)  
 
28 May 2021  (Airgram)  
25 June 2021  (Annotated draft agenda)  
 
17 September 2021  (Airgram)  
15 October 2021  (Annotated draft agenda)  48 days 
20 days  
 
47 days 
19 days  
 
47 days 
19 days  
2022  23-25 March 2022  
 
 
22-24 June 2022  
 
 
9-11 November 2022  4 February 2022  (Airgram)  
4 March 2022  (Annotated draft agenda)  
 
6 May 2022  (Airgram)  
3 June 2022  (Annotated draft agenda)  
 
23 September 2022  (Airgram)  
21 October 2022 (Annotated draft agenda)  47 days 
19 days  
 
47 days 
19 days  
 
47 days 
19 days 
1.2.3.4   Distribution of documents prior to meetings  
1.28.  Documents for meetings are available through the usual channels , including Documents  Online . 
A hyperlink to all documents submitted before the deadline is included in the annotated draft agenda 
and in eAgenda .22 Documents without symbols are rare; informal documents are usually circulated as 
room documents. It is not unu sual for documents to be submitted after the deadline (usually set 22  days 
before a meeting, to allow inclusion in the annotated draft agenda circulated 20 days prior to a formal 
meeting). These documents are  also made available through the regular channel s on the WTO website , 
 
19 The information in eAgenda mirrors the annotated draft agenda. The Secretariat uses the eAgenda 
system to generate the annotated draft agenda, including all agenda items added electronically  by Members. 
Some editing is required before the document is circulated as a JOB/SPS document.  
20 This draft agenda was informally circulated for illustrative purposes via the Delegates mailing list, and 
was not assigned a document symbol.  
21 Due to technica l issues which affected the virtual platform, the Committee meeting had to be 
suspended on 6 November 2020 and reconvened on 13 November 2020.  
22 The information in eAgenda mirrors the annotated draft agenda. The Secretariat uses the eAgenda 
system to gener ate the annotated draft agenda, including all agenda items added electronically by Members. 
Some editing is required before the document is circulated as a JOB/SPS document.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  including Docs Online . Certain key documents (e.g.  programmes for thematic sessions) are sent by email 
to the SPS Delegates mailing list.  
1.2.3.5   Communication after meetings  
1.29.  At the end of the Committee week (normally the Friday of the same w eek, but on some 
occasions the following Monday), the Secretariat sends a follow -up communication which provides 
an overview of the deadlines for submission of comments/proposals as discussed in the meeting. 
In addition, the communication gives relevant in formation on any necessary follow -up steps or any 
important reminders. Through these communications, delegates also receive the weblinks to access 
presentations or video recordings from thematic sessions/workshops/side events, and also the 
relevant room do cument symbols for presentations.  
1.30.  In addition, a news item is normally prepared in collaboration with the Information and 
External Relations Division and published on the WTO website with an overview of the key issues 
discussed in the various Committee mee tings/events held during the week ( SPS news items  are 
available on the SPS section  of the WTO website ). 
1.2.3.6   Preparation of the summary reports  
1.31.  As foreseen by the Committee 's Rules of Procedure ( paragraph (viii) of G/L/170 ), 
the Secretariat prepares a summary report of formal meetings. These reports contain a summary of 
the oral interventions in formal meetings. In addition, longer statements can be sh ared through 
eAgenda, or circulated as documents in the G/SPS/GEN  series  upon request , in which case a 
hyperlink is included in the summary report. Summary reports also contain the Chairperson 's 
summary of any informal meetings or thematic sessions held prior to the formal meeting.  
1.32.  Preparation  of summary reports  is usually shared by 2 -3 staff members,  based on notes, 
copies of statements submitted, and audio recordings,  with a final check for consistency by the 
Committee Secretary. Rule 36  of the  Committee's Rules of Procedure  provides that  Members should 
have the possibility of requesting to check how their statements will be reflected  in the summary 
report. In practice, the Secretariat sends t he draft summary report by email to these Members  and 
provides a deadline for comments , usually about one week. The Secretariat takes these comments 
into account prior to the circulation of the summary report.  
1.33.  Additional information on the preparation of summary reports, such as the number of pages 
and number of days  required for their preparation , is avai lable in Table 3.  
Table 3: Preparation of the Summary Reports  
Year  Dates  of the formal meeting  Date of circulation of the 
summary report  No. of pages  No. of days  
2019  21-22 March 2019  
18-19 July 2019  
7-8 November 2019  27 June 2019  
12 September 2019  
18 December 2019  36 pages  
33 pages  
29 pages  98 days  
56 days  
41 days  
2020  25-26 June 2020  
5-6 and 13 November 2020  11 August 2020  
21 December 2020  71 pages  
49 pages  47 days  
46 days  
2021  25-26 March 2021  
14-16 July 2021  
3-5 November 2021  19 May 2021  
17 September 2021  
17 December 2021  51 pages  
54 pages  
51 pages  55 days 
65 days 
44 days 
2022  23-25 March 2022  
22-24 June 2022  
9-11 November 2022  18 May 2022  
26 September 2022  
- 50 pages  
59 pages  
- 56 days  
96 days  
- G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  1.2.4   Informal meetings  
1.2.4.1   Communication before meetings  
1.34.  Informal meetings and thematic sessions are usually scheduled  to immediately preced e 
regular meetings, during the same week, to facilitate participation by capital -based delegates. 
The schedule of these "SPS Committee weeks " is tentatively determi ned in June/July of each year 
for the following year in a document (G/SPS/GEN) prepared by the Secretariat. More detailed 
information, including the planned  thematic sessions, informal and regular meetings is announced 
at the end of each meeting week for t he following meeting, included in the summary report, and 
communicated by email to the SPS Delegates mailing list. A preliminary list of topics to be discussed 
at an informal meeting is included in the airgram distributed about six weeks prior to each regu lar 
meeting , and in the annotated draft agenda of the formal meeting . 
1.35.  Since October  2019, the Chairperson , with the assistance of the Secretariat , has in addition 
prepared  annotated agendas for informal meetings, providing a list of topics as well as some 
information on the proposed/expected actions by the Committee. The annotated agenda for the 
informal meeting is circulated as document in the  JOB/SPS  series  and sent by email to the 
SPS Delegates mailing list one week before the meeting.  
Table 4: Convening of informal meetings  
Year  Date of informal 
meeting  Date of communication convening the informal meeting  No. of 
days  
2019  20 March 2019  
 
 
17 July 2019  
 
 
6 November 2019  15 February 2019  (Reminder a irgram)  
1 March 2019 (Convening airgram  – formal  meeting ) 
 
7 June 2019  (Reminder a irgram)  
July 2019 (Draft agenda  – informal meeting )23 
 
30 September 2019 (Reminder a irgram)  
30 October 2019  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 33 days  
19 days 
 
40 days  
- 
 
37 days  
7 days  
2020  25 June 2020  
 
 
4 November 2020  9 June 2020  (Airgram)  
17 June 2020  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 
 
21 September 2020  (Airgram)  
29 October 2020  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 16 days 
8 days  
 
44 days 
6 days  
2021  24 March 2021  
 
 
14 July 2021  
 
 
3 November 2021  5 February 2021  (Airgram)  
15 March 2021  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 
 
28 May 2021  (Airgram)  
7 July 2021  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 
 
17 September 2021  (Airgram)  
27 October 2021  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 47 days 
9 days  
 
47 days 
7 days  
 
47 days 
7 days  
2022  23 March 2022  
 
 
22 June 2022  
 
 
9 November 2022  4 February 2022  (Airgram)  
16 March 2022  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 
 
6 May 2022  (Airgram)  
14 June 2022  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 
 
23 September 2022  (Airgram)  
2 November 2022  (Draft annotated agenda – informal  meeting ) 47 days 
7 days  
 
47 days 
8 days  
 
47 days 
7 days  
1.2.4.2   Communication after the meeting  
1.36.  The Chairperson , under  his/her own responsibility  and with the assistance of the Secretariat, 
prepares a summary of discussions at informal meetings and Committee thematic sessions. 
These  summaries used to be read out in the formal  meeting, but since approximately 2020 they are 
sent by email to the SPS Delegates mailing list during the meeting week. Delegates have the 
opportunity to submit comments by a set deadline  (usually one week after the end of the meeting) , 
which the Chairperson takes into account in finalizing the summar y. The final summaries of informal 
 
23 This draft agenda was informally circulated for illustrative purposes via the De legates mailing list, and 
was not assigned a document symbol.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  meetings/thematic sessions are then  circulated by email again and included  as annexes  in the 
summary report of the formal  meeting. In addition, the Secretariat prepares a more detailed 
summary report of Committee workshop s, which are circulated in the same document series 
(G/SPS/R) as the summary reports of formal  meetings. All summary reports are available through 
Documents Online.  
1.37.  All presentations made at thematic sessions or Committee workshops are posted on the 
SPS Events,  workshops and training  webpage  and since 2017 are also circulated as room documents 
(RD/SPS series) to ensure that they can be searched through Documents Online.  
1.3  Substantive work  
1.3.1   Thematic sessions/Informal working groups  
1.38.  The SPS Committee held its first thematic session in July 2015 to provide an opportunity for 
more in -depth discussions and  experience -sharing on particular topics of interest to Members. 
Since  then, the Committee has regularly organized thematic sessions (See Table 5).  In addition, 
the Committee normally holds one thematic workshop each year. While thematic sessions last 
0.5-1 day, thematic workshops usually last 2 days. Prior to the COVID -19 pandemic, the Secretariat 
provided funding for capital -based SPS officials to attend SPS thematic workshops. Since then, 
thematic work shops can be attended in person or virtually, and  no funding is provided for 
participants.  
1.39.  With respect to the focus of these thematic sessions  and workshops , Members are invited to 
submit topics/proposals for consideration by the Committee. Following which, a deadline is provided 
for Members to submit c omments. An opportunity is also normally provided in the informal 
Committee meetings for discussions on the suggested topics/proposals, and for proponents to 
respond to any questions or provide the necessary clarifications. In addition, as part of the peri odic 
reviews of the operation and implementation of the Agreement, Members also propose particular 
topics for discussion in thematic sessions  and workshops  (see section 1.3.4  for additional 
information on the review process).  
1.40.  The Committee aims to agree at the end of each year on a tentative schedule of thematic 
sessions  and workshops  for the upcoming year, to facilitate Members' preparations and planning.  
Where too many topics have been proposed, and to clarify the order in which the topics will be 
scheduled, the Chairperson consults with Members until a schedule is agreed.  This information is 
included in a G/SPS/ GEN document , together  with the dates of Committee mee tings for the 
upcoming year.  This document can be revised as necessary, e.g. if meeting dates change. 
As an illustration, the dates of meetings and thematic sessions for 2022 are contained in document 
G/SPS/GEN/1910/Rev.1 . 
1.41.  Most of the issues discussed in thematic sessi ons and workshops are also the subject of 
discussion in formal and informal meetings.  
1.42.  The Committee has also explored the webcasting of thematic sessions. In particular, the last 
few thematic sessions have been webcast on the WTO website, normally at the r equest of the 
proponents of a thematic session. The intention to webcast a thematic session is announced in a 
message sent to the  SPS Delegates mailing list, and Members provided with an opportunity to raise 
any objections. The Committee has recently decid ed in November 2022  to systematically webcast 
all its thematic sessions, so a decision will no longer  need to be taken each time.  
Table 5: Overview of thematic sessions  and workshops  (2019 -2022 ) 
Year  Thematic sessions  
2019 ▪ Thematic Session on Equivalence (Part 2)  
▪ Thematic Session on Fall Armyworm  
▪ Workshop on Transparency and Coordination  
▪ Thematic Session on Approval Procedures  
2020 ▪ Thematic Session on Voluntary Third -Party Assurance as Part of National SPS Control 
Systems  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  Year  Thematic sessions  
2021 ▪ SPS Committee Thematic Session on African Swine Fever  
▪ Workshop o n Risk Analysis: Risk Assessment, Management and Communication  
▪ Thematic Session on Procedure to Monitor the Process of International Harmonization  
2022 ▪ Thematic Session on Trade facilitative approaches to pesticide MRLs, including substances 
not approved for use in an import market  
▪ Thematic Session on the Use of Remote (Virtual) Audit and Verification in Regulatory 
Frameworks  
▪ Workshop on Transparency  
▪ Thematic Session on International Standards and Best Practices in Pest Risk Identification, 
Assessment, and Management  
1.3.2   Notifications  
1.43.  WTO Membe rs submit significant and growing numbers of SPS notifications ( currently over 
1800 per year). To  provide guidance on the implementation of the SPS transparency procedures, 
the SPS Committee has adopted the Recommended Procedures for Implementing the Trans parency 
Obligations of the SPS Agreement  (G/SPS/7/Rev.4 ). These Recommended Transparency 
Procedures  were first adopted in 1996 ( G/SPS/7 ) and have been revised four times since (1999, 
2002, 2008 and 2018). The last revision in 2018 did not include any substantive changes to the 
text; it updated certain references to online tool s etc. A new "technical" revision (G/SPS/7/Rev.5) 
will be circulated in late 2022 to reflect the use of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform. These Procedures 
also contain the notification formats adopted by the Committee . In addition, Members have regularly 
discuss ed possible improvements to the  quality and completeness of notifications. In addition, a 
Practical Manual for SPS National Notification Authorities and National Enquiry Points  provides 
hands -on explanations for all transparency -related tasks.24 
1.44.  At the October 2007 Wo rkshop on Transparency , the Committee requested the Secretariat to 
prepare an annual overview of the implementation of the transparency provisions of the 
SPS Agreement. Since then, the Secretariat has revised document G/SPS/GEN/804  annually to 
provide an overview of the level of implem entation of the transparency obligations contained in the 
SPS Agreement (Article 7 and Annex B) and of the Committee's Recommended  Transparency  
Procedures.  A standing  agenda item on transparency provides an opportunity to share information 
and experiences  in all formal meetings of the SPS Committee . 
1.45.  The SPS Committee also discusses compliance with notification procedures and possible 
improvements in the context of the periodic reviews of the SPS Agreement. Based on proposals from 
Members, the Committee has adopted several decisions to guide the implementation of certain 
provisions of the SPS Agreement, some of which incorporate transparency -related aspects. 
This includes the Decision on Equivalence ( G/SPS/19/Rev.2 ), and the Procedure to Enhance 
Transparency of Special and Differential Treatment in Favour of Developing Countries 
(G/SPS/33/Rev.1 ). 
1.46.  Since 1995, the SPS Committee has regularly held special dedicated meetings or 
workshops on transparency , on average every 2 -3 years, which have offered an opportunity to 
discuss challenges faced in the implementation of tr ansparency provisions, share information and 
experiences, and train Members on the online tools. The first such meeting, in 1995, was a joint 
SPS/TBT meeting on transparency (see G/SPS/W/33) . Since then, nine SPS   workshops on 
transparency (or transparency and coordination) were held in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 
2017, 2019 and 2022. The  most recent transparency workshop  was held in hybrid format. In addition 
to the workshop, a "notific ations clinic" targeted to SPS notification authorities and enquiry points 
was held (virtually) for the first time in the Committee in June 2022. Summary reports on all these 
workshops are available in the G/SPS/R  series, and the presentations are made available on the 
SPS section of the WTO webs ite. In 2015, the  Committee asked the Secretariat to circulate a survey 
on transparency ( G/SPS/GEN/1382  and results in G/SPS/GEN/1402) . 
 
24 The original version of the Manual was written by Ms Sally Jennings, Ministry for Primary Industries, 
New Zealand, with contributions by the WTO Secretariat, and published in 2009. An updated version was 
prepared by the Secretariat with inputs from Ms Sally Jennings and other Members in 2018.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  1.47.  Over the years, the Committee has also requested the Secretariat to develop online tools  to 
facilitate the management of SPS information and submission of notifications.  These tools are 
described in section 1.2.1 . 
1.48.  In response to requests from Members, the Secretariat provides a significant number of 
technical assistance activities on transparency and the ePing SPS&TBT Platform. In 2022, 
the Secretariat launched the SPS Transparency Champions Course  to further assist Members in 
implementing and benefiting from the SPS transparency framework.25 
1.3.3   Specific trade concerns (STCs)  
1.49.   Since 1995, Member s have raised 558 specific trade concerns (STCs) in the SPS Commi ttee. 
The number of STCs has consistently increased over the past few years (see Table  6 for additional 
information).  
1.50.  As part of its approach  to keeping updated on the status of STCs , the Committee requests 
Members to report if STCs have been resolved ; resolution of STCs is a standing item on the 
Committee's agenda . In addition, t he Secretariat periodically ask s individual Members to provide 
updates on STCs that have not been raised in the Committee for some time  (see document 
G/SPS/GEN/2062/Rev .1 for the results of the latest exercise) . About 57% of STCs raised in the 
SPS Committee since 1995 have been reported as fully or partially resolved.  The Secretariat 
prepares an annual overview of STCs in document G/SPS/GEN/204 and revisions. This docume nt is 
described in section 1.3.4 . 
1.51.  In an effort to further facilitate the resolution of SPS -related trade issues, the SPS Committee 
adopted  in 2014 a "Procedure to encourage and facilitate the resolution of specific sanitary 
or phytosanitary issues among Members in accordance with Article 12.2 " (G/SPS/61 ). 
The use of this procedure has only been requested once (October 2022).  
1.52.  As part of the work initiated under the Fourth Review of the SPS Agreement, the Committee 
developed a " Catalogue of Instruments Available to WTO Members to Manage SPS Issues " 
(G/SPS/63 ). It is intended as a reference document for officials working on SPS issues, identifying 
relevant legal provisions, Committee guidance documents, and some outside resources availab le for 
particular SPS -related tasks or activities . 
Table 6: Number of specific trade concerns (STCs)  
Year  Dates of the formal meeting  Number of new 
STCs raised per 
meeting  Number of 
previously raised 
STCs  per meeting  Total STCs  raised 
per meeting  
2019  21-22 March 2019  
18-19 July 2019  
7-8 November 2019  4 
8 
5 18 
17 
12 22 
25 
17 
2020  25-26 June 2020  
5-6 and 13 November 2020  17 
19 12 
19 29 
38 
2021  25-26 March 2021  
14-16 July 2021  
3-5 November 2021  11 
9 
7 35 
38 
36 46 
47 
43 
2022  23-25 March 2022  
22-24 June 2022  
9-11 November 2022  10 
6 
10 38 
45 
42 48 
51 
52 
Source: WTO Trade Concerns  Database  
 
25 WTO | 2022 News items - DG Okonjo -Iweala stresses importance of S PS, TBT transparency to 
facilitate trade . G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  1.3.4   Reports by the Secretariat  
1.53.  The Secretariat reg ularly produces a number of ann ual reports throughout the year, ahead of 
each SPS Committee meeting. The list below indicates the type of report prepared, the frequency 
with which it is prepared, and the document symbol for the latest report:  
• March of every year:  
o Annual overview of the implementation of SPS transparency provisions and specific 
trade concerns ( G/SPS/GEN/804/Rev.14  and G/SPS/GEN/204/Rev.22 );26 
o Overview of WTO SPS technical assistance and training activities planned for the 
upcoming year, including information on the selection process 
(G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.12 ); and  
o Overview of S PS technical assistance activities undertaken ( G/SPS/GEN/521/Rev.17 ). 
• June/July of every year:  
o Annual r eport on the implementation of Article 6 of the SPS  Agreement 
(G/SPS/GEN/2021 ); and  
o Annual r eport on the procedure to monitor the process of international harmonization 
(G/SPS/GEN/2022 ). 
• November of every year:  
o Annual report on the use of the procedure to encourage and facilitate the resolution 
of specific sanitary or phytosanitary issues among Members in accordance with 
Article  12.2 ( G/SPS/61 ) (G/SPS/GEN/2057 ). 
1.54.  The Secretariat prepares a summa ry report after each of the three Committee meetings held 
every year  (G/SPS/R/# series ). In addition, it assists the Chairperson in preparing written reports 
on the discussions in informal SPS Committee meetings (which are held ahead of formal 
SPS Committe e meetings), and also thematic sessions. The final version of these written reports are 
included in the circulated summary report for each meeting (as an annex).  The preparation of 
summary reports is explained in section 1.2.3.6  . 
1.55.  The Secretariat also supports the SPS Committee Chairperson in the preparation of the annual 
report , under the Chairperson's responsibility,  on the activities of the SPS Committee . This repo rt is 
submitted to the Council for Trade in Goods for consideration at its last meeting of every year ( latest 
report available in document G/L/1443 ). 
1.56.  Article 12.7 of the SPS Agreement provided that the SPS Committee shall review the operation 
and implementation of this Agreement three years af ter the date of entry into force of the 
WTO Agreement, and thereafter as the need arises. In accordance with WT/MIN(01)/17 , the 
Committee con ducts a review of the operation and implementation of the SPS Agreement 
every four years. This is an opportunity for Members to take stock and identify areas for further 
work. The  review process begins with the adoption of a procedure and timeline, setting  out dates 
for Members to submit proposals, to comment on proposals, and for the Secretariat to prepare a 
background document, and the draft report of the Review. Members' proposals address substantive 
issues, for example to elaborate further clarification  to particular provisions of the Agreement or 
suggest improvements to processes.  
1.57.  At the end of the review process, the Committee adopts a report, which contains a record of 
the Committee's work in different areas, as well as recommendations resulting from Members' 
proposals and Committee discussions. These recommendations are usually addressed to the 
Committee, to Members, to Observer organizations or to the Secretariat, and relate to future 
Committee work, information sharing, and sometimes lead to the dev elopment of guidelines, 
procedures or recommendations adopted by the Committee. The results of such work are published 
 
26 Since 2021, the information previously contained in  two reports  (G/SPS/GEN/804 and 
G/SPS/GEN/204  and revisions ) has been merged into a single document , circulated with two document 
symbols. This has allowed to provide a more comprehensive vie w of both the implementation of transparency 
provisions and the STCs raised in the Committee, to align the periods of time covered (i.e. from January to 
December), and to harmonize  reporting practices with those of the TBT Committee.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  in a compilation of " Major Decisions and Documents ", also av ailable on the SPS section of the 
WTO website, which is periodically updated. It contains the text of the Agreement, Rules of 
Procedure, as well as all Committee Decisions, Guidelines, Procedures and Recommendations.  
1.58.  The most recent review (the Fifth Revi ew) was launched in March 2018, and completed in 
June 2020.27 The Report of the Fifth Review ( G/SPS/64  and G/SPS/64/Add.1 ) contains various 
recommendations on topics proposed by WTO Members and provides an overview of the  work 
undertaken by the SPS Committee during the period under  review, which spanned from 2014 to 
2019.  
1.3.5   Participation by external stakeholders  
1.59.  The SPS Committee has granted observer status  to 25 organizations, ten of which have 
observer status on a regular basis, and the remaining 15 on an ad hoc basis 
(see G/SPS/W/78/Rev.15 ). Observer Organizations are normally invited to participate in all formal 
and informal meetings, thematic sessions and informal working groups.28 Organizations requesting 
observer status are asked to prov ide information on their membership, mandate and scope of work , 
their potential contributions to the work of the SPS Committee, and reciprocity . This information is 
circulated as an addendum to document G/SPS/GEN/121  to help the Committee decide whether to 
accept the request for observer status.  
1.60.  The list of Observer Organizations with regular status includes the three international 
standard -setting bodies (ISSBs)  referenced in the SPS Agreement: Codex Alimentarius 
Commission; the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH); and the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC). These three bodies participate regularly in Committee meetings, 
providing regular updates on their work, including standard -setting activiti es, under the dedicated 
agenda item for information from the ISSBs. They also regularly submit written reports to the 
Committee. Other Observer Organizations also share information on their SPS -related activities in 
the meeting and submit documents with ad ditional information on their SPS -related work.  
1.61.  As previously mentioned, the Secretariat maintains an SPS Delegates  mailing list , including a 
list for Observer Organizations, and sends out communications before Committee meetings to ensure 
that Observer Organizations are kept well informed of upcoming meetings, the status of Committee 
work and other Committee -related developments. Similarly, Observer Organizations receive 
communications via the SPS Delegates mailing list after Committee meetings.  The Secret ariat also 
reminds Observer Organizations to submit written reports prior to each Committee meeting.  
1.62.   Representatives from the private sector (e.g. private companies , commodity associations) 
and from academia sometimes participate in Committee workshops an d thematic sessions as 
speakers, sharing their knowledge and expertise on particular SPS -related topics.  Inclusion of such 
speakers is usually suggested by Members.  
1.3.6   Work with other Committees or WTO  bodies  
1.63.  The SPS Secretariat team regularly works with othe r Committees, either by inviting 
representatives from other Secretariat teams, such as TBT and TF, to present in 
workshops/thematic  sessions organized by the SPS Committee , or by presenting at events held by 
other Committees.  
1.64.  In July 2019, the SPS Committe e organized  a Workshop on Transparency and Coordination , 
which provided an opportunity for an  exchange  of views on the notification of measures not clearly 
fitting only withi n the scope of the SPS or TBT Agreements .29 This workshop was closely coordinated 
with a TBT  thematic session held in June 2019,  organized  in light of a specific Eighth Triennial Review 
 
27 The Sixth Review is due in 2024. The Committee is discussing the timing of the Sixth Review in light 
of the ongoing work programme launched by the MC12 SPS Declaration, also described in section 1.2.3.2  . 
28 Unless any Member raises an objection to the participation of any of these observers  in advance of a 
meeting.  
29 See G/SPS/64 , paras. 7.1 -7.13.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  recommendation to exchange information on practices to determine whether a measure falls under 
the SPS and/or TBT Agreement.30 
2  PAST EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE  
2.1.  Several previous Chairpersons, along with Members, have undertaken initiatives to improve 
the Committee's work, some of which have be en adopted by the Committee. Such initiatives include: 
regrouping and streamlining the Committee's agenda items in order to improve the overall flow of 
discussions in the Committee; including separate agenda items for information sharing from Codex, 
IPPC a nd WOAH, and information -sharing from other Observer Organizations; and adding an agenda 
item on cross -cutting issues to facilitate discussions on any issues that relate to several provisions 
of the SPS Agreement, or that do not fit neatly under any of the  other agenda items. The information 
provided below gives an overview of the more recent efforts , along with relevant background 
information.  
2.1  Changes to the agenda for formal meetings of the SPS Committee  
2.2.  The Committee has periodically agreed to changes to the agenda for its formal meetings. 
For example, a fter the adoption of the Report of the Fifth Review at its June  2020 meeting, 
the SPS Committee implemented the recommendation  to include a  new standing agenda item on 
control, inspection and approval procedures (Annex C)  to facilitate discussions and information 
exchange on the topic . This new agenda item was included for the first time in the airgram for the 
November 2020 meeting ( WTO/AIR/SPS/33 ). 
2.2  2019 -2020 Discussions on the consultative function of the SPS Committee 
(G/SPS/W/319/Rev.2 ) 
2.3.  During 2019 -2020, as part of the broader initiative launched by the Ottawa Group, 
Brazil  coordinated a series of open -ended consultations, focused on ways to further strengthen the 
work of the SPS Committee , which resulted in document G/SPS/W/319/Rev.2 . Several consultations 
were organized (see Table 1), and  ideas from these consultations  were brought to the 
SPS Committee for consideration. These discussions initially focused on the use of online tools to 
facilitate discussion of specific trade concerns, includin g in the context of the Secretariat's SPS -TBT 
eAgenda project, and were subsequently  broadened to include other topics.  
2.4.  While the discussions were ongoing, the Secretariat, in consultation with the Committee, began 
implementing a number of the suggestions made, such as:  
a. the development of an annotated draft agenda;  
b. creation of an online system for submission of STCs (i.e. eAgenda);  
c. webcasting of thematic sessions; and  
d. inclusion of a reminder in the airgram for Members to consult the Catalogue of Instruments  
Available to WTO Members to Manage SPS Issues ( G/SPS/63 ), and about the availability 
of the Chairperson to provide good offices upon request to assist with the resolution of 
trade concerns ( G/SPS/61 ). 
2.3  Committee discussions in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic  
2.5.  In light of the COVID -19 situation, the June 2020 SPS Committee meeting  took place in a 
combined virtual/written format. The written procedure was facilitated by the then new eAgenda 
platform, which was used for the first time and allowed Members to submit agenda items, 
statements, and STCs online .31 Since the time available for virtual meetings was limited, 
eAgenda  was also used to  facilitate an exchange of written statements on STCs and other agenda 
items. The Secretariat prepared a report on the Committee's first use of eAgenda in document 
G/SPS/GEN/1818 . 
 
30 See G/TBT/49 , para. 1.28.  
31 Initially, the Secretaria t had planned to roll out eAgenda for the March 2020 SPS Committee meeting, 
following a pilot -test phase with nine Members . That meeting was subsequently cancelled due to the COVID -19 
pandemic.  G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  2.6.  Further to the June 2020 SPS Committee meeting, Members requested an opportunity to 
discuss the procedure and format used for the June 2020 meeting, with a view to determining what 
aspects should continue to be used in future SPS Committee meetings. As such, infor mal 
consultations were held in September 2020. These consultations also provided an opportunity to 
continue discuss ions on  other topics, such as strengthening the consultative function of the 
SPS Committee.  
2.7.  The following sections provide an overview of som e aspects of the Committee's functioning 
discussed by Members  in the September 2020 informal consultations . 
2.3.1   Combined use of written and oral procedures  
2.8.  Members recognized the value of using a written procedure for the June 2020 Committee 
meeting  due to the exceptional circumstances linked to the pandemic;  however , they also 
underscored the importance of maintaining oral exchanges in the Committee. In relation to specific 
trade concerns, Members emphasized the importance of having oral interventio ns from supporting 
Members.32 
2.3.2   Use of time -limits  
2.9.  Members recognized the special circumstances in June  2020, which  had necessitated the use 
of time -limits for interventions . However, Members also expressed the need to maintain flexibility in 
the Committee's  procedures, and not to include time -limits for oral interventions for any agenda 
item in the future.  Several Members advocated for the practice of delivering succinct oral statements, 
with more detailed information provided in written statements submitted  through eAgenda and/or 
as G/SPS/ GEN documents. Time-limits are not currently used in SPS Committee meetings.  
2.3.3   Format for statements from Observer Organizations  
2.10.  Members recognized the important work of Observer Organizations, and in particular, 
the specific role of Codex, WOAH  and IPPC. They saw a continued need for these organizations to 
share information through brief oral interventions and submission of GEN doc uments ahead of 
meetings. Members were not in favour of the suggestion to include a panel discussion format with 
Codex, WOAH  and IPPC in Committee meetings to enable  more focused  sharing of information. 
The importan ce of avoiding a replication in the SPS C ommittee of the discussions in the meetings of 
Codex, WOAH  and IPPC was also noted . Currently, Observer Organizations are encouraged to 
provide brief oral interventions and submit written documents.  
2.3.4   Format of the summary report  
2.11.  A different format for the s ummary report was used in June 202033, where a lengthier report 
was circulated with the full statements of Members, many extracted from eAgenda.34 This was in 
contrast to previous summary reports, which were shorter, with summarized interventions of 
Members.35  
2.12.  In the discussions, Members recognized two important considerations: (i) the length of time 
required to prepare the report; and (ii) the ideal amount of information to be contained in the report. 
Some delegates valued having th e full statements included in the report, which the Secretariat could 
prepare more quickly, thus facilitating their reports to capital. Other delegates preferred 
the summarized version of the report, even if it took longer, as this version was more reader  friendly. 
They were also in favour of strictly capturing what was said in the meeting, avoiding potential 
 
32 Due to the extraordinary circumstances and the associated ti me constraints for the June 2020 
SPS Committee meeting, Members supporting STCs were requested to submit their statements in written form, 
instead of making oral statements. See JOB/SPS/8 (and JOB/SPS/8/Add.1)  for more information.  
33 As indicated above, the June 2020 meeting included a written  procedure, due to the shorter allotted 
timeframe for meetings as a result of COVID -19. 
34 Other statements were emailed to the Secretariat, or prepared based on meeting recordings. The 
summary report of the June 2020 SPS Committee is available in document G/SPS/R/99  (71 pages)  and 
G/SPS/R/99/Corr.1 . 
35 As an example, please see the summary report of the November 2019 SPS Committee meeting in 
document  G/SPS/R/97/Rev.1  (29 page s). G/L/1476 • G/SPS/65  
 
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  discrepancies between delivered  statements  and written statements submitted through eAgenda . 
Several Members stressed the need to ensure that the fina l version of written statements submitted 
through eAgenda would reflect the information presented in the meeting, and not include additional 
or changed information.  
2.13.  The Secretariat drew the Committee's attention to a new feature of eAgenda that allowed 
Members to generate a compilation of submitted statements. This feature would allow delegates to 
access full statements very quickly, thus supporting their need to submit reports to their capitals. 
Some Members suggested that since this new feature allowed q uick access to statements, 
the Secretariat should continue to prepare the shorter version of summary reports, as had been 
the practice.  This is the approach that is currently being used.  
2.3.5   Activities related to  COVID -19 
2.14.  A separate report to the CTG covers th e Committee activities in relation to COVID -19. 
This report has been circulated as G/L/1477 -G/SPS/66. 
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