G/SPS/W/351  
 
23 January 2024  
(24-0525) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SIXTH  REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLE MENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
SUBMISSION FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM  
The following submission, dated 22 January 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United Kingdom . 
 
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1  UK PROPOSALS FOR TOPICS TO BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE 6TH REVIEW OF THE 
OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WTO AGR EEMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF 
SPS MEASURES  
1.1  Examine how the ongoing work of the SPS Committee should/could continue to 
engage with the emerging challenges and opportunities identified in the MC12 
SPS Declaration and the broader debates on global food securit y and sustainable food 
systems  
1.1.  We believe it is important that emerging challenges and opportunities including those identified 
in the Declaration, and the contribution of SPS measures to food sustainability/security, should 
continue to be considered by th e Committee. Aspects on which the Committee could focus include 
the role of international standards (the implementation of Article 3: Harmonization); interactions 
between emerging challenges and SPS -related science and risk analysis.  
1.2  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  
1.2.  In light of the interest around the recent proposals tabled by the G90 group of developing and 
less developed countries to enhance special and differential treatment and technical assistance - and 
building on the relevant workstream from the MC12 SPS Declaration work programme - we believe 
the Committee should further consider ways to enhance ac cessibility and effective utilization of 
existing flexibilities within the SPS Agreement that support developing and LDC Members to engage 
and benefit from international trade. (Relevant SPS Agreement Article 9: Technical Assistance, and 
Article 10: Specia l and Differential Treatment).  
1.3  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  
1.3.  We propose a theme that explores in more detail the role 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 countries in 
particular). (Relevant SPS Agree ment Article 8: Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures and 
Article 9: Technical Assistance.)  G/SPS/W/351  
 
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  2  UK PROPOSALS FOR THEMATIC SESSION TOPICS FOR 2024  
2.1  Facilitating safe trade – Supporting developing and least developed countries in the 
development and applica tion of SPS measures  
2.1.  This topic is based on the work of the SPS Declaration Work Programme Group 5: How to 
increase participation of and support for the special needs of developing and least developed country 
Members in the development and application of SPS measures. (This topic also links to proposals on 
the SPS Agreement recently tabled by the G90 group of developing countries.)  
2.2  Increasing awareness and compiling best practice on the utili zing the development 
orientated flexibilities in t he SPS Agreement to support developing and LDC Members  
2.2.  This topic aims to explore in more detail some of the issues that the G90 have raised around 
the ASP proposals, where we believe there is benefit in ensuring the existing flexibilities are being 
deploy ed to best effect.  
 
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