G/SPS/W/344/Rev. 2 
 
27 October 2023 
(23-7266) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
  
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY DECLARATION WORK PROGRAMME : 
RESPONDING TO MODERN SPS CHALLENGES  
DRAFT REPORT TO THE THIRTEENTH MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE  
Revision  
1.  The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ( SPS Committee ) undertook  a work 
programme to examine challenges in the implementation of the SPS Agreement  and the mechanisms 
available to address them, and the impacts of emerging challenges on the application of the 
SPS Agreement , as instructed by Ministers in the SPS Declaration adopted at the Twelfth Ministerial 
Conference ( WT/MIN(22)/27 ).1 In doing so, the SPS Committee  explored the following topics:  
• How to facilitate global food security and more sustainable food systems, including through 
sustainable growth and  innovation in agricultural production and international trade, and through 
the use of international standards, guidelines, and recommendations developed by the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as the basis of harmonized SPS measures to 
protect human, animal or plant life or health.  
• How to support basing SPS measures on scientific evidence and principles, including where 
international standards, gu idelines, or recommendations do not exist or are not appropriate; and 
how to promote the use by Members of principles employed by the international standard setting 
bodies for considering scientific uncertainty in risk analysis.  
• How to enhance the safe int ernational trade in food, animals and plants and products thereof 
through the adaptation of SPS measures to regional conditions, including pest - or disease -free 
areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence which can strengthen Members' ability to 
protect plant and animal life or health through efforts to limit the spread of pests such as the 
Mediterranean fruit fly, diseases such as African swine fever, disease -carrying organisms, or 
disease -causing organisms.  
• How to encourage cooperation with observer  organizations that support the work of the 
SPS Committee  and the international standard setting bodies through technical exchanges and 
assistance in the context of this work programme.  
• 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; and in 
particular, to increase awareness of and sensitivity to the impacts of SPS measures on the export 
possibilities of such Members.  
2.  The Committe e consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including the international standard 
setting bodies, other SPS Committee  observer organi zations, Members' competent authorities, 
agricultural producers, food manufacturers and traders, and the Standards and Tr ade Development 
Facility (STDF) , amongst others. The process benefitted from Members' positive engagement in a 
constructive dialogue with these stakeholders and with each other. The discussions covered new 
opportunities and emerging challenges for internat ional trade in food, animals and plants, including 
but not limited to expanding global populations;  increased pace of innovation in tools and 
technologies;  climate change and increasing environmental challenges;  growing importance of 
sustainable agricultur al practices and production systems, including their contribution to addressing 
climate change and biodiversity conservation;  shifting pressures due to the spread of pests  and 
diseases, increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, as well as emerging infectious diseases linked 
 
1 A factual summary of the Work Programme is contained in document G/SPS/GEN/2134/Rev.2 . G/SPS/W/344/Rev. 2 
 
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  with the human -animal -environment interface; and  continued application of SPS measures that 
would constitute a disguised restriction on international t rade. 
3.  Based on its discussions, the Committee presents  the following findings : 
a. The SPS Agreement  continues  to support safe international trade in food, animal and plant 
products, and is therefore one of the elements contributing to food security. Aligning SPS 
measures and procedures with the SPS Agreement , in particular with provisions on the use of 
international standards, scientific principles and risk assessment as the basis for SPS  measures, 
remains of fundamental importance, including when dealing with  emerging challenges and 
opportunities.  
b. Noting the importance of sustainable and resilient food systems, the Committee acknowledges 
the particular relevance of science, research and innovation as a means to address SPS issues  
and sustainably increase produ ction to feed a growing world population, while securing the 
livelihood of farmers and addressing emerging challenges , including those in paragraph  2. In 
this regard, the Committee recognizes that there is no "one -size-fits-all" approach to improving 
the sustainability of food and agricultural systems across WTO Members, taking into account 
the differences in local and regional conditions  and the different views of Members pertaining 
to sustainable and resilient food systems . 
c. The Committee recognizes that S PS measures must be based on scientific evidence and 
principles. Even i n cases where uncertainty exists, Members shall comply with the provisions of  
the SPS Agreement.  Codex, WOAH and IPPC guidance can support Members in addressing 
scientific uncertainty in risk analysis, including the recommendation that the approach  and 
method  taken  by Members  to address  uncertainty be clearly documented  and communicated in 
a transparent manner . 
d. Adaptation of SPS measures to regional conditions , including  recognition of pest - or disease -
free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence , based on WOAH and IPPC guidance and 
Committee guidelines in G/SPS/48 , are an important means by which to facilitate safe trade 
and can help avoid unnecessary trade restrictions.  Capacity building can assist in bringing 
domestic regulatory frameworks in line with relevant international guidance . 
e. The Committee values its exchanges with the international standard  setting bodies Codex, 
WOAH and IPPC in the SPS Committee , and invites them to continue providing regular updates 
on their work, in particular on updated  and forthcoming  standards, guidelines and 
recommendations relating to emerging challenges and opportunities.  
f. The Committee also values the work of all other SPS Committee  observer organizations and 
invites the Secretariat and Members to engage with these organizations to foster enhanced 
cooperation , strengthen the connection between their work and that of the SPS Committee,  and 
improve practices for information exchange . 
g. Engagement with developing and least  developed country Members, including through technical 
assistance, capacity building and South -South cooperation, is of fundamental importance, both 
to support implementation of the SPS Agreement  and to create, maintain and expand  export  
market opportunities by complying with and establishing SPS import requirements  based on 
international standards, scientific principles and risk assessment . The STDF plays a key role in 
providing and coordinating assistance in this regard. Ensuring adequate resources for its 
activities will enable the STDF to continue addressing the growing number of requests for 
assistance  by developing and least  developed country Members , including when dealing with 
emerging chal lenges and opportunities . Developing and least developed country Members 
should be actively involved in the design of these technical assistance and cooperation 
programmes to ensure that their needs are appropriately met.  
4.  The SPS Committee  recommends  continuing its targeted discussions and reflections on the 
implementation of the SPS Agreement  in light of emerging challenges and opportunities beyond the 
finalization of the MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme, including in the context of the upcoming 
Sixth R eview of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement  and in specific thematic 
sessions and events, as appropriate , while reaffirming the existing  rights and obligations of Members 
established by the SPS Agreement . 
5.  The SPS Committee recommends  that Ministers accept this report and endorse these findings 
and recommendations.  
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