G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1  
 
9 October  2020 
(20-6948) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
WTO SPS COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON APPROVAL PROCEDURES  PROCESS  
SUBMISSION FROM CANADA  
Revision  
The following communication, received on  7 October  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Canada . 
 
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As steward, Canada submits the following document outlining the details and process of the SPS 
Committee Working Group on Approval Procedures.  
1  WORKING GROUP TITLE  
1.1.  SPS Committee Working Group (WG) on Approval Procedures  
2  LANGUAGE  
2.1.  The process and liaison with WG participants will be conducted in English. The Secretariat may 
assist with translation of comments and proposals, if requested.  
3  FORMAT  
3.1.  The WG will primarily work electronically. Intersessionally, the WG may meet virtually as 
required.  The WG will also meet on the margins of the SPS Committee meetings, in person, virtually, 
or through a hybrid approach depending on whether the SPS Committee is meeting in person, 
virtually, or taking place through a hybrid approach.  
4  PARTICIPATION A ND STEWARD S 
4.1.  The WG is open to all Members and Observers, those interested in participating submitted their 
contact email address to the Secretariat.  
4.2.  Canada and Paraguay  will act as neutral  steward s. 
5  DESCRIPTION OF WORK  
5.1.  The WG will explore the following top ics: 
(1) Key challenges of approval procedures that impact international trade and that the 
Committee should seek to address ; 
(2) Principles of approval procedures that facilitate international trade while meeting the 
importing Member's appropriate level of sanita ry or phytosanitary protection and the 
Committee's role in highlighting these principles ; 
(3) Tools available and best practices to enhance the implementation of the obligations of the 
SPS Agreement as they apply to approval procedures ; 
(4) Other topics raised by WG participants over the course of the WG.  G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1  
 
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  5.2.  Following the examination of topics 1 -4, the WG will give consideration to the following topic:  
(5) Possible future work of the Committee on approval procedures.  
6  DURATION OF THE WORKING GROUP  
6.1.  The WG will conclude at the November 2021 SPS Committee meeting following three rounds 
of deliberations (over three SPS Committee meetings) unless the WG and Committee agree to 
extend the timeframe of the WG.  
7  REPORTING TO COMMITTEE  
7.1.  The steward s of the WG will report o n its work to the informal and/or formal SPS Committee 
meetings to keep the Committee informed of its deliberations.  
7.2.  Following the conclusion of its deliberations, the WG will submit a written report to the 
November 2021 SPS Committee.  
8  TIMELINES AND NEXT STEPS1 
8.1.  The deadlines suggested for the proposed process are as follows. If the timeframe of the WG 
is extended, a revised set of timelines and next steps will be issued.  
8.1  First round (period after the November 2020 SPS Committee until the March 2021 
SPS Committee):2 
(1) WG participant will submit written proposals concerning topics 1 -4 to the steward s, through 
the Secretariat, no later than 14 December 2020 ; 
(2) The steward s will develop a written document consolidating the input received, which will be 
circulated to all participants of the WG by 4 January 2021 ; 
(3) WG participants will submit written comments on the documents to the steward s, through 
the Secretariat, no later than 1 February 2021 ; 
(4) The steward s will prepare a revised document based on the input an d comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 22 February 2021 ; 
(5) Meeting of the WG on the margins of the March 2021 SPS Committee meeting, where 
WG participants will discuss the revised document ; 
(6) The steward s will report on the work of the WG at the informal March 2021 SPS Committee 
to provide the Membership the opportunity to discuss the work of the WG ; 
(7) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at the informal SPS Committee 
at the formal March 2021 SPS Committee, as appropriate.  
8.2  Second round (period after the March 2021 SPS Committee until the July 2021 
SPS Committee):2 
(1) If necessary, the steward s will circulate a revised set of deadlines for the second and third 
round of the WG following the Mar ch 2021 SPS Committee meeting ; 
(2) The steward s will incorporate the input received during the WG meeting on the margins of 
the SPS Committee meeting and during the informal and formal March 2021 SPS Committee 
meeting. As appropriate, the steward s will identify key themes and concepts, develop 
questions for consideration by the WG, and identify information gaps. The steward s will 
prepare a revised document, which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later 
than 19 April 2021 ; 
(3) WG parti cipants will submit written proposals and comments on the revised documents to 
the steward s, through the Secretariat, no later than 24 May 2021 ; 
(4) The steward s will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 14 June 2021 ; 
(5) Meeting of the WG on the margins of the July 2021 SPS Committee meeting, where WG 
participants wil l discuss the revised document ; 
 
1 Note that timelines and next steps could be revised by the WG as appropriate.  
2 The WG may meet virtually intersessionally, as required.  G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1  
 
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  (6) The steward s will report on the work of the WG at the informal July 2021 SPS Committee to 
provide the Membership the opportunity to discuss the work of the WG ; 
(7) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at  the informal SPS Committee 
at the formal July 2021 SPS Committee, as appropriate.  
8.3  Third round (period after the July 2021 SPS Committee until the November 2021 
SPS Committee):2 
(1) If necessary, the steward s will circulate a revised set of deadlines for the t hird round of the 
WG following the July 2021 SPS Committee meeting ; 
(2) The steward s will incorporate the input received during the WG meeting on the margins of 
the SPS Committee meeting and during the informal and formal July 2021 SPS Committee 
meeting. As ap propriate, the steward s will identify key themes, concepts, and possible future 
work of the Committee on approval procedures; develop questions for consideration by the 
WG; and identify information gaps. The steward s will prepare a revised document, which 
will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 9 August 2021 ; 
(3) WG participants will submit written proposals and comments on the revised documents to 
the steward s, through the Secretariat, no later than 6 September 2021 ; 
(4) The steward s will pr epare a revised document based on the input and comments received 
and summarize the work of the WG, which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no 
later than 4 October 2021 ; 
(5) Meeting of the WG on the margins of the November 2021 SPS Committee mee ting, where 
WG participants will discuss the revised document and the status of the WG ; 
(6) The steward s will report on the work of the WG at the informal November 2021 
SPS Committee. The Membership will discuss the work of the WG, including whether the WG 
will conclude or be extended ; 
(7) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at the informal SPS Committee 
and at the formal November 2021 SPS Committee, as appropriate. The Committee will 
decide whether the WG will conclude or be extended.  
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