G/SPS/GEN/2176  
 
21 November 2023 
(23-7841) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
SUMMARY OF THE TWO -PART APEC FOOD SAFETY COOPERATION FORUM WORKSHOP  
ON "RISK COMMUNICATION RELATED TO MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS"  
SUBMISSION BY THE UNITED STATES  OF AMERICA  
The following submission, received on 20 November 2023, is the statement made by the 
United  States of America at the 15-17 November  2023 WTO SPS Committee, and is being circulated 
at the request of the Delegation of the United States of America . 
 
_________ ______  
 
 
1.  On 22 August 2022 and 15 -16 May 2023, the Asia -Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 
economies held a two -part workshop series titled, "Risk Communication Related to Maximum 
Residue Limits (MRLs)," that aimed to strengthen APEC member economies' cap acity to conduct 
risk communication.  
2.  The workshops, which were held in Thailand and the United States, respectively, and 
co-sponsored by Australia and Canada, provided examples and best practices to improve 
transparency and confidence in navigating informa tion bias. The workshops were held as part of the 
Food Safety Cooperation Forum (FSCF) under the Sub -Committee on Standards and Conformance 
(SCSC).  
3.  Workshop participants discussed the effects of media, communication bias, and information 
sharing between ri sk assessors and risk managers, and identified best practices for regulators' 
science -based risk communication on pesticide residues.  
4.  The workshops included presentations from experts across the APEC region. The first workshop 
highlighted the importance of  developing an effective risk communication strategy on MRLs through 
the use of science -based evidence, concise communication, and transparency. The outcomes 
discussed by participants informed the second workshop, during which panel discussions with 
econom ists, industry, and journalists highlighted perspectives on science communication to the 
public.  
5.  Workshop organizers provided APEC economies with background information, frameworks, 
guidelines, summary deliverables and examples for member economies to impl ement best practices 
related to MRL risk communication.  
6.  As active Members of APEC, we are pleased to share this work with Members of the WTO 
SPS Committee, and we will keep the Committee updated as this work continues. The workshop laid 
the groundwork for future cooperation and collaboration among APEC economies related to risk 
communication in food and agriculture. Workshops, trainings, and other activities are being 
conceptualized as a result of the workshop's successful implementation.  
7.  Interim field guid es from all working groups will soon be published on the US Department of 
Agriculture's website, with the goal of publishing all by early 2024, after which the guides will be 
uploaded to APEC's website, pending endorsement.  G/SPS/GEN/2176  
 
- 2 - 
 
  8.  Recognizing that risk communication has been identified as an important topic for the 
SPS Committee , most recently by the Committee's decision to hold the "Thematic Session on Risk 
Communication, Misinformation and Disinformation", the United States invite s all Members to review 
the information when it is available and consider its possible relevance in future Committee 
discussions, including those that may take place under the Sixth Review of the Operation and 
Implementation of the SPS Agreement.  
 
________ __