G/SPS/GEN/2195  
 
8 February  2024 
(24-1040) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
UPDATE ON OECD ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST TO THE SPS COMMITTEE  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE OECD  
The followi ng communication, received on 8 February  2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
OECD . 
 
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1  SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY ELECTRONIC CERTIFICATES: CURRENT PRACTICES 
AND BENEFITS  
1.1.  Building on previous work on electronic certificates ( Digital opportunities for Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary (SPS) Systems and the trade f acilitation effects of SPS Electronic Certification ; and 
Electronic sanitary certificates for trade in animal products: Opportunities and Challenges ), the OECD 
has started research to address key knowledge and evidence gaps regarding the use and impacts of 
SPS e -certificates. More specifically, the report aims to provide a better understanding of the benefits 
of using SPS e -certificates b y addressing three key questions, namely : i) what is the current use of 
SPS e -certificates ; ii) what was the role of SPS e -certificate during the COVID -19 pandemic and how 
does this enhance our understanding of e -certification's impact on trade ; and iii) w hat is the 
relevance of SPS e -certificates for traceability throughout supply chains. An interim report will be 
presented to the OECD Joint Working Party on Agriculture and Trade in May 2024.  
OECD contact: Edith.La get@oecd.org  and Annelies.Deuss@oecd.org  
2  QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE  
2.1.  OECD is working on a project aiming to explore the interrelations between regulation and 
quality infrastructure. It explores how these two systems support each other and bring sector -
specific examples. A first version of the issues paper will be shared with the OECD Regulatory Policy 
Committee in early April. The project was launched at an expert workshop at the WTO Secretariat 
in May 2023.  
OECD contact: Marianna.karttunen@oecd.org  and alberto.morales@oecd.org  
3  OPTIMISING FOOD SAFETY REGULATORY SYSTEMS FOR ECONOMIC REC OVERY  
3.1.  Following its previous publications on Optimising food safety regulatory systems for economic 
recovery , OECD is offering support to several of its member states to improve the regulatory 
enforcement in the food and veterinary sector. This involves enhancing a risk -based approach to 
enforcement and improving the use of data and strengthen  the State Food and Veterinary Service 
institutional framework.  
OECD contact: Giuseppa.ottimofiore@oecd.org  and alberto.mora les@oecd.org  
4  LARGE -SCALE FOOD FORTIFICATION  
4.1.  As previously reported, the OECD continues working on a project to support improvements in 
the regulatory frameworks for Large -Scale Food Fortification. The project involves bui lding a strong 
assessment and measurement conceptual framework for food fortification regulation as the first step G/SPS/GEN/2195  
 
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  for subsequently developing indicators on policy, regulation and institutional set -up and practical 
implementation to assess the success of f ood fortification regulatory delivery. OECD's work will help 
identify bottlenecks and provide good practice principles and recommendations to strengthen the 
regulatory frameworks for large -scale food fortification and to ensure its effectiveness and 
sustai nability.  
OECD contact: vaia.karapanou@oecd.org  
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