G/SPS/GEN/1890  
 
19 March 2021 
(21-2328) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SUMMARY OF NOVEMBER'S SEMINAR  
"FARMERS ' PERSPECTIVES ON SPS CHALLENGES  
FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION AND TRADE"  
SUBMISSION  BY CANADA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, ECUADOR, GUATEMALA,  
PARAGUAY, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
The following document , received on 18 March  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation s of Canada , Colombia , Costa Rica , Ecuador , Guatemala , Paraguay , and the United Sta tes 
of America . 
 
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1.  On 2 November 2020, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and the 
United States organized a virtual seminar entitled "Farmers ' Perspectives on SPS Challenges for 
Sustainable Food Production and Trade " as part of the SPS Committee week . 
2.  Building upon concerns expressed by many WTO Members on SPS issues, the objective of the 
seminar was to provide a forum to discuss real -world SPS challenges that farmers around the globe 
face to safely and sustainably produce and trade food. Speakers in the session addressed a broad 
array of issues, including food security, climate change, COVID -19, changes to maximum residue 
levels (MRLs), sustainable food production and trade, scientific evidence, risk -communication with 
civil society to enable consumer s' trust, the role of Codex in international trade, challenges for small 
farmers and policy makers, and what can be done to overcome those challenges. Various 
perspectives were presented by the FAO, governments, and actual farmers and exporters.  
3.  A diverse group of farmers representing different continents, climates, cropping systems, 
production methods, marketing channels, and export markets discussed their farms and businesses, 
their SPS -related challenges, and the regulatory and technological tools they h ave available.  
4.  Panelists identified the following challenges facing agriculture and its producers:  
a) Growing population and demographic changes;  
b) Uneven impacts of climate change;  
c) Impact of evolving pest and disease pressures in different regions and climates;  
d) Challenges associated with MRLs, including decisions regarding the approval and renewal of 
active substances that are not based on risk assessment techniques developed by the 
relevant international organizations;  
e) Cost of compliance and of violation of MRLs, cost of registration for minor crops, default 
setting of MRLs at the limit of quantification and impact of these policies on producers;  
f) Insufficient transitional periods to adapt to regulatory changes, complexity for producers of 
following the changing and different MRL requirements in different markets, new and more 
stringent requirements, and lack of alternatives to adapt to these new regulations;  
g) Lower profitability due to  costs associated with overcoming regulatory burdens;  
h) Accessibility of tools to deal with pests, diseases, and production challenges;  
i) Misinformation about agriculture and food safety.  G/SPS/GEN/1890  
 
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  5.  Panelists also identified the following opportunities facing agriculture  and its producers:  
a) Promoting a synchronized global approach on MRLs though the harmonization of standards, 
which should be based on science, risk assessment and follow international standards;  
b) Proper use of plant protection products, combined with innovat ion and modern 
biotechnology;  
c) Digitalization, new technologies, and innovation can provide new opportunities in trade and 
production agriculture;  
d) Partnerships with the private sector, and the value of working together to solve problems;  
e) Better communicatio n with consumers to build trust in science -based evidence and refute 
misinformation and misperceptions about food and agriculture;  
f) The value of international standards and the International Standard Setting bodies (ISSBs), 
especially Codex Alimentarius for  food safety standards, and the importance of harmonization 
with those standards for facilitating trade.  
6.  Panelists remarked that governments have a responsibility, both to consumers and farmers, to 
achieve the proper balance between food safety objectives and the requirements for safe and 
profitable agricultural production. Climatic conditions in different parts of the world require different 
strategies for pest management and adaptation.  
7.  Panelists highlighted the benefit of informing the public of the cons equences of policy choices 
and suggested that greater involvement of scientists and producers in decision making processes 
may be critical to finding solutions to challenges faced by producers around the world. From the 
panelists ' perspective, a collaborat ive and inclusive approach that takes into account Members ' own 
unique circumstances will be needed.  
8.  The panelists  left the participants with some closing thoughts. When measures are not based on 
science, consumer confidence decreases and confusion about food safety increases. There is a need 
to better communicate risk to consumers, and utilize the work of the ISSBs, such as 
Codex  Alimentarius Commission, in standard setting. Panelists made a call to the participants of the 
seminar and the SPS delegates to maintain their commitment and constructive work, and to continue 
the dialogue and find a way forward that works fo r all farmers, consumers, and the planet. 
Several  mentioned the importance of the work in the SPS Committee, the Approval Procedures 
Working Group, and the MC12 Declaration and Work Programme.  
9.  Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and  the United States invite all 
Members to engage meaningfully and collaboratively on these pressing issues at the WTO, 
in particular in the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  
10.  The Seminar recordings are available online in English, Spanish, an d French here: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChr4LpCLzLVlp6PK0LPIR7w . 
11.  The report on the global economic impact of missing and low pesticide MRLs, which was 
presented at the seminar, and other details from the seminar are available online here:  
https://geneva.usmission.gov/2020/11/12/farmers -perspectives -on-sps-challenges -for-
sustainable -food-production -and-trade/ . 
 
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