G/SPS/W/344/Rev.1  
 
14 September 2023 
(23-6134) 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 t he 
SPS Agreement , as instructed by Ministers in the SPS Declaration adopted at the Twelfth Ministerial 
Conference ( WT/MIN(22)/27 ). 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, guidelines, 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 international 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 d isease -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 measu res on the 
export possibilities of such Members.  
2.  The Committee consulted with a wide range  of stakeholders , including the international standard 
setting bodies, other SPS Committee  observer organi zations, Member s' competent authorities, 
agricultural produc ers, food manufacturers and traders , and the Standards and Trade 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 c overed new 
opportunities and emerging challenges for international 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 environme ntal challenges;  growing importance of 
sustainable agricultural practices and production systems, including their contribution to addressing 
climate change and biodiversity conservation;  shifting pressures due to the spread of pests  and 
diseases, increasin g threat of antimicrobial resistance, as well as emerging infectious diseases linked G/SPS/W/344/Rev.1  
 
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  with the human -animal -environment interface; and  continued application of SPS measures that 
would constitute a disguised restriction on international trade . 
3.  Based on its d iscussions, the Committee presents  the following findings : 
a. The SPS Agreement  continues  to support safe international trade in food, animal and plant 
products, thereby contributing to food security. Aligning SPS measures and procedures 
with the SPS Agreement , in particular with provisions on the  use of international 
standards , scientific princi ples 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 pa rticular relevance of science, research and innovation as a means to 
sustainably increase production to feed a growing world population, while securing the 
livelihood of farmers and addressing the emerging challenges listed in paragraph 2. In this 
regard, the Committee recognizes that there  is no "one -size-fits-all" approach to improving 
the sustainab ility of food and  agricultural systems  across WTO Members, taking into 
account the differences in local and regional conditions.  
c. The Committee recognizes that SPS 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  and 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 restr ictions. 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 Comm ittee 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 exchan ge. 
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, main tain 
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 r egard. 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 . 
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 Review of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement  and in specific thematic 
sessions and events, as appropriate.  
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