G/SPS/GEN/1874  
 
20 January  2021 
(21-0589) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMATIC SESSION ON AFRICAN SWINE FEVER  
TUES DAY, 23 MARCH  2021 
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
The SPS Committee agreed, at its November 2020 meeting, to hold a thematic session on African 
swine fever (ASF) immediately preceding its March 2021 meeting, based on a proposal submitted 
by the European Union.1 
According to the World Organisation for Ani mal Health (OIE)2, ASF is a severe viral disease affecting 
domestic and wild pigs. ASF is not a risk to human health.  There is no approved vaccine against the 
disease. This transboundary animal disease can be spread by  direct contact with infected live or  
dead pigs; indirect contact, through ingestion of contaminated material (e.g. food waste, feed, or 
garbage); and contaminated fomites or biological vectors , where present.  
Historically, outbreaks have been reported in Africa and parts of Europe, South Ame rica, and the 
Caribbean. More recently, the disease has been reported in multiple countries across Africa, Asia 
and Europe.  It is responsible for serious production and economic losses.  
The thematic session will provide an opportunity for WTO Members to in crease their awareness of 
regionalization principles, and learn from each other by sharing experiences about the challenges, 
as well as the benefits, of  defining safe trade conditions for pigs, pork and pork products . This, in 
turn, should contribute to bu ilding confidence among trading partners when recognizing or seeking 
recognition of their regionalization measures.  
The session will focus on trade -related questions and can be seen as a follow -up to the Thematic 
Session on Regionalization that was held in July 2017.3 It would offer a snapshot of the 
epidemiological situation and a review of available risk management options  based on the OIE 
standards that aim to  mitigate the  negative  economic impact of ASF  by facilitating safe trade 
worldwide.  
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 23 March  2021, beginning at 
10 a.m. , and continuing in the afternoon at 15:00 , as necessary. The thematic session can be 
attended virtually through  the Interprefy platform.  
 
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Chairperson:  Mr Gregory MacDonald   
 
1 G/SPS/W/322 . 
2 Key facts on African swine fever , OIE: https://www.oie.int/en/animal -health -in-the-world/animal -
diseases/african -swine -fever/ . 
3 The information on the Thematic Session on Regionalization can be found in the following link: 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/wkshop11july17_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/1874  
 
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  1  RELEVANT  PROVISIONS OF THE SPS AGREEMENT  AND WORK OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
Speaker:  
• WTO  Secretariat  
2  OVERVIEW: INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, WORLDWIDE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL  
SITUATION AND  ECONOMIC IMPACT  
Speakers:  
• OIE secretariat :  
o Terrestrial Animal Health Code  
o Epidemiological Situation Worldwide  
• TBC:  
o Economic impact worldwide, future of global pig production  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
3  SHARING OF NATIONAL EXPERIENCE S 
Speakers : 
• European Commission : Tools to ensure safe trade in the EU Single Market  
• TBC: Examples of successful eradication of ASF  
• TBC: Trade in pork – The perspective of a Member  where ASF is endemic in wildlife  
• TBC: Management of international and domestic trade of a major pork producer  
• TBC: Assessment and managements of import risks related to ASF  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
4  INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL INITIATIVES  
Speaker s: 
• TBC: Regional/cross border cooperation and global partnerships (global action)  
• TBC: Scientific collaboration  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
5  CLOSING REMARKS  
 
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