G/SPS/W/319/Rev.1  
 
18 October  2019 
(19-6826) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
STRENGTHENING THE CONSULTATIVE  FUNCTION OF THE SPS COMMITTEE  
SUBMISSION FROM BRAZ IL 
Revision  
The following communication, received on 18 October  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Brazil . 
 
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The proposed draft Decision encompasses a  list of topics that result ed from five informal discussions 
held at the sidelines of the SPS Committee this year  and that wa s reviewed according to Members' 
suggestions received in October . The issues included herein are the ones where there seems to be 
convergence.  
This proposal  seeks to improve the consultation process among Members, without any changes to 
their rights and o bligations under WTO rules , so that we can make better use of the Committee's 
meetings. Being able to discuss issues effectively and efficiently will facilitate consultations among 
Members, increasing the likelihood of resolving concerns within the Committ ee, which should be one 
of our main goals.  
DRAFT DECISION ON STRENGTHENING THE CONSULTATIVE  FUNCTION  
OF THE SPS COMMITTEE1 
The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ("the Committee"),  
Having regard to paragraph 1 of Article 12 of the Agreement o n the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures ("the Agreement");  
Recalling that Members may bring to the attention of the Committee trade concerns on any sanitary 
or phytosanitary issue, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures proposed, ad opted or 
implemented by another Member, aiming at addressing and resolving the issue through discussions 
among the Members;  
Desiring to strengthen the deliberative function of the Committee by further facilitating consultations 
among Members on specific sa nitary or phytosanitary issues;  
Recognizing that it is desirable to promote a high level of transparency and understanding about the 
sanitary or phytosanitary issues brought by the Members before the Committee, while preserving 
the oral nature of the discussions held on the regular sessions of the Committee;  
Seeking to improve the regular work of the Committee and to complement its Working Procedures, 
in ways that do not add to the Members ' substantive obligations, in order to enhance transparency 
                                                
1 This is a first approximation made by Brazil to try to ca pture members view and concerns and  to be 
the basis for discuss ions at both the next informal and formal meeting o f the SPS Committee in November. 
Brazil intends to circulate a  revised version by the first SPS Committee meeting in 2020  for decision.  G/SPS/W/319/Rev.1  
 
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  and Members ' ability to take part in the discussions of specific sanitary and phytosanitary issues 
brought before the Committee:  
Decides as follows:  
1.  When requesting the inclusion of a trade concern in the agenda of the Committee's regular 
meeting, Members shal l provide a substantive description of the concern. Members should consider 
including  in the description , when appropriate, clear identif ication of:  the proposed, adopted or 
implemented sanitary or phytosanitary measure(s) or issue(s) at stake; the product(s) affected by 
the measure(s); the relevant provision(s) of the Agreement; and short references of any previous 
treatment or discussion of the same  or a similar trade concern in another WTO body.  
2.  The request to include a trade concern in the agenda  and its substantive description  shall be 
submitted through an online system established for that purpose, no later than 22 calendar days 
before the meetin g in which the concern is intended to be discussed.  
3.  The Secretariat shall circulate, in advance of the Committee's regular meeting, a notice convening 
the meeting in the form of an annotated agenda that contains the compilation of all trade concerns 
submit ted to be discussed in that meeting  and their respective substantive descriptions . 
4.  Without prejudice to any oral statement delivered at the meeting, the responding Member shall 
submit its written reply to the raised concern through the online system establ ished for that purpose, 
no later than 20 calendar days after the meeting. For greater certainty, the responding Member 
could submit the statement delivered at the meeting and/or an additional and more comprehensive 
response. In any case, in its reply, the responding Member sh ould endeavor to fully address the 
substance of the concerns.  
5.  All written trade concerns and replies submitted to the online system shall be made publicly 
available , unless a Member requests otherwise . The Secretariat shall establish an d manage a 
searchable online database on trade concerns, in which all written trade concerns and replies shall 
be recorded.  
6.  At the beginning of each regular session, the Secretariat shall remind Members about the 
existence of the Catalogue of Instruments A vailable to WTO Members to Manage SPS Issues 
(G/SPS/63 ), as well as about the  possibility to request Chairperson's assistance pursuant to 
paragraph 6 of the Working Procedures of the Committee ( G/SPS/1 ) and to resort to the procedures 
set forth in document "Procedure to Encourage and Facilitate the Resolution of Specific Sanitary or 
Phytosanitary Issues among Members in Accordance with Article 12.2" ( G/SPS/61 ). 
7.  When organizing thematic sessions and workshops, the Secretariat shall pro vide the means for 
the remote participation (through live streaming) [of previously registered attendees].  
8.  The Secretariat shall circulate the draft of the summary report of a regular meeting of the 
Committee within 20 calendar days after the meeting, for Members to present their comments. The 
final summary report , which takes into account Members ' comments  , should be circulated within 
30 calendar days after the meeting and not later than 40 calendar days before the next regularly 
scheduled meeting of the Committee.   
9.  The Secretariat shall adjust the online notification database [SPS -IMS or ePing] in order to 
facilitate the submission and publication of translations of notified SPS measures , including 
unidentified/anonymous submissions if submitted by regist ered delegates. There shall be a 
distinctive identification in case of translations prepared or authorized by the notifying Member.  
10.  Nothing in this Decision shall be construed as affecting the rights and obligations of Members 
contained in the Agreement on  the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  
 
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