G/SPS/GEN/1704/Rev.1  
 
18 October 2019 
(19-6810) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMAT IC SESSION ON APPROVAL PROCEDURES  
TUESDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2019  
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
Revision  
In the context of the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  (SPS Agreement), Canada submitted a proposal 
for the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Co mmittee) to consider holding a 
thematic session on approval procedures in November 2019.1 At the March 2019 meeting, the 
SPS Committee agreed to the proposal.  
The session will explore concepts within Article 8 and Annex C of the Agreement, as they relate to  
approval procedures in the context of the current trading environment, and any related issues 
concerning the implementation of the Agreement. It will focus on – but not be limited to – approval 
procedures related to those products or categories of product s that require approval as a pre -
requisite to their importation or placing on the market, including for approval of the use of  additives 
or for the establishment of tolerances for  contaminants in food, beverages or feedstuffs . 
This thematic session builds on the Workshop on Control, Inspection and Approval Procedures which 
was held on 9 -10 July 2018.2 
The first draft programme, based on the structure suggested by Canada, was discussed at the 2019 
July SPS Committee meetings. Members were invited to submit c omments on that first draft 
programme and suggest speakers. This final version of the programme takes into consideration  
comments and suggestions received.  
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 5 November  2019, beginning 
at 10 am , and continue in the afternoon at 3 pm, as necessary.  
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Chairperson : Ms Debora Cumes Ma riscal 
1  THE SPS AGREEMENT , GUIDANCE  AND RELEVANT JURISP RUDENCE  
Review of the provisions of the SPS Agreement (Article 8 and Annex C), C ommittee guidance and 
relevant dispute settlement reports  related to approval procedures   
Speaker:  Mr Rolando Alcala, WTO Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
                                                
1 G/SPS/W/310 . 
2 G/SPS/GEN/1613/Rev.2  (workshop programme) and G/SPS/R/91  (report of the workshop).  
Presentations are also available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/workshop910718_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/1704 /Rev.1  
 
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2  RELEVANT INTERNATION AL STANDARDS  
Explore how the relevant international standards , guidelines or recommendations  can inform 
approval procedures and assist in meeting the obligations related to approval procedures as outlined 
in Annex C . 
Speakers:  
▪ Codex Alimentarius: Codex guidance on import and export requiremen ts including safety 
assessment of foods derived from biotechnology , Ms Gracia Brisco, Codex Secretariat  
▪ IPPC : Guidance for determining and justifying phytosanitary import requirements, including 
for LMOs that pose a pest risk , Mr Brent Larson, Implementati on and Facilitation Unit Leader, 
IPPC Secretariat  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3  SHARING OF MEMBERS' SUCCESSES, CHALLENGE S, CONSIDERATIONS, I MPACTS AND 
BEST PRACTICES RELAT ED TO APPROVAL PROCE DURES  
Experiences related to completing approval procedures . 
3.1  Importing Members' Perspective  
Speakers:  
▪ Canada : Canada’s regulatory approach to approval procedures from an import perspective , 
Mr Evan Lewis, Director, Trade Agreements Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency  
▪ Ukraine : Update of Ukranian legislation on approval procedures , Dr Olena Koreata, Head of 
Directorate for International Cooperation, State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and 
Consumer Protection  
▪ China: System evaluation and enterprise  registration  in the SPS area , Mr Kong Xiaobang, 
Deputy Director, General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China  
▪ European Union: Authorization of imports of food of animal origin into the EU , Dr John 
McEvoy, Head of Unit, Directorate -General for Health and Food Safety,  European 
Commission  
▪ South Africa : Experience relating to completing approval procedures , Dr Ernest Phoku, 
Director, Inspection Services at the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural 
Development of South Africa  
3.2  Exporting Members' Perspective  
Speakers:  
▪ New Zealand: Experiences with respect to international approval and inspection 
requirements , Dr Bill Jolly, Chief Assurance Strategy Officer, New Zealand Ministry for 
Primary Industries  
▪ Turkey: Enhancing the institutional environment through a participatory approach , Mr Isil 
Aytem iz Danyer, European Union Expert, General Directorate of EU and Foreign Affairs, 
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry  
3.3  Challenges and Costs associated with Approval Procedures  
Speakers:  
▪ Paraguay:  Challenges ass ociated with approaches to biotech approvals , Mr Santiago 
Bertoni, Advisor on International Trade Issues for the Minister of Agriculture  
▪ United States : Costs of asynchronous biotech approvals on trade, investment and 
innovation , Mr Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, Professor, Division of Applied Social Sciences, 
University of Missouri  G/SPS/GEN/1704 /Rev.1  
 
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Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
4  APPROACHES TO FACILI TATE APPROVAL PROCED URES  
Overview of initiatives that could facilitate effective, efficient approval procedu res, enable access to 
tools and technologies, and facilitate international trade.  
4.1  Members' Initiatives  
Speakers:   
▪ Turkey: Recent applications for trade facilitation , Ms Tugba Adiguzel Kargin, European Union 
Expert, General Directorate of EU and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry ; 
and Mr Mehmet Nadir Guneri, Trade Expert, General Directorate of Product Safety and 
Inspections, Ministry of Trade  
4.2  Private Sector  Perspective  
Speakers:   
▪ International  Grain Trade Coalition  (IGTC) : The grain trade perspective on approval 
procedures for biotech and pesticides , Ms Krista Thomas, Vice President of Canada Grains 
Council and IGTC LLP  
▪ MAIZALL (International Maize Alliance) : The maize -grower perspective on approval 
procedures for biotech and pe sticides , Mr Juan Minvielle, President , MAIZALL  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
5  CLOSING  
Roundtable  moderated by Canada  
Discussion on some overarching themes such as:  
▪ Based on the discussions throughout the thematic session, in Member 's views , what are 
aspects of approval procedures that enable the facilitation of international trade?  
▪ What are the key challenges of approval procedures faced by industry and by importing and 
exporting countries that Members should seek to address?  
▪ As a next step,  how can the SPS Committee enhance the implementation of approval 
procedures consistent with the obligations of the SPS Agreement that facilitate trade?  
▪ What are  possible areas for future work by the SPS Committee ? 
▪ As a next step, is there work the international standard -setting bodies  could undertake to 
provide further guidance to Members to help ensure approval procedures do not create 
unjustified barriers to trade ? 
Speakers:   
▪ Ms Krista Thomas, Vice President of Ca nada Grains Council and IGTC LLP  
▪ Mr Santiago Bertoni, Advisor on International Trade Issues for the Minister of Agriculture , 
Paraguay  
▪ Mr Carlos Alvarez Antolinez, Advis or, European Commission  
▪ Ms Gracia Brisco, Codex Secretariat  
 
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