G/SPS/GEN/2015  
 
8 April 2022 
(22-2891) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English   
 
WORKSHOP ON TRANSPARENCY  
MONDAY, 20 JUNE 2022 
WTO , CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
Note by the Secretariat1 
1.  In November 2021, t he SPS Committee agreed  that the SPS thematic workshop  to be held in 
June 2022  would focus on transparenc y. As explained  at the March  2022 SPS Committee meetings , 
the workshop would offer an opportunity to provide further training on the new ePing SPS&TBT 
Platform  that went live on 28 March 2022.  Members will also be invited to share their experiences 
on the use of outreach/communication  function alities . 
2.  By way of background, the new Platform integrates all SPS and TBT transparency tools as well 
as the ePing alert system into a single platform. It includes var ious functions related to notifications,  
STCs, and information exchange , and is available for use by both Members and the broader public , 
including the private sector . 
3.  Members are invited to submit comments on this first draft programm e and suggest  speaker s by 
Friday,  22 April  2022. The Secretariat will circulate a revised version of the programme  after 
taking into consideration  the comments received.  
4.  The workshop  will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday , 20 June 2022, beginning  at 10:00  
(CET). The workshop  can be attended in person or virtually (platform  TBC). 
5.  In addition, a  "notifications clinic"  will be held virtually at 15:00  (CET) (platform  TBC) and will 
afford SPS notification authorities and enquiry points the possibility to address any concerns on the 
use of the notification submission functionalities of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform , in direct 
consultation with the Secretariat.   
6.  Interpretation will be provided i n English, French, and Spanish  for both the workshop and the 
"notifications clinic".   
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/SPS/GEN/2015  
 
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  WORKSHOP  ON TRANSPARENCY  – DRAFT PROGRAMME  
MONDA Y, 20 JUNE 2022 (10:00 –13:00) 
Opening remarks  by the Chairperson of the SPS Committee  
Overview of t he workshop and its objectives  
Session 1: Introduction  
▪ Overview of the transparency provisions of the SPS Agreement and of relevant 
Committee/Ministerial Decisions  
Speaker(s):  WTO Secret ariat 
Session 2:  Transparency work in the TBT Committee  
▪ Report on  ongoing transparency -related work in the TBT  Committee  
Speaker(s):  WTO Secretariat  
Session 3: WTO tools and sources of SPS information  
▪ Documents Online; ePing  SPS&TBT Platform; eAgenda; Trade Concerns Database  
Speaker(s):  WTO Secretariat  
Session 4: Overview of t he new ePing SPS&TBT Platform  
Speaker(s):  WTO Secretariat  
Session 5: Outreach  functions of the new ePing SPS&TBT Platform  
▪ Overview of outreach  functions  
Speaker(s):  WTO Secretariat  
▪ Members' experiences in using outreach and communication  functions: national and 
international fora; sharing of information on notifications (comments, unofficial 
translations, other)  
Speaker(s):  TBC 
Closing remarks  
 
NOTIFICATIONS CLINIC  
MONDA Y, 20 JUNE 2022 (15:00-16:30) 
 
"Notifications clinic" dedicated to the  notification submission functions of the new 
ePing SPS&TBT Platform  
This session targets SPS notification authorities and enquiry points  or other officials involved in 
completing and submitting notifications . It will afford them the possibility to address any 
concerns on the use of the notification submission functionalities of the ePing SPS&TBT Platform . 
 
 
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