G/SPS/W/330/Rev.1  
 
10 November  2022 
(22-8403)  Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY DECLARATION FOR THE  
TWELFTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE: RESPONDING  
TO MODERN SPS CHALLENGES (WT/MIN(22)/27 ) 
PROPOSED PROCESS  FOR T HE WORK PROGRAMME  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
Revision  
1.  The SPS Declaration for MC12, adopted by Ministers in June 2022, instructs the SPS Committee 
to carry out a work programme, open to all Members and Observers. The Committee is to address 
the outcomes of this work programme and report on key findings and action s undertaken as a result 
of this work to the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference  (MC13)  with recommendations, as appropriate.  
2.  The work will be carried out in the SPS Committee. In between meetings of t he SPS Committee, 
Members  and Observers  have the possibility to work together in thematic groups , led by 
(co)stewards,  on specific themes identified in paragraph 8 of the SPS Declaration.  The (co)stewards  
will play the role of neutral facilitators of the w ork in the thematic groups.  The thematic groups 
will be open to all Members  and interested Observers , who will be able to join any of the groups 
at any time.2 These thematic groups will suggest ideas and /or submit proposals for discussion in the 
SPS Committee.  
3.  An initial timeline until November 2022 was circulated for Members' consideration, recognizing 
that some of the dates may need to be modified in light of other activities and/or resource 
constraints.3 Based on inputs from Members, the Secretariat prepare d a more complete  proposed 
process  for the work programme until MC13 for adoption at the November 2022 meeting of 
the SPS Committee.  Members and Observers were invited to submit comments on this documen t by 
16 September 2022 . This revision of the proposed timeline incorporates lessons learnt since the 
launch of the process, as well as  comments provided by Members in writing and at  the 
November  Committee meeting.  
4.  In addition to the proposed process  detailed in this document, Members may wish to consider 
the possibility of complementing the work in thematic groups by dedicated thematic sessions , 
workshops, webinars  or additional specific discussions on particular  topics . Members were invited 
to submit prop osals for such thematic sessions, workshops, webinars etc. , with a view  to agreeing 
the Committee's schedule of such events for 2023 at the Committee meeting in November 2022.  
  
 
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.  
2 Meeting times will be communicated to all SPS Committee delegates; work may  also take place in 
writing.  
3 See document G/SPS/W/329 . G/SPS/W/330/Rev.1  
 
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  Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference , 12-17 June 2022  
• Adoption by consensus of the SPS Declaration: Responding to Modern Challenges  
Informal and formal meetings of the SPS Committee, 22 -24 June 2022  
• Preliminary d iscussions on the work programme for the SPS Declaration  
22 July  2022  
• Members indicate their interest in participating in work of thematic groups on specific 
topics identified in the SPS Declaration work programme  
• Members propose colleagues  to act as (co)stewards for thematic  groups  
• Members submit suggestions for the organization or the work programme  until MC13  
Late July 2022  
• Secretariat circulates list of Members and Observers  that volunteered to participate in the  
thematic  groups on specific topics identified in the SPS Declaration  work programme , and 
possible (co)stewards , in consultation with the Chairperson  
• Secretariat circulates a draft timeline for the work programme until MC13, based on inputs 
from Members, in consultation with the Chairperson  
September  – October  2022  
• Thematic groups meet virtually to develop a common understanding regarding the scope 
of their work  
• Friday , 16 September 2022: Members and Observers submit comments on the draft 
timeline for the work programme until MC13  
• Tuesday, 4 October 2022  (14h00 -17h00): Intersessional  SPS Committee 
consultations , (co)stewards to report on work in thematic  groups , consideration o f 
proposals for thematic sessions, workshops, webinars etc. on particular topics  
Informal and formal meetings of the SPS Committee, 9 -11 November  2022  
• (Co)stewards present  oral summaries on the work of  thematic groups on topics identified 
in the SPS Declaration work programme  
• Discussion of the oral summaries  submitted by thematic  groups  in the informal meeting, 
with reporting to the formal meeting of the Committee  
• Timeline for the work programme  until MC13  adopted by the SPS Committee , possibly 
including thematic sessions, workshops, webinars etc. on particular topics  
February – early March 2023  
• Early February 202 3: Thematic groups meet in hybrid format , with interpretation,  to 
advance work on the topic s identified in the SPS Declaration work programme   
• Early February 202 3: Intersessional SPS Committee consultations , (co)stewards to 
report on work in thematic groups  
• 1 March 20234: (Co)stewards submit proposals/ summaries of the work in thematic groups  
Informal and formal meetings of the SPS Committee, 22 -24 March 2023  
• Thematic groups meet in hybrid format, with interpretation, prior to the informal meeting 
of the SPS Committee  
• Discussion of the proposals/ summaries submitted by thematic groups in  the informal 
meeting, with reporting to the formal meeting of the Committee  
May – June 2023  
• May 2023 : Thematic groups meet in hybrid format, with interpretation, to advance work on 
the topics identified in the SPS Declaration work programme  
• May 2023 : Intersessional SPS Committee consultations , (co)stewards to report on 
work in thematic groups  
• May/June 2023 : (Co)stewards submit reports, including key findings  and actions with 
recommendations, as appropriate, that could serve as a basis for the Committee report to 
MC13  
 
4 1 March 2023 is the d eadline for submission of documents for the SPS Committee meeting on 
22-24 March 2023.  G/SPS/W/330/Rev.1  
 
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  • 21 June 20235: Secretariat circulates draft report, including key findings  and actions with 
recommendations, as appropriate  
Informal and  formal  meetings of the SPS Committee, 12-14 July 2023  
• Discussion of the draft report, including key findings  and actions with recommendations, as 
appropriate,  in the informal meeting, with reporting to the formal meeting of the Committee  
September - October 2023  
• Deadline  after the Committee meetings  for Members and Observers to submit comments on 
the draft report, including key findings  and actions with recommendations, as appropriate  
• Secretariat circulates  revised report , including key findings  and actions with 
recommendations, as appropriate  
• Intersessional SPS Committee consultations , (co)stewards to report on work in 
thematic groups  
• 25 October 20236: Secretariat circulates revised draft report, including key findings  and 
actions with recommen dations, as appropriate, that could serve as a basis for the Committee 
report to MC13  
Informal and formal meetings of the SPS Committee, 15 -17 November 2023  
• Discussion /adoption  of the revised draft report, including key findings  and actions with 
recommendations, as appropriate, that could serve as a basis for the Committee report to 
MC13  
Thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference , 2023 -2024  
• Report ing to MC13  
 
__________  
 
5 21 June 2023 is the deadline for submission of documents for the SPS Committee meeting on 
28-30 June 2023.  
6 25 October is the deadline for submission of documents for  the SPS Committee meeting on 
15-17 November 2023.