G/L/1519  
 
24 November 202 3 
(23-7959) Page: 1/5 
   
 
REPORT (20 23) ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON  
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
1.1.  The present report is being circulated by the Chairperson of the Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Committee) on his own responsibility. This report provides a summary 
of the activities of the SPS Committee during 202 3. 
1.2.  The SPS Committee held its formal meetings (in hybrid mode) on 2 2-24 March, 12-14 July , 
and 15-17 November 202 3. Members continued to use eAgenda  to submit agenda items, raise and 
support specific trade concerns (STCs), and upload statements.  
1.3.  Mr Tang -Kai Wang ( Chinese Taipei ) had been elec ted in June 2022 as Chairperson for 
2022-2023. Mr Tayutic Mena (Costa Rica) was elected as the new Chairperson for 2023-2024.  
MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme  
1.4.  During the first part of 2023, Members continued to undertake the Work Programme foreseen 
in the SPS Declaration for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference on Responding to Modern 
SPS Challenges ( MC12 SPS Declaration )1 through the f ive thematic groups that had been set up in 
June 2022, namely on: (1) how to facilitate global food security and more sustainable food systems; 
(2) how to support basing SPS measures on scientific evidence and principles; (3)  how to enhance 
the safe intern ational trade in food, animals and plants and products thereof through the adaptation 
of SPS measures to regional conditions; (4) how to encourage cooperation with observer 
organizations that support the work of the SPS Committee and the international stan dard-setting 
bodies (ISSBs); and (5) how to increase participation of and support for the special needs of 
developing and least developed country Members in the development and application of 
SPS measures.2 
1.5.  These thematic groups , led by stewards,  continue d their discussions  and heard  presentations  
from a broad range of stakeholders including  Members,  ISSBs, international organizations and 
producers, on different topics related to the ongoing discussions in the context of the MC12 
SPS Declaration . Further i nformation on the thematic groups' work is contained in the reports that 
each of the stewards circulated in March 2023 (G/SPS/W/332  to G/SPS/W/ 3363) and in May 2023 
(G/SPS/W/339 to G/SPS/W/ 3434), and also from the dedicated webpage  of the SPS  Declaration 
Work Programme . 
1.6.  During the second part of 2023, a t the Committee's request, the former Chair person  
(Mr Tang-Kai Wang) continue d in the role of Facilitator to finaliz e the outcome documents of  
the MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme.  Based on inputs from Members and the discussions in 
the thematic groups , intersessional consultations  and Committee  meetings , two draft outcome 
 
1 The MC12 Declaration instructed the SPS Committee to launch a work programme to further enhance 
the implementation of the SPS Agreement in light of new opportunities and emerging challenges 
(WT/MIN(22)/27 ). 
2 At the June 2022 SPS Committee meeting, Members decided to organize thematic groups to discuss 
each of the five themes specifically identified in the Declaration. A summary of the discussions held in the 
informal June 2022 meeting is available in Section 2 of Annex C to the summary report of the June 2022 
meeting ( G/SPS/R/107 ). 
3 G/SPS/W/332  (Group 1);  G/SPS/W/333  (Group 2); G/SPS/W/336  (Group 3); G/SPS/W/334  (Group 4)  
and G/SPS/W/335  (Group 5).  
4 G/SPS/W/339  (Group 1); G/SPS/W/340  (Group 2); G/SPS/W/341  (Group 3); G/SPS/W/342  (Group 4)  
and G/SPS/W/343  (Group 5).  G/L/1519  
 
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  documents  were prepared : (i) a factual summary  of the  MC12 SPS Declaration Work Programme5; 
and (ii) a  draft report  to be presented to Ministers at MC13 .6 Members first discussed these 
documents in the July  Committee meeting,  and then revised versions in the September 
intersessional consultations and November  Committee meeting . During this period, the Facilitator 
also consulted with Members who had provided inputs on the text. In the November Committee 
meeting, the factual summary was finalized and subsequently circulated in document G/SPS/ 70. 
Members also agreed to finalize the text of the report to MC13 . Since a couple of delegations 
requested more time for internal procedures, the Chairperson urged them to complete them by the 
end of November. After that, the Chairperson will circulate the report (G/SPS/GEN/344/Rev.3 ) again  
in early December, proposing its adoption before the end of the year.  
Working Group on Approval Procedures  
1.7.  In March 2023 , the Working Group on Approval Procedures7 concluded its work and developed 
three output documents  for the SPS  Committee's considerat ion: (i) a comprehensive record of 
its work ( G/SPS/GEN/2097 ); (ii) a collection of available tools and resources  (G/SPS/GEN/2098 ); 
and (iii) an overview of outcomes and recommendations ( G/SPS/GEN/2099 ). The Collection of 
available Tools and Resources , and the Recommendations were succ essfully adopted by the 
SPS Committee ( G/SPS/67  and G/SPS/68 ) in March 2023. The Collection lists readily available 
resources at the disposal of Members looking to adopt or refine SPS approval procedures. 
The Recommendations encourage Members to consider the use of SPS  Committee mechanisms to 
facilitate discussions on a pproval procedures, to explore the need for additional guidance or tools, 
and to further the implementation of the SPS Agreement in relation to approval procedures. 
Among  other things, Members are encouraged to: (i)  make information available on official w ebsites, 
ideally  in multiple languages, and to use e -tools to provide clear and timely information; 
(ii) have up-to-date contact details on the e -Ping SPS&TBT Platform; (iii) notify new or changed 
approval procedures; (iv) provide information proactively a t the start of the approval process; 
(v) maintain an open and ongoing communication throughout approval processes; and 
(vi) use international tools for the electronic exchange of certificates. Members are also encouraged 
to engage in regulatory cooperation  and to make use of modern technologies and practices, such as 
remote audits.  
Functioning of the SPS Committee  
1.8.  Following the CTG Chairperson's request for subsidiary bodies to organize discussions on 
the functioning of committees and to produce written rep orts summarizing the se discussions and 
describing the improvements,8 the SPS Committee held several discussions  on the functioning of 
the SPS Committee. Members discussed several proposals on possible areas for improv ing the 
functioning of the SPS Committee  and attention  was drawn to relevant documents  circulated in other 
Committees .9 In addition, Members made oral suggestions  in meetings . In the discussions, 
Members  underscored that the SPS Committee regularly discussed how to improve its practice s, 
including in the context of the reviews, and had, in fact, already implemented many of the proposals 
which had been put forward by Members in the context of the CTG and other committees. 
In response to a request from a Member , the Secretariat provided f eedback on one of the proposals  
and highlighted areas where the SPS Committee was already implementing best practices and 
identified areas that could be improved or harmonized.10 In October, the Chairperson prepared under 
his own responsibility a report to  CTG on the improvements in the functioning of the 
SPS Committee.11 Members' comments were taken into consideration in the finalization of this 
report.  
 
5 G/SPS/GEN/2134  (and subsequent revisions).  
6 G/SPS/W/344  (and subsequent revisions).  
7 G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1  and G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1/Add.1 . The Working Group on Approval Procedures was 
established in November 2020. Twenty -five Members participat ed in the Working Group: Argentina, Belize, 
Brazil, Canada, Chil e, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, 
Norway, Paraguay, Peru, the  Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, 
Chinese  Taipei, Ukraine, the  United  Kingdom, the United States, and Uru guay. The OECD also participa ted. 
8 JOB/CTG/29  and JOB/CTG/33 . 
9 JOB/SPS/25/Rev.3  submitted by Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay ; 
WT/GC/W/874  submitted by India; and JOB/CTG/26/Rev.1  submitted by the United Kingdom.  
10 The Secretariat's presentation was circulated as room document RD/SPS/227 . 
11 G/L/1508  - G/SPS/69 . G/L/1519  
 
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  1.9.  At the November Committee meeting, Members again held discussions on how  to further 
improve the Committe e's functioning , considering suggestions regarding in-person participation at 
SPS Committee meetings, STC interventions  and order  of the meeting agenda , among others . 
Sixth Review  
1.10.  In July, t he Committee requested that the Secretariat prepare a process and timeline for the 
Sixth Review  of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement. The Committee 
considered and adopted the procedure12 at its November meeting.  
Information from Members  
1.11.  Throughout the year, Members shared  information on various SPS -related issues.  
Japan  provid ed regular updates on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station , including on the  
discharge of advanced  liquid processing system (ALPS)  treated water , and 
Ukraine  provided  information  on the current functioning of its SPS infrastructure and  other 
SPS aspects related to its food security  situation . In addition, the United States highlighted an 
information  session held on "Voices from the Field: Digital Solutions and Innovations for 
Sustainable  Agriculture "13 and an  APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum Workshop on 
"Risk Communication Related to Maximum Residue Limits" . Brazil and the  United States  also drew 
attention to their submission s on enhancing food security.14 The Russian Federation  provided an 
overview of the results of an  International Conference on Food Safety and Antimicrobial resistance 
(AMR)  held in Moscow , in December 2022 . Also, the European Union  provided infor mation on the 
European Commission proposal on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their 
food and feed , as well as updated the Committee  on EU recommendations to combat antimicrobial 
resistance as part of the One Health approach . Furthermore, the European Union drew attention to 
the Better Training for Safer Food (BTSF) initiative . Côte d'Ivoire shared information on the issuance 
of electronic phytosanitary certificates and Brazil drew attention to its request for the Chairperson  
to facilitate consultations  with Nigeria regarding exports of its meat and other products under 
the SPS Committee's  ad hoc consultations procedure in G/SPS/61 . 
1.12.  During 2023, Canada, t he European Union , Japan and the United States reported on their 
technical assistance activities  to developing countries . Argentina  also presented on its international 
technical cooperation for global food security provided between 2012 and 2022 . In addition, 
the Russian Federation provided information on its technical support in the area of AMR.  
1.13.  Certain Members also shared information on their  pest or disease  status. With respect to  
control, inspection and approval procedures, one Member shared information on its actions taken  to 
protect poultry from HPAI.  
Specific Trade Concerns  
1.14.  The SPS Committee considered a wide range of STCs. Members raised  seven teen new STCs 
in 202 3, including in relation to : import restrictions on several products after the discharge of ALPS 
treated water ; pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) ; import restrictions on account of bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), African swine fever 
(ASF) , foot and mouth disease (FMD)  concerns; xylella fastidiosa  surveillance  requirements; 
and delays, burdensome requirements, and communication issues in relation to SPS  approval 
procedures . In addition, m any previously raised STCs continued to be discussed. 
Members  intervened on issues such as: the regulatory approach to pesticide MRLs , including the 
lowering of certain MRLs in food and feed to protect pollinators (which many Members considered to 
be an issue linked to the protection of the environment, outside the scope of the SPS  Agreement) , 
legislation on endocrine disr uptors;  maximum levels for contaminants  in food products; legislation 
on veterinary medicinal products ; COVID -19 related  import restrictions ; and registration 
requirements for  exporting establishments, including delays in listing or reinstat ement. Other ST Cs 
pertained to:  GM-related certificate requirements ; restrictions on animal  products, many due to 
 
12 G/SPS/W/346 . 
13 This event was organi zed in November 2022 by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Paraguay, and the 
United States, in coordination with the Digital Agriculture Association. A summary of the event and the link to 
the recordings are available in document G/SPS/GEN/2092 . 
14 JOB/SPS/31  (submission by Brazil) and G/SPS/GEN/2168  (submission by the United States).  G/L/1519  
 
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  animal diseases  (e.g. HPAI, ASF, and BSE concerns),  as well as disease status of countries or areas 
as recognized by WOAH; and import restrictions due to pes t-related issues . 
Annual Reports  
1.15.  During 2023, the Committee considered several annual reports prepared by the Secretariat , 
such a s the Annual Overview on Implementation of SPS Transparency Provisions and Specific Trade 
Concerns,15 issued before the March S PS Committee meeting. The Secretariat also drew attention 
to the updated Recommended Procedures for Implementing the Transparency Obligations of the 
SPS Agreement,16 which reflect s the new ePing  SPS&TBT Platform and notification practices.  
1.16.  At its July meeting, t he SPS Committee considered  the Annual Report on the Implementation 
of Article 6  (this concerns the principle of regionalization),17 and the Annual Report on the Procedure 
to Monitor the P rocess of International Harmonization.18 Members continued to discuss three  issues 
that had been raised in previous years related to Members' implementation of standards  developed 
by WOAH  on African swine fever (A SF), highly pathogenic avian influenza ( HPAI), and bovine 
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). WOAH also provided an update on the work of its Observatory  
in the March meeting.19 
1.17.  In addition, t he Secretariat presented in the November meeting, the Annual Report on the 
Use of the Procedure to Encourage  and Facilitate the Resolution of Specific Sanitary or Phytosanitary 
Issues among Members in accordance with Article 12.2  (G/SPS/61 ).20 In this report, an update was 
provided on a request  for the Good Offices of the Chairperson  received in 2022.21 
Special and Differential Treatment  
1.18.  At the request of Members, in the March meeting the Secretariat presented, the special and 
differential t reatment provisions and mechanisms in the SPS Agreement, as well as the related work 
of the SPS Committee and other WTO fora in this area.22 Members highlighted the importance of 
operationalizing these provisions and referred  to the work of the thematic gr oups under 
the MC12  Declaration. In July  and November , the Secretariat also provided an update on the ongoing 
discussions in the Special Session of the Committee on Trade and Development regarding the G -90 
special and differential treatment proposals on the SPS and TBT Agreements.23 The United States  
also drew attention to its submission24 on its  experiences and observations in the TBT area shared 
at the event on the SPS and TBT Agreements during the CTD -SS.    
International Standard -Setting Bodies and Other Observer Organizations  
1.19.  The SPS Committee maintained its close working relationship with Codex, the IPPC, and 
the WOAH (founded as OIE) and received regular updates on their activities. Other observer 
organizations also provided info rmation on their activities. In 2023, one renewed expression of 
interest for observer status was submitted by the International Olive Council (IOC) .25 However , 
the SPS Committee did not reach consensus on IOC 's request.  
1.20.  In relation to the number of outstan ding requests for observer status26, the Committee agreed 
with the Chairperson's proposal that the Secretariat send a letter to these organizations , on his 
behalf,  indicating that the se requests had been pending for several years without consensus on 
grant ing observer status, and that the Committee consider ed it important to renew their interest if 
 
15 GEN/804/Rev.15  and GEN/204/Rev.23 . 
16 G/SPS/7/Rev.5 . 
17 G/SPS/GEN/2127 . 
18 G/SPS/GEN/2126 . 
19 On the margins of the March 2023 Committee meeting, Codex, the IPPC and WOAH organized a side 
event on Monitoring the Implementation of International Standards  (also see document G/SPS/GEN/2100 ). 
20 G/SPS/GEN/2154 . 
21 G/SPS/GEN /2078  and G/SPS/GEN/2079 . 
22 The presentation was circulated as document RD/SPS/226 . 
23 JOB/TN/CTD/3  and JOB/TN/CTD/3/Corr.1 . 
24 G/SPS/GEN/ 2162. 
25 Previously, the IOC had submitted an initial expression of interest ahead of the June 2022 
SPS Committee meeting in document G/SPS/GEN/121/Add.20 . 
26 List of pending requests available in document G/SPS/W/78/Rev.15 . G/L/1519  
 
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  they still wished their request to be considered. In the absence of a response, these organizations 
would be removed from the list of pending requests.  
Technical Assistance, Thematic Sessions and Side Events  
1.21.  At each of its meetings, the SPS Committee was kept informed of the work of the Standards 
and Trade Development Facility (STDF).27 In addition, t he Secretariat kept the SPS Committee  
apprised  of SPS -related technical assistance activities  in 202328, including : (1) a revamped Advanced 
Course on the SPS Agreement ; and (2) a regional SPS workshop  for Central and Eastern Europe, 
Central Asia and the Caucasus countries.  
1.22.  The SPS Committee also continued to organize dedicated activities to exchange experiences 
and hear from experts on the margins of its meetings.  In November 2023, a Thematic Session on 
Risk Communication, Misinformation, and Disinformation  was held,29 based on a proposal by 
the United States .30 This thematic session focused on SPS risk communication with an emphasis on 
public perceptions of issues concerning food technology, health, and the environment. The session 
explore d the concepts surrounding information manipulation and their relevance  within the context 
and implementation of the SPS Agreement. In particular, s peaker s focused on the evolution of 
misinformation and disinformation, including its possible effect on policy decisions, how it is being 
deployed around agricultural food safety issues, and how Members can identify and address it at 
early stages.  
1.23.  In addition to these activities, several side events were organized  on the margin s of the 
SPS Committee meetings. These included: (1) an OECD side event to present its report on 
Sanitary  and Phytosanitary Approval Procedures: Key Issues, Their Impact on Trade and Ways  to 
Address Them31; (2) a Codex -IPPC-WOAH side event  on Monitoring the Implementation of 
International Standards32; (3) an STDF side event entitled Facilitating safe trade: Why does gender 
matter for SPS compliance?33; (4) a side event organized by the Europ ean Union titled 
"Empowering  Learning and Impact: BTSF in your language "34; (5) a Book Launch on the 
Second  Edition of the WTO  Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures – A commentary, 
organized by Oxford University Press35; and (6) an OECD event on "Costs, Benefits and Effectiveness 
of Remote Audits for International Food Safety"36 
2024 SPS Committee Meetings  
1.24.  The SPS Committee tentatively agreed to hold regular meetings on 2 0-22 March, 2 6-28 June, 
and 1 3-15 November 202 4.37 In addition, a wo rkshop on transparency w ill be held during the 
March  SPS Committee week , and thematic sessions will be further scheduled during the year, based 
on Members' proposals.  
__________  
 
27 G/SPS/GEN/2102 , G/SPS/GEN/2 135, and G/SPS/GEN/2158 . 
28 G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.13 . 
29 The final programme of the thematic session is contained in document G/SPS/GEN/2155/Re v.1, and 
the presentations and links to the recording are available on the dedicated webpage . In addition, t he 
presentations have been circulated as room documents (RD/SPS/229 to RD/SPS/243) , and the report of the 
thematic session will be made available in the annex of the summary report of the November 2023 
SPS Committee meeting . 
30 G/SPS/GEN/2067/Rev.1 . 
31 G/SPS/GEN/2105 . 
32 G/SPS/GEN/2100 . 
33 G/SPS/GEN/2135 . 
34 G/SPS/GEN/2157 . 
35 A recording of the Oxford University Press side event is available at:  https://youtu.be/iLOMzPrOeIo . 
36 G/SPS/GEN/2156 . 
37 G/SPS/GEN/2117 .