RESTRICTED  
  
G/TBT/M/91/Corr.1  
 
19 Februar y 2024 
(24-1462) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 8 -10 NOVEMBER 2023  
CHAIRPERSON: MS. ANNA VITIE  
Note by the Secretariat1  
 
Corrigendum2 
 
2.1.4.15  European Union - Transitional periods for MRLs and international consultations, 
G/TBT/N/EU/682 , G/TBT/N/EU/683 , G/SPS/N/EU/360  (ID 5803) 
Paragraph 2.165 should read as follows:  
 
2.165  The representative of Colombia  provided the following statement. These two topics have 
been raised several times in this Committee because no solutions have yet been found as regards 
appropriate transitional periods, nor is it clear how comments submitted by Members in international 
consultations have been taken into account . The problem is exacerbated when maximum residue 
levels and import tolerances are reduced or totally withdrawn and the transitional period to adapt to 
new conditions is completely insufficient for exporters in non -EU countries . Hence, there is an urgent 
need to extend such transition periods to adequately comply with new regulations. – hence the 
pressing need to extend such transitional periods to allow time to properly adapt to new legislation.  
It is worth remembering that access to international markets is e ssential to the livelihoods 
of thousand s of rural families, especially since the European Union is one of the top markets for 
producers of bananas, coffee and exotic fruits, among other products . We therefore call on the 
European Union to consider the comm ents made before implementing new measures regarding the 
level of detection for an active ingredient, conduct comprehensive risk assessments before 
establishing a new maximum residue level and ensure that transitional periods are sufficiently long . 
Otherwi se, we will end up in a situation with measures that unnecessarily restrict and impede trade 
because they go beyond what is necessary to fulfil the objective being pursued . This being the case, 
and for the benefit of not only developing countries but also the multilateral trading system, which 
has already been hit hard by this and other measures, we invite the EU to follow the 
recommendations for good regulatory practices, according to which rules should be based on clear 
and objective information, and open  dialogue with stakeholders, transparency and reduction of 
market distortions.  We therefore invite the EU to follow the recommendations for good regulatory 
practices, according to which rules should be based on clear and objective information, and open 
dialogue with stakeholders, transparency and reduction of market distortions are promoted, to the 
benefit of not only developing countries but also the multilateral trading system, which has already 
been hit hard by this and other measures.  
2.1.4.1 7 European Union - Non-renewal of the approval of the active substance 
mancozeb, G/TBT/N/EU/712 ; G/TBT/N/EU/797 , G/SPS/GEN/1494/Rev.1  (ID 6274) 
Paragraph 2.19 0 should read as follows:  
 
 
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 In English only.  
3 For previous statements follow the thread under ID 580. 
4 For previous statements follow the thread under ID 627. G/TBT/M/91/Corr.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2.190 The representative of Colombia  provided the following statement. Colombia is aware of the 
importance of foods free from excess pesticide residues that comply with international safety 
recommendations. However, the ban on active substances such as mancozeb, clothianidin, 
thiamethoxam an d chlorothalonil, and the subsequent non -renewal of the approval of these 
substances, are hitting our country's agricultural export sector hard. While our health authorities are 
going to great lengths with the productive sectors to explore alternatives to meet the requirements, 
the search for substances to replace those that have been banned or whose approval is being 
modified requires time and investment , especially when potential alternatives are also becoming 
scarcer owing to changes to phytosanitary reg ulations in the European Union . A typical example of 
this, but not the only one, is the limited availability of an alternative to mancozeb, on account of 
similar substances, such as chlorothalonil, being banned in the European market . In this context, it 
is vital that the non -renewal or modification of approval for active substances takes into account 
production processes and methods in countries that could be affected . Failing to do so would violate 
Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, which stipulates that t echnical regulations shall not be more 
trade -restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective . Failing to do so also seems to violate 
Article 12.3 of the TBT Agreement, which states that account should be taken of the special financial 
and trade  needs of developing countries, with a view to ensuring that regulations, standards and 
conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to exports . In this regard, 
we agree with arguments presented in this Committee expressing the need  for the European Union 
to bring maximum residue levels into line with the levels established within the framework of the 
Codex Alimentarius and to treat farmers in third countries no less favourably than it does European 
farmers . This being the case, and for the benefit of not only developing countries but also the 
multilateral trading system, which has already been hit hard by this and other measures, we invite 
the EU to follow the recommendations for good regulatory practices, according to which rules sh ould 
be based on clear and objective information, and open dialogue with stakeholders, transparency and 
reduction of market distortions. We therefore invite the European Union to seek out and support 
solutions that would allow our agricultural producers to  continue meeting the European demand for 
food, to the benefit of not only developing countries but also the multilateral trading system, which 
has already been hit hard by this and other measures.  
2.1.4.2 4 European Union - Draft Commission Regulation amen ding Annexes II and V to 
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards 
maximum residue levels for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in or on certain products, 
G/TBT/N/EU/908  (ID 7635) 
Paragraph 2.24 0 should read as follows:  
 
1.1.  2.240 The representative of Colombia  provided the following statement. Colombia is aware of 
the importance of foods free from excess pesticide residues that comply with international safety 
recommendations . However, the ban on active substances s uch as mancozeb, clothianidin, 
thiamethoxam and chlorothalonil , and the subsequent non -renewal of the approval of these 
substances, are hitting our country's agricultural export sector hard . While our health authorities are 
going to great lengths with the productive sectors to explore alternatives to meet the requirements, 
the search for substances to replace those that have been banned or whose approval is being 
modified requires time and investment, especially when potential alternatives are also becoming  
scarcer owing to changes to phytosanitary regulations in the European Union . A typical example of 
this, but not the only one, is the limited availability of an alternative to mancozeb, on account of 
similar substances, such as chlorothalonil, being banned  in the European market . In this context, it 
is vital that the non-renewal or modification of approval  for active substances takes into account 
production processes and methods in countries that could be affected . Failing to do so would violate 
Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, which stipulates that technical regulations shall not be more 
trade -restrictive  than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective . Failing to do so also seems to violate 
Article 12.3 of the TBT Agreement, which states that account should be taken of the special financial 
and trade needs of developing countries, with a view to ensuring that regulations, standards and 
conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to exports . In this regard, 
we agree with arguments presented in this Committee expressing the need for the European Union 
to bring maximum residue levels into line with the levels established within the framework of the 
Codex Alimentarius and to treat farmers in third countries no less favourably than it does European 
farmers . This being the case, and for the benefit of not only developing countries but als o the 
multilateral trading system, which has already been hit hard by this and other measures., we invite 
 
5 For previous statements follow the thread under ID 763. G/TBT/M/91/Corr.1  
 
- 3 - 
 
  the EU to follow the recommendations for good regulatory practices, according to which rules should 
be based on clear and objective information, and o pen dialogue with stakeholders, transparency and 
reduction of market distortions. We therefore invite the European Union to seek out and support 
solutions that would allow our agricultural producers to continue meeting the European demand for 
food, to the benefit of not only developing countries but also the multilateral trading system, which 
has already been hit hard by this and other measures.  
2.1.4.4 2 European Union - Chlorothalonil (pesticide active substance), 
G/TBT/N/EU/625 , G/SPS/N/EU/394  (ID 5796) 
Paragraph 2.36 1 should read as follows:  
 
1.2.  2.361 The representative of Colombia  provided the following statement. Colombia is aware of 
the importance of foods free from excess pesticide residues that comply with international safety 
recommendation s. However, the ban on active substances such as mancozeb, clothianidin, 
thiamethoxam and chlorothalonil, and the subsequent non -renewal of the approval of these 
substances, are hitting our country's agricultural export sector hard. While our health author ities are 
going to great lengths with the productive sectors to explore alternatives to meet the requirements, 
the search for substances to replace those that have been banned or whose approval is being 
modified requires time and investment, especially whe n potential alternatives are also becoming 
scarcer owing to changes to phytosanitary regulations in the European Union. A typical example of 
this, but not the only one, is the limited availability of an alternative to mancozeb, on account of 
similar substa nces, such as chlorothalonil, being banned in the European market. In this context, it 
is vital that the non -renewal or modification of approval for active substances takes into account 
production processes and methods in countries that could be affected. Failing to do so would violate 
Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement, which stipulates that technical regulations shall not be more 
trade -restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective. Failing to do so also seems to violate 
Article 12.3 of the TBT  Agreement, which states that account should be taken of the special financial 
and trade needs of developing countries, with a view to ensuring that regulations, standards and 
conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to exports.  In this regard, 
we agree with arguments presented in this Committee expressing the need for the European Union 
to bring maximum residue levels into line with the levels established within the framework of the 
Codex Alimentarius and to treat farmers in thi rd countries no less favourably than it does European 
farmers. This being the case, and for the benefit of not only developing countries but also the 
multilateral trading system, which has already been hit hard by this and other measures., we invite 
the EU  to follow the recommendations for good regulatory practices, according to which rules should 
be based on clear and objective information, and open dialogue with stakeholders, transparency and 
reduction of market distortions.  We therefore invite the European Union to seek out and support 
solutions that would allow our agricultural producers to continue meeting the European demand for 
food, to the benefit of not only developing countries but also the multilateral trading system, which 
has already been hit hard by this and other measures.  
__________  
 
6 For previous statements follow the thread under ID 579.