G/SPS/GEN/1816  
15 July 2020 
(20-4833) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
COMMITTEE ON SANITAR Y AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES – JUNE  2020  
INFORMATION SHARING SESSION ON COVID -19 
 
INFORMATION PROVIDED  BY MEMBERS AND OBSE RVERS ON QUESTIONS  
RELATED TO SPS MEASU RES AND COVID -19 
COMMUNICATION FROM C OLOMBIA  
The following communication , received on 10 July 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Colombia . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1.  Firstly , we would like to thank the WTO Secretar iat, the STDF, the "three sisters " (CODEX, OIE 
and IPPC) and the WHO  for the valuable  information that they have shared with us today , in the 
midst of this pandemic that now has the American continent as its epicentre . We would also like to 
thank all Members that have shared information and  above all those that have enab led trade 
facilitation in the midst of the pandemic, imp lementing science -based measures consistent  with 
WTO obligations.  
2.  In that regard , Colombia ha s implement ed measures  to mitigate the negative impact on world 
trade in agricultural products . For example, f rom 2 7 March , we have been accepting scanned 
copies of phytosanitary and veterinary certificates  for the duration of the health  emergency  caused  
by COVID -19. We have also supported various statements such as "Responding to the COVID -19 
pandemic with open a nd predictable trade in agricultural and food products " and the "Statement 
on COVID -19 and the multilateral trading system by Ministers responsible for the WTO ". 
3.  In addition, as we have stated in various forums, Colomb ia shares the concern of other 
Members  regarding not only the pandemic per se  but also the emergence of restrictive measures 
in the current context . For example, when a Member notifies the WTO of new modifications 
relating  to maximum residue levels (MRLs), various state agencies have to be contacted to assess  
their impact, to de cide what to do and, if necessary, to send observations to the Member in 
question . However, since March most of these agencies have been devoting 100% of their efforts  
to combating the pandemic . The constant regul atory changes are diverting resources needed to 
save lives to efforts to participate in consultations and processes, and so we are not in a position 
to fully exercise our rights at the WTO.  
4.  In this regard , a group of Members  – over 30 in number as of  today  – has requested the 
European Union (EU) to suspend processes relating to reduction s in MRLs for plant protection 
products in light of the COVID -19 pandemic  (G/SPS/GEN/1778/Rev.1 ). We co-sponsors will 
request the Secret ariat this afternoon to circulate Rev.2 of the document including more 
Members .1 
5.  This request is being made in the midst of a critical situation in differen t parts of the world , 
even though certain count ries already have it under control . In the case of Colombia, we have not 
been spared  the devastating effects of COVID -19. On 11 March , the day that the WTO suspended  
all meetings , there were nine reported case s in Colombia ; on 11 May, the day when the request to 
the EU was circulated , we already had over 11,000 cases; and this week we have sadly exceeded 
 
1 See G/SPS/GEN/1778/Rev.2 circulated on 25 June 2020.  G/SPS/GEN/1816  
- 2 - 
  the threshold of 70,000 cases . And the figure continues to rise in our country and in practically all 
countries that are signatories  to the request . 
6.  In conclusion , allow us simply to quote  part of the document referred to above : "We recognize 
that Members have the right to determine the appropriate level of sanitary or phytosanitary 
protection necessary to protect human, animal and plant life and health, and to establish 
measures to that end . However, such measures must be science -based and should not create 
unnecessary barriers to trade. " 
 
__________