RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/SYC/24/Rev.2  
 
13 September 2013  
(13-4865)  Page: 1/6  
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Republic of Seychelles  Original: English  
  
  ACCESSION OF SEYCHELLES 
CHECKLIST OF ILLUSTRATIVE SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) ISSUES FOR 
CONSIDERATION IN ACCESSIONS 
Revision 
 
 The following submission, dated 13 September 2013, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles.  
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  WT/ACC/SYC/24/Rev.2  
 
- 2 - Checklist of Illustrative SPS Issues for Consideration in Accessions 
Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
1. Standstill:  the introduction of new 
standards, animal he alth regulations and 
food safety regulations shall conform to SPS Agreement principles. 1. Generally agreed 
principle in WTO 
accession negotiations. 1. The Government of Seychelles is committed  to complying with the requirements of the 
SPS Agreement.  As a small island state, Seychelles recognises that it may require 
financial and technical resources to achieve the required level of compliance.  Seychelles may require the support of its trade cooperation partners.  All new related regulations will be in  accordance with the SPS Agreement. 
2. Establishment and operation of a single 
Contact Point for Information ("enquiry point"). 2. Article 7 and Annex B.3. 
  2. Seychelles has established a National SPS Committee and its Secretariat will operate 
as the enquiry point for information.  The details are as follows: 
Seychelles Agricultural Agency (Enquiry Point): 
P.O. Box 166,  
Victoria,  Mahe,   Seychelles 
Tel:  (+248) 4611478 
E-mail:  seypro@seychelles.net Website:  Under construction 
3. Transparency:  notification and access to 
documentation: 3. Articles 7 and Annex B, 
also G/SPS/7.  
 (a) identification of authority responsible for 
making notifications to the WTO and ensuring transparency obligations are met on an ongoing basis;  (a) Annex B.5(b) and 
Annex B.10. (a) The authority responsible for making notifications to the WTO and ensuring 
transparency obligations are met is the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources.  The Animal and Plant Protection  Service of the Seychelles Agricultural 
Agency within the Ministry of Natural Resour ces is responsible for ensuring SPS related 
bilateral and multilateral obligations are met, as per Section 46 of Seychelles' Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/19). 
 
The contact details for the Principal Secretar y of the Ministry of Natural Resources is: 
 Principal Secretary Ministry of Natural Resources Caravelle House Mahe  Seychelles  Tel: 4611478 Email: spsnotification@gov.sc 
 (b) establish guidance or law requiring 
publication of proposed measures at an early stage for comment;  (b) Annex B.5(a). (b) Section 46(2)(c) of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/19) 
states that the agency responsible for anim al and plant biosecurity is mandated to 
ensure SPS related bilateral or multilateral obligations including the WTO SPS Agreement are met.  A specific Regulation stipulating the notification process is being drafted and is 
expected to be circulated to Members in November 2013. 
 (c) provision in law or administrative 
procedure to provide copies of proposed measures to WTO Members; and  (c) Annex B.5(c). (c) See (b) above
. 
  
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- 3 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
 (d) require in law or administrative 
procedure, a reasonable period of time for comment from Members and the 
public, and establishment of a process to take comments into account without discrimination.  (d) Annex B.5(d). (d) See (b) above 
 
4. Necessity:  measures are applied only to the 
extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant health. 4. Article 2.2. 4. Seychelles has developed and co ntinues to develop SPS regu lations that are applied 
only to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant health. 
The following Acts provide for measures to be  applied only to the extent necessary to 
protect human, animal or plant health: Animals (Diseases and Imports) Act 1981 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and the Plan t Protection Act 1996 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/36), both of which will be repe aled upon enactment of the Animal and 
Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/19), which will be gazetted in September 2013.  
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius.  The date of completion of the review is set for 31 October 2013 and subsequent enactment of the Act is expected to be completed in November 2013. 
The Export of Fishery Product Act 1996 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/9/Add.1) and its 
subsequent implementing Regu lations (as notified in WT/ACC/SYC/37), the Export of 
Fishery (Sanitary) Regulation s ,  2 0 1 0 ,  E x p o r t  o f  F i s h e r y  P r o d u c t s  ( A q u a c u l t u r e  F e e d )  
Regulations, 2010, Export of Fishery Products (Aquaculture) Regulations 2010, Export of 
Fishery Products (By-Products) Regulations 2010, makes provision for the Sanitary 
control of fish and fishery products for expo rt purposes.  These measures are based on 
international standards, guidelines and recommendations, in this particular case the CODEX Alimentarius and where appropriat e, the OIE aquatic code is applied. 
5. Regulations Based on Science:  regulations 
governing animal and plant health and food safety shall be based on scientific evidence. 5. Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 5.2. 5. Seychelles has adopted a number of international guidelines and standards, such as 
international agricultural trading norms, measures and standards, as set by the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); the CODEX Alimentarius; and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE),  which are based on the principle of sound 
science.  
Section 46(2)(c) and Section 14 (5) of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/19) ensure that regulations and administrati ve procedures governing 
animal and plant health are based on science.   The Bill further allows for SPS measures 
to be applied commensurate to the SPS risk and one that confers the appropriate level of protection (ALOP) for Seychelles.   
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius. 
Where international standards do not exist,  Seychelles would en sure measures were 
based on appropriate risk assessment as pe r the standards and guidelines developed by 
the international standard-setting organisati ons, and would inform the parties concerned 
of these procedures.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/24/Rev.2  
 
- 4 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
6. Harmonization:  to the extent possible, 
members shall follow international standards, guidelines , and recommendations 
in establishing SPS measures. 6. Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4. 6. Seychelles is a member of the Codex Alimentarius, the OIE and the IPPC, and is using 
international standards, guidelines and reco mmendations as the basis for establishing 
SPS measures.  
Section 46(2)(c) and Section 146(5) of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/19) took into consideration the provisions of the SPS Agreement and the requirements of the IPPC and the OIE, ensu ring that SPS measures are undertaken on 
the basis of sound science.   
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius. 
7. Equivalence:  members shall recognize 
different measures that achieve the same level of protection. 7. Article 4. 7. The Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/19) provides for 
application of IPPC and OIE standards, recognit ions of risk analysis  results of pest and 
diseases undertaken by othe r SPS authorities, applicatio n of measures developed by 
other SPS authorities that meets the Seychelles' ALOP when applied.  
Sections 78, 79 and 80 of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/19) recognize equi valent measures applied by trading partners in 
developing import conditions for regula ted articles imported by Seychelles. 
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius. 
8. Risk Assessment:  developing scientific 
evidence and conducting risk assessments to ensure that measures are based on science and applied only to th e extent necessary to 
protect health. 8. Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. 8. The provisions of Section 78 of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/19) ensure that all imports of animals, plants and their products are 
subject to risk analysis and measures are applied commensurate to the risk.  
Seychelles has adopted a numbe r of international guidelines and standards, such as 
international agricultural trading norms, measures and standards, as set by the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); the CODEX Alimentarius; and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE),  which are based on risk assessments.  
Where international standards do not exist,  Seychelles would en sure measures were 
based on appropriate risk assessment as pe r the standards and guidelines developed by 
the international standard-setting organisati ons, and would inform the parties concerned 
of these procedures. 
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/24/Rev.2  
 
- 5 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
9. Regional conditions:  measures take into 
account the regional characteristics both of the areas from which products originate and the areas for which they are destined. 9. Article 6 and Annexes A.6 
and A.7. 9. As a Member of the OIE and the IPPC, Seychelles takes into account regional 
conditions for the purpose of applying SPS measures. 
The content of Section 78 of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/19) is conscious of the regional SPS conditions in its application of the SPS measures and all measures are based on scie nce including the pest and disease situation 
or status of the region.  
Seychelles has adopted a numbe r of international guidelines and standards, such as 
international agricultural trading norms, measures and standards, as set by the 
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); the CODEX Alimentarius; and the 
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE),  which are based on risk assessments.  
Where international standards do not exist,  Seychelles would en sure measures were 
based on appropriate risk assessment as pe r the standards and guidelines developed by 
the international standard-setting organisati ons, and would inform the parties concerned 
of these procedures. 
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
the CODEX Alimentarius. 
10. Non-discrimination:  measures do not 
arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between different members or between domestic and fore ign suppliers. 10. Article 2.3, and 
Annex C.1(a) and (d). 10. The Government of Seychelles attaches great importance to environmental 
protection and the conservation of its biodiver sity.  SPS measures would, therefore, only 
be applied in order to prevent the entry and spread of pests and diseases and any such 
measures would be in accordance  with the WTO SPS Agreement.  
In adopting and implementing SPS measures, Seychelles fully recognizes the importance 
of applying the principles of non-discrimination, proportionality, necessity and 
reasonableness in accordance with the WTO SPS Agreement. 
Section 46(2)(c) and Section 146(5) of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill allow for 
regulations and administrative procedures gove rning animal and plant health to be based 
on science.  Through Section 78(2)(c), the Bi ll further allows for SPS measures to be 
applied commensurate to the SPS risk and one that confers the appropriate level of 
protection (ALOP) for Seychelles.   
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
CODEX.  
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- 6 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
11. Control, inspection and approval procedures: 
ensure that procedures, including systems for approval of the use of additives or for establishing tolerances  for contaminants in 
foods, beverages or feedstuffs comply with the Agreement. 11. Article 8 and Annex C. 11. The Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/19) adequately covers 
inspection and control provisions for an imals, plants and their products.   
Under the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill, pl ants and plant products, as well as animals 
and animal products, would be subject to im port licence requirements, based on risk 
assessment in line with IPPC and OIE standards.  The application forms for such an import licence were contained in Sche dule 1 of the Biosecurity Bill.   
Operational manuals and work instructions for officers in the inspection service of the 
Seychelles Agricultural Agency  (SAA) have been notified in  WT/ACC/SYC/39.  These have 
been aligned to the Customs Management Ac t 2011, particularly provisions governing 
trade facilitations and border management. 
Part 5, Sections 66 to 75 of the Animal an d Plant Biosecurity Bill deals with border 
control for all products of SPS conc erns imported into the Seychelles. 
Part 6, Sections 76 to 87 of the Animal an d Plant Biosecurity Bill deals with import 
procedures for all products with SPS concerns imported into Seychelles. 
Part 10, Sections 125 to 131 of the Animal and Plant Biosecurity Bill deals with export 
procedures for products exported out of the Seychelles. 
The Food Act 1987 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/4) and food safety related laws are currently 
under revision and a new food bill will be drafted to align it to the SPS Agreement and 
CODEX.  The operational aspects will be aligned to the Customs Management Act 2011, particularly provisions governing trad e facilitations and border management. 
 
 
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