G/SPS/GEN/1675  
 
20 February 2019  
(19-0996) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
SPS COMMITTEE THEMAT IC SESSION ON EQUIVALENCE (PART 2 ) 
MONDAY , 18 MARCH  2019 
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME  
In the context of the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement, 
Canada submitted a proposal for the Committee to consider holding a workshop or thematic session 
on equivalence.1 Australia and Brazil  also submitted proposals on the subject , including examining 
the existing guidance on the recognition of equivalence (G/SPS/19/Rev.2) .2 At the Committee 
meeting in July 2018, many Members were in favour of a thematic session or workshop on 
equivalence.  
The first part of a two -part th ematic session on equivalence was held on 30 October 2018. It provide d 
an opportunity to introduce the concept of equivalence , and for WTO Members to increase their 
awareness of  the relevant provision s of the SPS Agreement,  Committee  guidance , related  
jurisprudence, and equivalence from a TBT perspective.  In addition, representatives of Codex, IPPC 
and OIE  outlined  the relevant international standards and explained  how equivalence was applied in 
their areas . 
The second part of this thematic session  will focus on Members'  experiences with the implementation 
of equivalence. It  will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday , 18 March  2019, beginning at 
10 a.m. in room CR.  
Members are invited to provide comments on the draft programme , as well as to propose a dditional 
self-funded speakers for specific sessions,  by 28 February 2019 . 
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Chairperson:  Ms Noncedo Vutula  
1  MEMBER EXPERIENCES  
1.1  Equivalence  of SPS Measures  
Member experiences and approaches to the recognition a nd implementation of equivalence  of 
specific SPS measures or groups of SPS measures . 
Speakers:  
▪ Ms Shannon McMurtr ey (FSIS), and Ms Mara Burr ( FDA), United States  
▪ Mr Kong Xiaobang, Director General, Customs Administration , China  
▪ Ms Heather Holland, National Manager, Foreign Relations and Issues Management, 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency   
                                                
1 G/SPS/W/302/Rev.1.  
2 G/SPS/W/299, G/SPS/W/301 . G/SPS/GEN/1675  
 
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  ▪ Mr Ernesto Guevara, Directorate of Technical Requirements for Foreign Trade, Viceministry 
of Foreign Trade, Peru  
Followed by Q&A session and di scussion  
1.2  Systems -Based Equivalence  
Member experiences and approaches to the recognition and implementation of systems -based 
equivalence . 
Speakers:  
▪ Dr Bill Jolly, Chief Assurance Strategy Officer, New Zealand Ministry for Primary 
Industries   
▪ Ms Heather Holl and, National Manager, Foreign Relations and Issues Management, 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency  
▪ Mr Simon Smalley, Minister Counsellor , Australia  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
2  OTHER EXPERIENCES AN D APPROACHES   
The sessi on will explore other experiences  and approaches  taken  in the implementation of 
equivalence.  
Speakers:  
▪ Ms Martha Byanyima, COMESA  
▪ Ms Megan Quinlan, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion  
3  TAKEA WAY MESSAGES, CONCLU DING REMARKS  
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