G/SPS/W/310  
 
1 March 2019  
(19-1209) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
FIFTH REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLE MENTATION OF THE AGREE MENT ON THE 
APPLICATION OF SANIT ARY AND PHYTOSANITAR Y MEASURES  
THEMATIC SESSION ON APPROVAL PROCEDURES  
Submission from Canada  
The following communication, received on 28 February 2019 , is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Canada . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  In March 2010, through the adoption of the Third Review of the Operation and Implementation 
of the SPS Agreement ( G/SPS/53 ), the Committee agr eed that it should consider the most effective 
way of facilitating the implementation of Article 8 and Annex C of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
(SPS) Agreement, with a focus on those problems identified by Members.  
1.2.  Building upon the July 2018 SPS Committ ee Workshop on Control, Inspection and Approval 
Procedures (Annex C), Canada believes that all Members would benefit from a thematic session, 
which examines Article 8 and Annex C of the SPS Agreement as they relate to approval procedures.  
1.3.  Canada recognize s the role approval procedures play in facilitating trade as, in many cases, 
approval is a pre -requisite to the importation of a product or category of products.  
1.4.  Canada would like to propose for consideration by the Committee a thematic session on 
approval procedures under the Fifth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement 
on the Application of SPS Measures.  
1.5.  An exploration of concepts within Art icle 8 and Annex C , as they relate to approval procedures 
in the context of the current trading environment , would be an opportunity to discuss issues 
concerning the implementation of the SPS Agreement. This could include the notion of undue delay, 
transpa rency in information requirements and procedures, the impact of the volume of applications 
on approval procedures, use of international standards, and procedures for complaint reviews.  
1.6.  Recognizing that there is ongoing work in other fora that may be relev ant to the links between 
approval procedures and trade, representatives from other organizations could be invited to discuss 
their developments in this area.  
2  PROPOSAL  
2.1.  Canada proposes continuing the discussion of the July 2018 Workshop on Control, Inspectio n 
and Approval Procedures with a particular focus on approval procedures.  
2.2.  Timely, transparent, and predictable approval procedures make an important contribution to 
facilitating trade. Also, to Canada's knowledge, no workshop or thematic session has been held 
specifically on the topic of approval procedures at the SPS Committee. As such, Canada believes it 
is timely to further explore this area.  G/SPS/W/310  
 
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  2.3.  Canada proposes that a thematic session on approval procedures be held in November 2019 
as part of the Fifth Re view of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement on the Application 
of SPS Measures. As part of a thematic session on approval procedures, Members, International 
Standard Setting Bodies (ISSBs) and other organizations that have valuable perspectiv es in this 
area could be invited to share experiences, best practices, developments as well as relevant 
standards, guidelines and recommendations of ongoing or potential work relevant to approval 
procedures.  
2.4.  As part of the thematic session on approval proc edures, Members would have an opportunity 
to consider the implementation of Article 8 and Annex C as it relates to approval procedures by 
examining:  
a. Obligations of Article 8 and Annex C as they relate to approval procedures (e.g. undue delay, 
transparency,  information requirements);  
b. Relevant jurisprudence;  
c. Relevant ISSBs work regarding approval procedures; and  
d. Experiences, best practices, and challenges faced by Members.  
2.5.  Canada submits these topics as an illustrative list of the potential items for discussi on. Canada 
would welcome other topics of interest relating to approval procedures as identified by other 
Members, for examination by the Committee as part of the proposed thematic session.  
 
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