G/SPS/W/275  
 
19 February 2014  
(14-1046)  Page: 1/4  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
FOURTH REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT 
ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
WORKSHOP ON DECISION MAKING AND COMMUNICA TION DURING THE RISK ANALYSIS PROCESS 
Submission by the United States of America 
The following communication, received on 17 December 2013, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the United States of America. 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  The United States respectfully submits a proposal for consideration by the Committee for a 
second workshop on decision making and communication during the risk analysis process under 
the Fourth Review of the Agreement. 
1.2.  In 2000, the Committee held a workshop to explore the relationship between risk 
assessments, the disciplines of the SPS Agreement,  the work of the relevant standard-setting 
organizations and actual risk assessment policies of WTO Members. Details of this workshop can 
be found in G/SPS/GEN/209. 
1.3.  Since 2000, a significant amount of work has been done in this important area by the 
international standard-setting bodies and individu al Members. We believe that all Members would 
benefit from a second workshop which would build upon the previous risk assessment workshop 
with a specific focus on the roles and responsibilities of the risk managers and the risk communicators in the risk analysis process. The Committee would invite Members and the 
international standard-setting bodies to share new developments, guidance, and best practices 
with risk management and risk communication. For example, each of the Three Sisters has developed extensive work in the area of risk analysis since 2000. 
1.1  Codex 
1.4.  Codex has issued or updated various guidelines since 2000 relating to risk assessment, 
including Working Principles for Risk Analysis for F ood Safety for Application by Governments  
(CAC/GL 62-2007), and Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance  
(CAC/GL 77-2011). 
1.5.  In addition, the Codex Strategic Plan for 2008-2013 included several items on risk analysis 
(review the consistency of risk analysis principles elaborated by the relevant Codex Committees, 
review risk analysis principles developed by relevant Codex Committees). 
1.6.  Codex has held numerous workshops at the international, regional, and national level. Two 
examples include an FAO/WHO Regional Wo rkshop on Codex Alimentarius entitled Harmonization, 
Equivalence and Risk Analysis in the Elaboration and Use of Codex Standards , held in Tunisia in 
2010, and a workshop entitled Codex Alimentarius: Risk Analysis and Risk Assessment Procedures , 
held in India in 2006. G/SPS/W/275 
 
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  1.2  IPPC 
1.7.  The IPPC has promulgated three standards relative to risk analysis since 2000:  
 ISPM 2 (2007): Framework for pest risk analysis; 
 ISPM 11 (2004): Pest risk analysis for quarantine pests including analysis of environmental 
risks and living modified organisms; 
 ISPM 21 (2004): Pest risk analysis for regulated non-quarantine pests. 
1.8.  These new standards by the IPPC have serv ed as the basis for international and regional 
workshops on pest risk analysis. One example is the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection 
Organization (EPPO), which has organized several workshops specifically devoted to pest risk analysis (including in Hungary in 2004 and Tunisia in 2010). 
1.9.  In addition, the IPPC has developed a pest risk analysis training course to help countries 
understand and implement these standards as well as increase countries' capacity to conduct pest 
risk analyses. 
1.3  OIE 
1.10.  The OIE's Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Aquatic Animal Health Code each contain a 
Chapter (2.1) on import risk analysis. This chapter outlines four components of a risk analysis (hazard identification, risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication) and also 
provide principles on risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication. 
1.11.  The OIE has set up a network of collaborating centers that include Epidemiology and Risk 
Assessment of Aquatic Animal Diseases (Oslo, No rway), and has participated in a number of 
conferences or seminars on risk assessment, in cluding a conference in Lisbon, Portugal in 
April 2013 for OIE National focal points on risk assessment as a decision making tool in 
aquaculture. 
2  PROPOSAL 
2.1.  In light of the great strides that have been achieved in this important area since 2000 by the 
ISSBs and individual Members, the United States would like to propose the following draft agenda for a possible workshop under the Fourth Review for the Committee's consideration. 
 G/SPS/W/275 
 
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  DRAFT PROGRAM 
PROGRAM FOR A WORKSHOP ON DECISION MAKING AND COMMUNICATION 
DURING THE RISK ANALYSIS PROCESS – PHASE II 
Objectives: 
1) Reaffirm Members' obligation to base SPS meas ures on risk assessments consistent with 
Article 5. 
2) Reinforce the linkage between risk assessment outcomes and risk management decisions. 
3) Update the Committee on the work that has been done by international organizations on risk 
analysis. 
 
Session 1: What is new in the area of Risk Assessment? 
The SPS Committee conducted an information session in 2000 on risk assessment. However, 
a great deal of work has been done by the ISSBs and Members since the first session. The 2014 workshop would begin with a quick review of the previous session and a quick 
summary of important work conducted since 2000. 
(http://www.wto.org/english/tratop _e/sps_e/risk00 _e/risk00_e.htm ) 
 
Speaker: Invite participant from previous workshop to discuss the outcomes from the 2000 
workshop and invite them to identify areas that merit further exploration 14 years later in the area of risk analysis. 
Session 2: The SPS Agreement and Risk Assessment 
Part 1: Conceptual approach—What the SPS Agreement Says 
Ask the Secretariat to provide an overview of Members' obligations as they relate to risk 
assessment under Article 5. 
Part 2: Practical approach—Lessons Learned from Dispute Settlement 
A speaker will summarize outcomes of dispute settlement cases as they relate to risk 
assessment. Particular focus will be on what issues related to risk assessment have been 
raised in WTO dispute settlement cases and how they were resolved. 
Session 3: Defining Risk A ssessment in the Current Age 
Part 1: Define risk analysis by today's standards using scientific experts on livestock, plant, 
and agriculture commodities using specific examples from the industry. 
Part 2: Discuss risk management by using in dustry examples such as implementation of 
HACCP in three industries, dairy, juice and seafood. 
Part 3: Round table Q & A with these experts fr om this session to answer questions specific 
to risk analysis and management. 
Session 4: International Standards and Gu idelines for Performing Risk Analysis 
Part 1: Codex 
Part 2: IPPC 
Part 3: OIE 
In this session, representatives from each of the three international standard-setting bodies 
will discuss guidelines of the ISSBs and efforts to ensure these guidelines are understood 
and followed by Members. This se ssion will be followed by a Q&A. G/SPS/W/275 
 
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  Session 5: Members Discuss Thei r Risk Management Experiences 
Part 1: Developing country 
Part 2: Developed country 
Speakers in this session will explain their experience with making risk management 
decisions in the SPS realm and how those decisions are related to risk assessments they 
have carried out. At least one developed and one developing Member will speak. This session will be followed by a question and answer period. 
Session 6: Experience of Internat ional and Regional Organizations 
Part 1: FAO 
Speaker from FAO will discuss outcomes related to risk assessment and risk management of 
various workshops organized by FAO at the international and regional levels since 2000 on 
implementation of the SPS Agreement. 
Part 2: IICA 
Speaker from IICA will discuss regional initiatives related to risk assessment, risk 
management and risk communication. 
Session 7: Leveraging Resources: Nove l Ways to Perform Risk Assessments 
This session will explore new ways that Members can meet their WTO obligation to perform 
risk assessments and base their measures on science. Topics could include Members sharing 
experiences with having risk assessments drafted by parties other than the importing country (e.g., the exporting country or a third party) and sharing data with other Members who have received similar market access requests. 
Session 8: Emerging Areas and Ke y Challenges of Risk Analysis 
Part 1: Qualitative vs Quantitative - When is a quantitative approach warranted? 
Part 2: How to deal with uncertainty and how much data is needed? 
Session 9: Outcomes and Next Steps 
A speaker will summarize the outcomes of each session and Members will discuss what, if 
any, follow up steps are warranted, including possible organization of a separate event or 
workshop focusing on risk communication. 
 
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