G/SPS/GEN/1411  
 
2 June 2015  
(15-2879) Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
 ANNUAL REPORT ON THE PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS 
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  At its meeting of 15-16 October 1997, the SPS Committee adopted a provisional procedure to 
monitor the process of international harmonization and the use of international standards, 
guidelines or recommendations, as provided for in Articles 3.5 and 12.4 of the SPS Agreement. 
The Committee extended the provisional monito ring procedure in 1999, 2001, and 2003, and 
revised the procedure in October 2004.2 In 2006, the Committee agreed to extend the provisional 
procedure indefinitely, and to review its operation as  an integral part of the periodic review of the 
operation and implementation of the Agreement under Article 12.7.3 This procedure was reviewed 
as part of the Third Review of the Agreement4, and again in 2014/2015 in the context of the 
Fourth Review.5 
1.2.  The Committee has previously considered sixteen annual reports on the monitoring 
procedure.6 These reports summarize several standards-related issues that the Committee has 
considered and the responses received from th e relevant standard-setting organizations. 
2  PROPOSED REVISION TO THE MONITORING PROCEDURE (G/SPS/W/268) 
2.1.  Since the Committee's consideration of the 2014 Annual Report, there have been no 
proposed revisions to the monitoring procedure. 
3  NEW ISSUES 
3.1.  During the March 2015 Committee meeting the United States reminded Members about the 
OIE guidelines on imports of live poultry and poultry products (including heat-treated/cooked 
products) related to avian influenza, including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The 
guidelines made clear that when HPAI was detected only in wild birds, OIE members should not 
impose bans on trade in poultry commodities. The guidelines also clearly established provisions for the recognition of zones or regions free of the di sease. The affected country should define the 
control zones based on its response efforts, an d the remainder of the country outside of those 
control zones could continue to be considered disease free. Additionally, heat-treated poultry 
products (meat, liquid eggs, rendered meals, etc.) that had been heat-processed to destroy the HPAI virus in accordance with OIE guidelines we re safe to trade irrespective of whether the 
products came from an area where HPAI had been detected. The United States called upon its 
trading partners to lift any import restrictions on live poultry and poultry products (including heat-treated products) from the United States that were not consistent with the OIE guidelines. 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the position of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO. 
2 G/SPS/14, G/SPS/17, G/SP S/25 and G/SPS/11/Rev.1. 
3 G/SPS/40. 
4 G/SPS/53. 
5 The draft report of the Fourth Review is contained in document G/SPS/W/280/Rev.2. 
6 These were circulated as G/SPS/13, G/SPS/16, G/SPS/18, G/SPS/21, G/SPS/ 28, G/SPS/31, G/SPS/37, 
G/SPS/42, G/SPS/45, G/SPS/49, G/SPS/51, G/SPS/54,  G/SPS/56, G/SPS/59, G/SPS/60 and G/SPS/GEN/1332. G/SPS/GEN/1411 
 
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  3.2.  The European Union shared the US concern and supported the removal of import restrictions 
with relation to HPAI that were not in line with  international standards. Canada noted that the OIE 
provided effective guidance around the princi ple of zoning and encouraged all Members to 
recognize zones established by affected Members, in accordance with this guidance. 
4  PREVIOUS ISSUES 
4.1.  No Member raised any issues under this agenda item. 5  RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM THE RELEVANT STANDARD-SETTING ORGANIZATIONS 
5.1.  There have been no responses received from the relevant standard-setting organizations 
since the last annual report. 
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