G/SPS/GEN/1358  
 
30 September 2014  
(14-5511)  Page: 1/5  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures    
 
  WORKSHOP ON RISK ANALYSIS  
MONDAY, 13 OCTOBER – TUESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2014 
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA 
PROGRAMME 
MONDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2014 
10:00 – 10:30 
Workshop overview and objectives This session will provide an overview of the worksh op and its objectives. In addition, this session will 
briefly review the previous information session on risk analysis held by the SPS Committee in 2000
1 
highlighting the main outcomes. 
Speakers:  
 
 Ms Gretchen H. Stanton, Senior Counsellor, WTO Secretariat 
Overview of the workshop and its objectives 
 
 Mr Robert Griffin, National Coordinator for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection 
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection 
and Quarantine, United States 
Main outcomes from the 2000 workshop: Areas that merit further exploration 14 years later  
10:30 – 11:30 
Session 1: The SPS Agreement and Risk Analysis 
Part 1: Conceptual approach - What the SPS Agreement says 
Presentation from the Secretariat on Members' obligations as they relate to risk analysis under the 
provisions of Article 5 of the SPS Agreement. 
Speaker: Ms Gretchen H. Stanton , Senior Counsellor, WTO Secretariat  
Part 2: Practical approach - Lesson s Learned from Dispute Settlement 
This session will provide a summary of the outcomes of dispute settlement cases as they relate to risk 
analysis. Particular focus will be placed on issues related to risk analysis that have been raised in WTO 
dispute settlement cases and the relevant findings. 
Speaker: Ms Christiane Wolff, Secretary of the SPS Committee, WTO Secretariat  
 
                                               
1 http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/risk00_e/risk00_e.htm . G/SPS/GEN/1358 
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11:30 – 13:00 
Session 2: SPS Risk Analysis in the Current Age 
Part 1:  This session will focus on defining risk assessment by today's standards using scientific 
experts with specific examples from various sector s, and discuss responding to challenges such as 
dealing with uncertainty, data availability, and qualitative vs. quantitative risk assessment. 
Moderator: Mr Richard Ivess, New Zealand 
Speakers:  
 Dr Djien Liem , Lead Expert in International Scientific Cooperation 
Advisory Forum and Scientific Cooperation Unit, European Food Safety Authority 
Risk assessment methodologies in various sectors and how to respond to challenges ahead 
 Dr Amelia Tejada , Pesticide Residue Expert, Pesticide Policy and Technical Advisory Committee 
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, De partment of Agriculture, Philippines 
Risk assessment and risk management: A Philippine experience on pesticides for food safety 
Part 2:  This session will discuss risk management using specific examples such as implementation of 
HACCP in several sectors. 
Speakers:  
 Mr Robert Griffin , National Coordinator for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection  
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection 
and Quarantine, United States 
US examples of risk management 
 Mr Peter May , General Manager  
Food Safety and Regulatory Affairs, Food Standards Australia New Zealand 
The use of HACCP in a risk-based food safety  management system – the Australian experience  
13:00 – 15:00  Lunch break 
15:00 – 15:45 
Session 2: SPS Risk Analysis in the Current Age (cont'd) 
Part 3:  Round table Q&A session with the experts from this session to answer questions specific to 
risk analysis. 
Moderator: Mr Richard Ivess, New Zealand 
Speakers:  
 Dr Djien Liem, European Union 
 Dr Amelia Tejada, Philippines 
 Mr Robert Griffin, United States  
 Mr Peter May, Australia  
15:45 – 16:45 
Session 3: International Standards and Gu idelines for Performing Risk Analysis 
In this session, representatives from each of the three international standard-setting bodies, Codex, 
IPPC and OIE, will discuss efforts to strengthen  the guidelines, address gaps, and ensure these 
guidelines are understood and followed by Member s. This session will be followed by Q&A. 
Moderator: Ms Ella Strickland, European Union 
Part 1:  Codex Alimentarius (Codex) 
Speaker:  Ms Verna Carolissen , Codex 
 Risk analysis in Codex  
Part 2:  International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 
Speaker: Ms Ana Peralta , IPPC Capacity Building Officer 
Part 3:  World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 
Speaker:  Dr Derek Belton , Head of the International Trade Department, OIE 
 OIE approach to risk analysis  G/SPS/GEN/1358 
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16:45 – 17:45 
Session 4: Members Discuss Thei r Risk Management Experiences 
Through the use of case studies, speakers in this se ssion will explain their experience with making risk 
management decisions in the SPS realm, how those decisions are related to risk assessments they have undertaken and how practical experiences with risk mitigation can improve risk management 
decisions. In addition, speakers will address the extent to which the objective of minimizing negative 
trade effects is taken into account when determining the appropriate level of sanitary or phytosanitary protection. This session will be followed by a question and answer period. 
Part 1: Developing country perspective 
 
Speakers:  Dr Mpho Maja , Director of Animal Health 
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa 
Risk management decisions: South Africa’s experience, including references to imports of pork  
 Mr Kenrick Witty , Plant Health Officer 
Plant Health Department, Agricultural Health Authority, Belize 
Pest risk management: The Belize experience  
17:45 – 18:00 
Closing remarks and wrap-up of day 1 Speaker:  WTO Secretariat
 
TUESDAY, 14 OCTOBER 2014 
10:00 – 10:15 Opening Remarks 
10:15 – 11:15 
Session 4: Members Discuss Their Risk  Management Experiences (cont'd) 
Through the use of case studies, speakers in this session will explain their experience with making 
risk management decisions in the SPS realm, how those decisions are related to risk assessments 
they have undertaken and how practical experiences with risk mitigation can improve risk 
management decisions. In addition, speakers will address the extent to which the objective of minimizing negative trade effects is taken into account when determining the appropriate level of 
sanitary or phytosanitary protection. This session will be followed by a question and answer period. 
Moderator: Mr Gonzalo Rios, Chile  
Part 2: Developed country perspective 
Speakers:  
 Mr Frans Verstraete 
European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Consumers 
Risk management of contaminants in the EU. A policy based on risk analysis 
 Dr Kerry Dearfield, Chief Scientist Food Safe ty & Inspection Service  
Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Health Science, United States 
Risk management from a US perspective  
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  11:15 – 12:00 
Session 5: Experience of Internat ional and Regional Organizations 
Moderator: Ms Gretchen H. Stanton, Senior Counsellor, WTO Secretariat 
Part 1: International Level – Internatio nal Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) 
Speaker from ILRI will discuss outcomes related to risk assessment, risk management and risk 
communication of various workshops organized at th e international and regional levels since 2000 on 
the implementation of the SPS Agreement. 
Speaker: Dr Delia Grace , ILRI Program Leader Food Safety and Zoonoses  
 Experiences with capacity building for risk analysis in Africa and Asia with a focus on 
 domestic markets and regional trade 
Part 2: Regional Level - Inter-American Inst itute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) 
Speaker from IICA will discuss regional initiatives related to risk assessment, risk management and 
risk communication. 
Speaker:  Dr Robert Ahern , Head of the IICA Agricultural Health and Food Safety Programme  
 Risk analysis in the Americas: Successes, challenges, and opportunities  
12:00 – 13:00 
Session 6: Leveraging Resources for Risk  Assessments - Ways to Address Resource 
Constraints 
This session will explore new ways that Members can meet their WTO obligation in relation to risk 
assessment and basing their measures on science, in  light of limited financial and human resources. 
Topics will include Members sharing experiences wi th having risk assessments drafted by parties 
other than the importing country (e.g., the exportin g country or a third party) and sharing data with 
other Members who have received similar market access requests. Members will also share their 
experiences in coordinating efforts and resources across the public and private sector. This session will be followed by a question and answer period. 
Moderator: Ms Lillian Bwalya, Chair of the SPS Committee 
Speakers:  
 Mr Sidney Suma,  Developing Country Expert, Standards Trade and Development Facility 
Consultant,  Papua New Guinea  
Experiences of Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island countries in leveraging resources for risk assessments 
 Mr Guilherme Antônio da Costa Júnior , Food Safety Expert 
Department of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Negotiations, Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil  
Leveraging resources for risk assessments: The Brazilian experience  
13:00 – 15:00  Lunch break 
15:00 – 17:00 
Session 7: Members Discuss their Risk Communication Experiences 
During this session Members will share their experiences in important elements of risk 
communication with particular focus on practical examples. Each speaker will tackle an aspect of risk communication, followed by brief discussion among Members. 
Moderator: Ms Maria Albarece, Philippines 
Part 1:  Internal risk communication: Ensuring effective communication between and among risk 
assessors and risk managers. 
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  Speakers: 
 Dr Mpho Maja , Director of Animal Health 
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa 
Risk communication: South Africa’s approach 
 Dr Mohamed Refaat Rasmy , Head of Central Administration of Plant Quarantine 
Ministry of Agriculture an d Land Reclamation, Egypt 
Risk analysis experience in Egypt with a focus on communication 
Part 2:  Translating risk assessment and risk management into communication messages, including 
communicating uncertainty and leveraging new communication tools (social media etc.). 
Speaker: 
 Dr Antoon Opperhuizen , Head of Laboratory for Health Protection Research Bureau 
Risk Assessment and Research  Programming, Netherlands 
New approaches on risk communication 
Part 3:  Targeting communication – who are the audien ces, what do they need/want to hear, and 
when to communicate it? 
Speaker:  
 Mr Guilherme Antônio da Costa Júnior , Food Safety Expert 
Department of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Negotiations, Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil  
Targeting risk communication: The Brazilian experience  
17:00 – 18:00 
Session 8: Outcomes and Next Steps 
This session will be mainly devoted to Q&A. Speake rs will identify a few key outcomes of the sessions 
and Members will discuss what, if any, follow up steps are warranted, including the possible 
organization of a separate event or workshop focu sing on particular elements of risk analysis. 
Moderator: Ms Christiane Wolff, WTO Secretariat  
Speakers: 
 Developing country representative  
 Dr Amelia Tejada , Pesticide Residue Expert, Pesticide Policy and Technical Advisory Committee 
Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Depa rtment of Agriculture, Philippines  
 Developed country representative 
 Mr Robert Griffin , National Coordinator for Agricultural Quarantine Inspection  
Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection 
and Quarantine, United States  
 
 
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