G/SPS/GEN/2022  
 
24 May 2022 
(22-3963) Page: 1/5 
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 monitoring 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 The procedure was reviewed as part of the 
Third Review of the Agreement4, and again in the context of the Fourth5 and Fifth Review.6 
1.2.  In November 2020, New Zealand submitted a proposal on the procedure to monitor the process 
of internati onal harmonization (G/SPS/GEN/1851 ), followed by subsequent proposal s in 
February  2021 (G/SPS/GEN/1877 ) and May 2021  (G/SPS/GEN/1915 ). In July 2021 , the Committee  
agreed to  hold a Thematic Session on Monitoring International Harmonization  on the margins of the  
November 2021  Committee meeting . Subsequently, New Zealand submitted another communication 
in March 2022 ( G/SPS/GEN/1998 ). The Committee discussions on these proposals are detailed in 
Section 4.1  of this document.  
1.3.  The Committee has previously considered twenty -three annual reports on the monitoring 
procedure.7 These reports summarize several standards -related issues that the Committee  has 
considered and the responses received from the relevant standard -setting orga nizations.  
This current report includes the issues that were considered in the Ju ly and November 20 21, and 
March 202 2 Committee meetings.  
2  NEW ISSUES  
2.1.  Since the 20 21 Annual Report, one new issue has been raised under this procedure : 
(i) Application and consideration of norms from relevant international organizations . 
2.1.  Application and consideration of norms from relevant international organizations  
2.2.  At the March 2022  Committee meeting , Brazil  informed Members that it had published 
300 norms in 2021 which took into account international food safety guidance. Brazil highlighted the 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the position of Members  or to their rights and  obligations under the WTO.  
2 G/SPS/14 , G/SPS/17 , G/SPS/25  and G/SPS/11/Rev.1 . 
3 G/SPS/40 . 
4 G/SPS/53 . 
5 G/SPS/62 . 
6 G/SPS/64 /Add.1 . 
7 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 , G/SPS/GEN/1332 , 
G/SPS/GEN/1411 , G/SPS/GEN/1490 , G/SPS/GEN/1550 , G/SPS/GEN/1617 , G/SPS/GEN/1710 , G/SPS/GEN/1776  
and G/SPS/GEN/1909 . G/SPS/GEN/2022  
 
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  need to apply the international standards developed by the ISSBs, and urged Members to keep the 
Committee informed of actions they were taking to internalize Codex standards.  
3  PREVIOUS ISSUES  
3.1.  Since the 2021 Annual Report, there was further discussion on two issues previously raised 
under this procedure  regarding : (i) ASF restrictions not consistent with the OIE internat ional 
standard; and (ii) HPAI restrictions not consistent with the OIE international standard.  
3.1  ASF restrictions not consistent with the OIE international standard  
3.2.  At the  July 2021 Committee meeting , the European  Union  drew the Committee's attention to 
inconsistencies in the application of OIE international standards related to ASF. The European  Union  
considered that many Members did not follow the OIE Terrestrial Code guidance for the identification, 
treatment and certi fication of tradable products. The European  Union  highlighted that it had, as well 
as other Members, demonstrated that ASF could be managed effectively to ensure that legitimate 
trade was not the cause of any outbreak, as presented in the Thematic Session held in March 2021. 
The European  Union  added that ASF was a disease affecting many EU and non -EU countries. 
The European  Union  invited Members to work on the removal of country -wide and scientifically 
unjustified trade bans . 
3.3.  At the November 2021 Committee meeting , the European  Union  drew th e Committee's 
attention to inconsistencies in the application of OIE international standards related to ASF. 
The European  Union  considered that many Members did not follow the OIE Terrestrial Code guidance 
for identification, treatment, and certification o f tradable products and zoning. The European  Union  
highlighted that ASF could be managed effectively to ensure that legitimate trade was not the cause 
of any outbreak, as presented in the Thematic Session held in March 2021. The European  Union  
added that A SF was a disease affecting WTO Members that were connected by longstanding trade 
relations, and considered that it was a shared interest to maintain free and safe trade of pork and 
its products. Members were invited to work with the European  Union  on the s ubstitution of 
country -wide trade bans by science -based, rational and proportionate measures.  
3.4.  At the March 2022 Committee meeting , the European  Union  drew the Committee's attention 
to inconsistencies in the application of OIE international standards related to ASF. 
The European  Union considered that many Members did not follow the OIE Terrestrial Code guidance 
for identification, treatment, and certification of tradable products and zoning. The European  Union 
highlighted that ASF could be managed effectively to ensure th at legitimate trade was not the cause 
of any outbreak, as presented in the Thematic Session held in March 2021. The European  Union 
added that ASF was a disease affecting WTO Members that were connected by longstanding trade 
relations, and considered that i t was a shared interest to maintain free and safe trade of pork and 
its products. Members were invited to work with the European  Union on the substitution of 
country -wide trade bans by science -based, rational and proportionate measures . 
3.2  HPAI restrictions n ot consistent with the OIE international standard  
3.5.  At the July 2021 Committee meeting , the European  Union  regretted that some Members 
disregarded their  obligations under Article  6 and Annex C of the SPS  Agreement . Country -wide bans 
after a disease outbreak were not scientifically justified w here effective movement controls were in 
place, and there was no justification to wait one year or more to restore disease -free status. 
Noting  the revisions regarding avian influenza in the Terrestrial Code adopted in the 88th OIE General 
Session of May 2021, the European  Union  asked Members to lift trade restrictions 28 days after 
eradication and disinfection of HPAI and re instate  trade conditions applicable to disease -free 
countries; refrain from trade restrictions after reported  cases of HPAI in wild birds; refrain from 
trade restriction after reported cases of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI); respect their 
obligations on regionalization under the WTO SPS  Agreement ; follow the recommendations of 
international standard -setting bodies; and allow trade from non -affected zones.  
3.6.  At the November 2021 Committee meeting , the European  Union  regretted that some Members 
disregarded their obligations under Article  6 and Annex C of the SPS  Agreement . Country -wide bans 
after a disease outbreak were not scientifically ju stified where effective movement controls were in 
place, and there was no justification to wait one year or more to restore disease -free status. G/SPS/GEN/2022  
 
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  Noting  the revisions regarding avian influenza in the Terrestrial Code adopted in the 88th OIE General 
Session of May 2021, the European  Union  asked Members to lift trade restrictions 28 days after 
eradication of HPAI and disinfection and reinstate trade conditions applicable to disease -free 
countries; to refrain from trade restrictions after reported cases of HPAI  in wild birds and from trade 
restrictions after reported cases of low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI); to respect their 
obligations on regionalization under the WTO SPS  Agreement ; to follow the recommendations of 
ISSBs; and to allow trade from non -affected zones.  
3.7.  The OIE informed the Committee of the adoption of revisions of two chapters of the 
OIE Terrestrial Code: chapter 10.4, on infection with HPAI viruses, and chapter 1.3, regarding the 
names of relevant diseases . Key amendments included a focus on infection with HPAI viruses in line 
with the changes to the OIE listed disease. It included new articles listing safe commodities, defining 
a compartment free from HPAI and recommendations for its establishment. It also included new and 
revised recommen dations on surveillance, including for demonstrating freedom from HPAI and 
revised provisions related to recovery of freedom. Modifications to the list of relevant disease names 
in chapter 1.3 were also adopted. In addition, a revised Terrestrial Manual chapter 3.3.4 on 
avian  influenza was adopted in May 2021 and included amendments to reflect current knowledge of 
the disease, and ensure alignment with changes adopted in the Terrestrial Code chapter.  
3.8.  At the March 2022 Committee meeting , the European  Union  regretted that some Mem bers 
disregarded their obligations under Article  6 and Annex C of the SPS  Agreement. Country -wide bans 
after a disease outbreak were not scientifically justified where effective movement controls were in 
place, and there was no justification to wait one ye ar or more to restore disease -free status. 
Noting  the revisions regarding avian influenza in the Terrestrial Code adopted in the 88th OIE General 
Session of May 2021, the  European  Union asked Members to respect their obligations on 
regionalization under th e WTO  SPS Agreement; to follow the recommendations of ISSBs; and to 
allow trade from non -affected zones.  
4  OTHER ISSUES  
4.1  Procedure to Monitor the Process of International Harmonization ( G/SPS/GEN/1851 , 
G/SPS/GEN/1877 , G/SPS/GEN/1915  and G/SPS/G EN/1998 ) 
4.1.  At the July 2021 Committee meeting , the Chai rperson reminded the Committee that Members 
had had an opportunity to discuss New Zealand's submissions in G/SPS/GEN/1851 , 
G/SPS/GEN/1877  and G/SPS/GEN/1915  regarding the procedure to monitor the process of 
international harmonization during  the informal meeting of the Committee of 14  July 2021. 
The Chairperson drew the Committee's attention to the summary of these discussions in his draft 
report on the informal meeting, which had been shared with Members with an opportunity to provide 
comments by 21  July 2021.8 Members were also invited to submit comments on the 
Thematic  Session to be held in November 2021 by 13  August  2021.  
4.2.  On the margins of the November 2021 Committee meeting , a Th ematic Session on the 
Procedure to Monitor the Process of International Harmonization  was held.9 During the Committee 
meeting discussions, t he Chairperson  reminded Members that a draft report had been circulated to 
Members with an opportunity to provide comments by Wednesday, 10  November.10 
4.3.  At the November 2021 Committee m eeting , the Chairperson  also drew the Committee's 
attention to New Zealand's submissions on the Procedure to Monitor the Process of International 
Harmonization ( G/SPS/GEN/1851 , G/SPS/GEN/1877  and G/SPS/GEN/1915 ) and recalled that 
Members had had an opportunity to discuss these submissions at the informal meeting. A draft 
 
8 The Chairperson's summary of the discussions o n New Zealand's proposal held in the July 2021 
informal Committee meeting is contained in Annex A of the summary report, G/SPS/R/102 . 
9 The presentations and programme of the Thematic Session  held on Tuesday, 2  November  2021 are 
available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_nov21_e.htm . 
10 The final report of the Thematic Session on the Procedure to Monitor the Process of International 
Harmonization  is includ ed in Annex  B of the summary report, G/SPS/R/104 . G/SPS/GEN/2022  
 
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  report on the discussions had been circulated to Members with an opportunity to provide comments 
by Wednesday, 10  November.11  
4.4.  Codex  recalled that an overview of its project to design a monitoring framework for 
Codex  standards had been presented at the Themati c Session on the Procedure to Monitor the 
Process of International Harmonization, held on 2  November  2021. Codex indicated that it expected 
initial results from the project towards the end of 2021 and intended to provide an update at the 
March 2022 Committ ee meeting. Codex also drew Members' attention to upcoming elections of 
officers for the Codex Alimentarius Commission and invited SPS delegates to ensure that they were 
registered to vote and to address questions to codex@fao.org . 
4.5.  South Africa  encouraged the WTO Secretariat to collaborate with ISSBs to advocate for the 
allocation of adequate technical and financial resources to the initiatives to monitor the 
implementation of standards. South Africa also encouraged IS SBs to report to the SPS Committee 
on the status of these initiatives.  
4.6.  The Chairperson  recalled that Members had a further opportunity to submit comments on 
New Zealand's proposals by Friday, 3  December.  
4.7.  At the March 2022 Committee meeting , the Chairperson  drew the Committee's attention to 
New Zealand's submissions on the Pr ocedure to Monitor the Process of International Harmonization 
(G/SPS/GEN/1851 , G/SPS/GEN/1877 , G/SPS/GEN/1915  and G/SPS/GEN/1998 ) and recalled that 
Members had had an opportunity to discuss these submissions at the informal meeting . A draft 
report on the discussions had been circulated to Members with an opportunity to provide comments 
by Monday, 4  April.12 Members  had a further opportunity to submit comments on New Zealand's 
proposals by Friday, 22  April 2022. 
4.8.  The United  States  expressed its appreciation for New Zealand's interest in the topic of 
monitoring the use of international standards.  While noting that there was interest in improving the 
capacity of ISSBs to monitor the use of their standards, the United  States  was concerned that such 
shift in focus would undermine the main role of these organizations. The United  States  considered 
the ISSBs to be well positioned to work with their membership to better understand the challenges 
to the adoption of their standards. The United  States  recommended using the existing processes 
and agenda items of the SPS Committee to monitor the use of interna tional standards, such as the 
procedure adopted in G/SPS/11/Rev.1  to submit examples of problems related to the use or non -use 
of relevant international standards . 
4.9.  Highlighting the important role of international standards in protecting plant, animal and human 
health and reducing tra de barriers,  New Zealand  thanked  Members for their interest on its proposal  
and took note of the feedback received.  
4.2  Thematic Session  on International Standards and Best Practices in Pest Risk 
Identification, Assessment and Management  (G/SPS/GEN/1951/Rev.1 ) 
4.10.  At the November 2021 Committee meeting , the Committee agreed on a revised schedule for 
several thematic sessions to be held in March, June and November 2022. In November 2022, a 
Thematic Session on International Standards and Best Practices in Pest Risk Identification, 
Assessment and Management  would be held , as proposed by the European  Union  
(G/SPS/GEN/1951/Rev.1 ).13 
 
11 The Chairperson's summary of the discussions on New Zealand's proposal held in the November 2021 
informal Committee meeting is contained in Annex A  of the summary report, G/SPS/R/104 . 
12 The final report of the discussions held in the informal meeting is included in Annex A  of the summary 
report, G/SPS/R/105 . 
13 In addition to the Thematic Session on International Standards and Best Practices in Pest Risk 
Identification, Assessment and Management , the Committee also decided to hold thematic sessions on trade 
facilitative approaches to pesticide MRLs, and on the use of remote (virtual) audit and verification in regulatory 
frameworks , which are less closely related to the topic of this report.  G/SPS/GEN/2022  
 
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  5  RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM THE RELEVANT STANDARD -SETTING ORGANIZATIONS  
5.1.  There have been no further responses received from the relevant standard -setting 
organizations  since the last annual report . 
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