RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/YEM/13/Rev.3 
22 January 2010 
 
 (10-0345) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
Action Plan on the Implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application  
of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures  
 
Revision  
  The following submission, dated 19 January 2010, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Republic of Yemen.  
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  WT/ACC/YEM/13/Rev.3 
Page 2 Provisions of the SPS Agreement Activity Time Frame Technical Assistance Required 
- Review, update and issu e the Plant Quarantine 
Law No. 32/1999 and its executive Regulations 
No. 54/2001 for consistency with the SPS and the new revised text for IPPC. 2008 - 2010 - No need for technical assistance for this activity. 
The Law was technically reviewed and modified 
with assistance from IPPC /FAO and now is in the 
process of official ap proval and issuance. 
- Review and update Animal Wealth Law 
No. 17/2004 and its executive regulations for 
harmonization with respective international standards of OIE and SPS Agreement. 2009 - 2010 - A legal expert specializes in animal health and SPS 
Agreement. 
- A workshop on the major regulations to be 
developed. 
- Review and update the Specification Metrology 
and Quality Control Law No. 44/1999 in order to 
conform to the SPS Ag reement and Codex 
specifications. 2008 - 2011 - A legal expert sp ecializes in the SPS Agreement 
and Codex specifications. 
- Workshops to discuss the amended draft Law 
administratively, technically and scientifically. 
- Review and update the technical food regulations 
and food specifications in accordance with the 
international specifications of the Codex Alimentarius Commission. 2008 - 2011 - A legal expert specializes in food regulations and 
food specifications of Codex. 
- A workshop for discussing, modifying and 
recommending regulations and specifications to be 
in consistence with international standards. 
- Conduct sanitary survey for food safety in main 
cities. 2008 - 2010 - An expert in sanitary survey procedures for food 
safety. 
- Training for staff and technicians. 
- Periodic evaluation for the food control system as 
well as on food inspectio n activities according to 
the guides, manuals and international 
recommendations. 2008 - 2010 
Continuous. - An expert in food control systems and inspections 
(2008). 
- Workshops in food control and inspections (2009). 
- Training for staff and t echnicians in food control 
evaluation and inspections (2009-2010). Article 2: 
Article 2.2:  Measures applied only 
to the extent necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or 
health is based on sufficient 
scientific evidence 
- Preparation and issuance  of Food Law for the 
country in coordination and cooperation with 
relevant ministries and authorities. 2008 - 2011 - A legal expert specializes in food. 
- Workshops for discussing and modifying draft law 
to be in consistence with international laws. 
Article 2.2 - Establish the Yemeni Food Committee (Yemeni 
Codex Committee). 2008 - 2010 - A workshop for discussing organizational aspects, 
duties and responsibilities concerning National Codex Committee. 
- Provision of publications and guidelines issued by 
the International Food Constitution Board. 
- The food standards issued from the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission since 2000 to 2007.  
   WT/ACC/YEM/13/Rev.3
 Page 3Provisions of the SPS Agreement Activity Time Frame Technical Assistance Required 
- Build and equip new plant quarantine stations at 
entry points. 2008 - 2010 - An expert in building and equipping plant 
quarantine stations. 
- Sampling procedures and inspection materials and 
equipments. 
- Treatment equipments. 
- Computers and networking. - Training of staff and technicians. 
- Build veterinary quarantine stations at entry 
points. 2008 - 2010 - An expert in building veterinary quarantine 
stations. 
- Training in veterinary quarantine. - Veterinary quarantine networking.  
- Development of phytosanitary and animal health 
laboratories. 2008 - 2010 - Diagnosis equipment and materials. 
- Training for laboratories staff. 
- An expert in identifying suitable equipment and 
their specifications. 
- An expert in laboratories management and bio-
safety and security. 
- Setting a central laboratory for food safety and 
special food testing laboratories at the entry 
points. 2008 - 2012 - Buildings. 
- Inspection and test food for microbiological and 
chemical. 
- Training for staff and tech nicians in food inspection 
and test.  
- Development of human capacity in the areas of 
phytosanitary and animal health. 2008 - 2010 - Training courses for staff, technicians and scientific 
personnel (veterinaries, microbiologists, plant pathologists, entomologists, etc.) in the field of: 
 
 - Sampling and inspection.  - Diagnosis and anal ytical techniques. 
- Check and ensure the compliance of the above 
mentioned laws and regulations with SPS 
provisions on non-discrimination, control, inspection and approval procedures. 2008 - 2013 - Training of local expertise and staff. 
- Networking facilities. Article 2.3, Annex C.1(a) and (d): Non-discrimination 
- Updating information on import requirements for 
plants, plant products, animal and animal 
products and other related articles. 2008 - 2009 
Continuous. - Experts in plant pests and animal diseases and food 
additives and contaminants. 
- Experts in diagnostics and surveillance, and 
surveys. 
- Information exchange facilities (computers and 
networking).  
  WT/ACC/YEM/13/Rev.3 
Page 4 Provisions of the SPS Agreement Activity Time Frame Technical Assistance Required 
- Check and ensure the compliance of the above 
mentioned laws and regulations with 
harmonization obligations. 2008 - 2013 - Training of local expertise and staff on 
harmonization. 
- Networking facilities. 
- Participation in SPS major meetings and other 
related sanitary and phytosanitary agreements 
meetings and their subsidiary organizations. 2008 – 2010 
Continuous. - Financial assistance (DSA, airline tickets). Article 3: 
Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4: 
Harmonization with international standards, guidance, and 
recommendations 
- Implement the international standards for sanitary 
and phytosanitary measures. Continuous. - Expertise in the implementation of international 
standards and SPS measures (2008). 
- Training of staff and technicians (2009-2010). 
- Workshops on the proper implementation of SPS 
Agreement (2010). 
Article 4:  Equivalence - Check and ensure the compliance of the above 
mentioned laws and regulations with equivalence 
obligations. 2008 - 2013 - Training of staff and technicians on equivalence 
application. 
- Networking facilities. 
- Update pests' lists accord ing to risk analysis and 
assessment. 2008 - 2010 - Experts in plant pests and animal diseases and food 
additives and contaminants. 
- Experts in diagnostics and surveillance, and 
surveys. 
- Information exchange facilities (computers and 
networking). Article 5: 
Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3: Risk assessment to ensure that 
measures are based on science and 
applied only to protect health 
- Implement specific techni cal training programme 
in particular: 
 
 - Plant pest risk analysis; 
 - Implementation of HACCP system and 
related procedures; and 
- Animal disease risk analysis. 2008 - 2010 - Expertise in training of staff and technicians in risk 
management. 
- Data processing and analysis facilities. 
- Creation of food-born diseases' lists according to 
risk analysis and assessment. 2008 - 2010 - Experts in food-born diseases and risk analysis and 
risk assessment. Articles 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 
- Establishment of risk analysis and assessment 
management. 2008 - 2010 - An expert in risk management. 
- Training of staff and technicians. 
- Initiation to find pest or disease free areas and 
areas of low pest or  disease prevalence. 2008 - 2010 - Expertise in diseas e free areas and of low pest or 
disease prevalence. 
- Training in:  - Disease free areas and of low pest or disease 
prevalence. 
 - Epidemiological surveillance. Article 6 and Annexes A.6 and A.7: 
Adaptation to regional conditions 
- Declaration of pest or disease free areas and areas 
of low pest or disease prevalence. 2008 - 2011 - Mentioned in the previous technical assistance 
required.  
   WT/ACC/YEM/13/Rev.3
 Page 5Provisions of the SPS Agreement Activity Time Frame Technical Assistance Required 
- Follow up the process of the establishment and 
development of National Notification Authority 
and Enquiry Point in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation.   Done. - Training in SPS implementation. 
Article 7 and Annex B: 
Transparency:  Establishment and 
operation of a single enquiry point, publication of regulations and 
notification - Development of the subsidiary enquiry points in 
line ministries and authorities (Ministry of 
Health, Yemen Authority for Specifications and Metrology Organization).  2008 - 2010 - Computers and networking facilities. 
- Workshops on transparency. 
- Training in SPS measures in general and 
transparency in particular. 
- Development of the pesticides residue analysis 
lab. 2008 - 2010 - Expertise in the field of control and inspection. 
- Training of staff and technicians. 
- Equipments and tools for analysis. 
- Development of veterinary drugs residue analysis 
lab. 2008 - 2010 - Expertise in the field of control and inspection. 
- Training of staff and technicians. 
- Equipments and tools for analysis Article 8 and Annex C: Control and inspection / approval 
procedures for additives / tolerance contaminants in food 
- Development of additives and contaminants 
analysis lab. 2008 - 2010 - Expertise in the field of control and inspection. 
- Training of staff and technicians. - Equipments and tools for analysis 
Full implementation of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures 31 December 2014 - Taking into co nsideration the provision of the 
above mentioned technical assistance. 
 
 
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