WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/933 
16 June 2009 
 (09-2910) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
  
 
PROGRAMME FOR A WORKSHOP ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN  
THE SPS COMMITTEE AND THE INTERNATIONAL  
STANDARD-SETTING ORGANIZATIONS 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 
 1. One of the issues identified for further c onsideration by the SPS Committee during the 
Second Review of the Operation and Implementa tion of the SPS Agreement was the relationship 
between the SPS Committee and the three internationa l standard-setting organi zations referenced in 
the SPS Agreement (G/SPS/36, paragraphs 89-91).  At the June 2008 meeting of the SPS Committee, 
Japan submitted a proposal (G/SPS/W/226) for a speci al workshop to focus on the procedures and 
issues before the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the FAO International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC), and the World Organizati on for Animal Health (OIE) ("three sisters").  
New Zealand also proposed some specific issues which could be addressed on the relationship between the Committee and the three Sisters (G/SPS/W/206).  The Committee endorsed those 
proposals, and asked the Secretariat to organize a special workshop on the relationship between the 
SPS Committee and the three sisters.  This speci al workshop will be held on 26 October 2009. 
2. The attached workshop programme is based on the suggestions from Japan and New Zealand, 
consultations with Codex, IPPC and OI E, and comments from various Members.  
3. The workshop will begin with information on the process and procedures used in the 
development and adoption of intern ational standards, guidelines and recommendations of relevance to 
the SPS Agreement.  Delegates to the SPS Committ ee will have the opportunity to discuss how to 
improve coordination of the work between th e three sisters and the Committee to enhance 
effectiveness and avoid duplication. 
 
                                                     
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO. G/SPS/GEN/933 
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  WORKSHOP ON THE RELATIONSH IP BETWEEN THE SPS COMMITTEE 
AND THE CODEX, IPPC AND OIE 
26 October 2009 
 
PROGRAMME 
 
10.00 – 10.15 Opening remarks by the Chair 
10.15 – 10.30 General introduction – WTO Secretariat 
Highlight questions to be addressed: 
 
(a) Relevant role of the SPS Committee vis-à-vis  Codex, IPPC, 
and OIE ("three sisters") 
(b) Potential areas of duplica tion and opportunities for 
collaboration 
(c) SPS Committee's process to inv ite three sisters to address 
concerns 
(d) Evaluation of the actions taken by three sisters to resolve 
issues forwarded by the SPS Committee 
(e) Communication and reporting by the three sisters to their 
members and governing bodies on relevant issues discussed at the SPS Committee  
(f) Consistency in interpretation of the SPS Agreement across the 
three sisters 
(g) Monitoring of work carried out by other relevant international 
bodies, including status of guidelines of other international standard-setting bodies 
(h) Equivalence, non-use of standards, absence of standards, or 
inappropriate standards and their prioritization within the Committee 
10.30 – 11.00 FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee - how to enhance coordination  
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-
implementation; collaboration with the SPS Committee; difficulties with implementation;  new developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting 
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards;  climate 
change;  regionalization; e quivalence; pest/commodity 
specific standards, etc.  G/SPS/GEN/933 
 Page 3 
 
 
  11.00 – 11.20 Questions and answers 
11.20 – 11.50 World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee - how to enhance coordination  
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-
implementation; collaboration with the SPS Committee; 
difficulties with implementation; new developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting  
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards; climate 
change;  regionalization;  equivalence;  commodity based 
standards, etc. 
11.50 – 12.10 Questions and answers 12.10 – 12.40 FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee - how to enhance coordination  
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-
implementation;  collaboration with the SPS Committee; difficulties with implementation;  new developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting  
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards;  food safety 
vs. quality;  equivalence, etc. 
12.40 – 13.00 Questions and answers 
  13.00 – 15.00 Lunch break   
15.00 – 17.45 Identifying concrete actions to: 
 
(i) Enhance the coordination between the Committee and 
three sisters, and between the three sisters; 
(ii) Increase the use and usefulness of international 
standards;   
(iii) Avoid unnecessary duplication of effort; and G/SPS/GEN/933 
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  (iv) Ensure that the standard setting process is in line with 
the implementation of the SPS Agreement, and facilitates trade in agriculture and food products. 
 
 
15.00 – 15.45 
    
 
  
15.45 – 16.45 
 
 
    
 
     
 
    
 
    
 
16.45 – 17.45 Discussions could be grouped under the following headings
: 
 
How to effectively encourage the use of  international standards, guidelines or 
recommendations by all Members  
(a) How can the SPS Committee effectively identify relevant 
issues linked to non-use of standards, absence of standards, or 
inappropriate standards, and appropriately prioritize these 
issues? 
How to ensure effective collaborati on and communication between the SPS 
Committee and the three sisters, and among the three sisters  
 
(a) Reporting/communication from the three sisters to the SPS 
Committee 
Is reporting back to the Committee by the three sisters:  (i) effective; 
(ii) up to Members expectations;  and (iii) a tool for harmonization? 
Does the Committee have a role in assessing the actions taken by the 
three sisters to resolve a specific issue?   
(b) Communication from the SPS Committee to the three sisters 
Is the process used by the Committe e to invite the three sisters to 
address concerns clear and efficient?  To what extent can or should 
the Committee:  (i) give guidance towards an outcome;  and/or (ii) provide information, guidance or background to the issue? 
What are the most effective mechanisms for the Committee to 
communicate to the three sisters th e importance and priority placed 
on identified issues? 
(c) Joint action for the prevention/resolution of problems 
What is the role of the SPS Committe e in broader issues common to more 
than one (or all) of the three sister s?  Is it to ensure consistency in 
interpretation of the SPS Agreement across the three sisters? 
  17.45 – 18.00 Closing remarks by the Chair 
__________