WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/42 
4 August 2006 
 (06-3770) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  
  
 
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS 
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION 
 
Eighth Annual Report
 
Adopted by the Committee on 28 June 2006  
 
 A. 
INTRODUCTION  
1. At its meeting of 15-16 October 1997, the SPS Committee adopted a provisional procedure to 
monitor the process of international harmonization a nd the use of international standards, guidelines 
or recommendations, as provided for in Articles 3.5 a nd 12.4 of the SPS Agreement.  This procedure 
was subsequently revised by the Committee in October 2004.1  The Committee decided to extend the 
provisional monitoring procedure for a further two-ye ar period in July 1999, and again in July 2001.2  
On 25 June 2003, the Committee agreed to further extend the provisional procedure for 36 months, 
and to review its operation in Ju ly 2006 to determine at that tim e whether to continue with the 
provisional procedure, amend it, or develop another one.3 
2. The Committee has previously adopted seven annual reports on the monitoring procedure.4  
These reports summarize several standards-related is sues that the Committee has considered and the 
responses received from the relevant  standard-setting organizations.  
B. NEW ISSUES  
3. Since the adoption of the Seventh Annual Repor t, three new issues have been raised under 
this procedure.  One issue is with regard to the need for a Codex standard for maximum residue levels 
of sulphur dioxide in cinnamon, one concerns the ch apter of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
on Avian Influenza, and the third concerned the fa ilure of Members to respect the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code on Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
Maximum residue levels of sulphur dioxide in cinnamon 
4. At the meeting of the Committee on 24 Octobe r 2005 and when the meeting resumed in 
February 2006, Sri Lanka raised the issue of the non-existence of a Codex standard on sulphur dioxide 
in cinnamon.5  Trade problems had arisen for Sri Lanka due to the lack of such a standard, particularly 
regarding Sri Lanka's exports to the European Communities.6  Although the European Communities 
accepted the use of sulphur dioxide in some herbs and species which, like cinnamon, are used as food 
additives, its use in cinnamon was not permitted.  Th is situation was aggravated by the lack of a 
                                                      
1 G/SPS/11/Rev.1. 
2 G/SPS/14 and G/SPS/17. 
3 G/SPS/25. 
4 These were circulated as G/SPS/13, G/SPS/ 16, G/SPS/18, G/SPS/21, G/SPS/28, G/SPS/31 and 
G/SPS/37.  
5 G/SPS/R39 and G/SPS/R40. 
6 G/SPS/GEN/597. G/SPS/42 
Page 2  
 
  relevant Codex standard.  A specific proposal had be en submitted to Codex for the establishment of a 
maximum level of sulphur dioxide for all herbs and spices, including seasoning and condiments such as cinnamon.
7   
5. During the meeting of the Committee on 29-30 March 2006, Sri Lanka recalled the trade 
losses to his country arising from this problem and as ked for an expedited handling of the matter.  He 
requested the Committee to make appropriate reco mmendations to Codex to expeditiously develop 
this standard.  
6. The European Communities supported Sri Lanka's request, noting that a certain period of time 
was required until a new maximum residue level c ould be adopted.  The European Commission was 
encouraging EC member States to be tolerant in respect to sulphur dioxide in cinnamon in the 
meantime. 
7. The Committee agreed that the Chair should immediately send a letter to the Codex 
Commission to draw its intention to this matter.  The Codex representative indicated that the comments submitted by Sri Lanka would be cons idered by the Codex Committee on Food Additives 
and Contaminants (CCFAC) at its forthcoming meeting in April 2006. 
8. At the meeting of the Committee in June 2006, th e Codex representative reported that following 
the request from the Chairman of the SPS Committee, CCFAC had forwarded a recommendation for the establishment of a maximum level (ML) for the use of  sulphites (including sulphur dioxide) of 150 mg/kg 
for Food Category 12.2.1 "Herbs and Spices" for adoption by the 29
th Session of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission.8   
9. On 18 July 2006, the Chairman  of the SPS Committee received a letter from the Chair of the 
Codex Commission indicating that the 29th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held in 
Geneva from 3 to 7 July 2006, adopted a maximum level of use of 150 mg/kg for sulphites (including 
sulphur dioxide) in food category 12.2.1 "Herbs an d spices" of the Codex General Standard for Food 
Additives (GSFA).  This maximum level will be included in the updated version of the GSFA, 
reflecting the latest decisions of the Commission, and in the updated version of the "GSFA Online" on 
the Codex website (http://www.codexalimen tarius.net/gsfaonline/index.html).9   
Avian influenza 
10. At the resumed meeting of the Committee on 2 February 2006, Canada recalled that 
according to the provisions of Chapter 2.7.12 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2005, 
countries free of highly pathogenic avian influe nza but which reported cases of notifiable low 
pathogenic avian influenza should be able to trade on the basis of appropriate veterinary certification.  
However, as Canada had experienced, trading restri ctions were being imposed also when cases of low 
pathogenic avian influenza were reported.  Countri es that took appropriate surveillance and control 
measures in a transparent manner consistent with  the OIE provisions should not be penalized but 
rather treated in a manner consistent with the provis ions of the OIE.  Canada also noted that several 
countries had introduced prohibitions on imports of  birds, poultry and poultry products from all 
countries, one exempting only the European Communiti es.  Given the current international context, it 
was important that Members act on the basis of sc ience when applying their measures so as not to 
deter countries from making appropriate investment s in surveillance and reporting.  Colombia 
reported that it had encountered similar problems.  
                                                      
7 G/SPS/W/187. 
8 G/SPS/GEN/701. 
9 G/SPS/GEN/716.  G/SPS/42 
 Page 3 
 
 
  11. The OIE observed that Croatia had also encountered a similar problem and stressed that this 
was not compliant with the OIE standard.  When developing the standard at the OIE, the objective 
was to find a balance between what countries were re quired to notify that was of sufficient importance 
to result in justified trade restrictions and what  information countries should notify to improve OIE's 
understanding of the evolution of the disease ar ound the world.  The OIE strongly encouraged 
Members to follow the OIE recommendations and to not discourage countries to share information. 
12. Discussions on this matter also occurred at the meetings of the Committee in October 2005, 
February 2006 and March 2006 under the agenda item on specific trade concerns.  These discussions 
are summarized in the relevant reports of the meetings.10 
13. At the June 2006 meeting of the Committee, the OIE reported that the OIE International 
Committee in May 2006 had adopted 25 draft text s proposed by the Terrest rial Code Commission, 
including a revised list of notifiable terrestrial animal diseases – to address the importance of Member Countries notifying findings of highly pathogenic avia n influenza in wild birds;  a revised avian 
influenza chapter – to modify the definition of "p oultry" to clarify the intention to include all 
domesticated poultry including backyard birds;  an d a new appendix on avian influenza inactivation 
guidelines.  In addition, the OIE had together w ith the FAO established a Network of Expertise on 
Avian Influenza (OFFLU).  The OFFLU had set up th e network, agreed the Terms of Reference, 
exchanged isolates and sequences and set up a website:  http://www.offlu.net
.11  
Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) 
14. At the meeting of the Committee on 29-30 March 2006, Argentina informed Members about 
the situation of FMD within Argentina and con cerns about import restrictions which were not 
scientifically based (G/SPS/GEN/654).  In particul ar, some Members imposed import restrictions on 
grains, fruits, vegetables, tubers and other products , including processed products for retail sale such 
as teas, despite the OIE recommendation being limited to straw and forage.  Several Members noted 
that they faced similar concerns.  The European  Communities pointed out that they followed the 
recommendations provided by the OIE, Codex and IPPC and urged other Members to do the same. 
15. At the June 2006 meeting of the Committee, the OIE reported that the OIE International 
Committee in May 2006 had adopted a revised FMD ch apter to facilitate and expedite the decision-
making process to allocate freedom from FMD following an outbreak (see Appendix 1 of 
G/SPS/GEN/708) and a revised appendix on FM D surveillance.  The chapter of the Manual of 
Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals  that addresses FMD was amended.  Based on 
the recommendations of the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases, the OIE International 
Committee asked the Director General of the OIE to publish the list of Member Countries recognized 
as FMD free (see Appendix 2 of G/SPS/GEN/708). 
C. PREVIOUS ISSUES  
16. Since the adoption of the Seventh Annual Report,  two issues previously raised have been 
further discussed.  One concerns the implementation of the International Standard for Phytosanitary 
Measures (ISPM) number 15 on wood packaging materi al and the other concerns regionalization. 
Implementation of ISPM 15 on wood packaging material 
17. At the meeting of the Committee on 29-30 Marc h 2006, the United States drew attention to 
issues related to the implementation of the Intern ational Standard for Phytosanitary Measures on 
                                                      
10 G/SPS/R39 and Corr.1 and G/SPS/R40. 
11 G/SPS/GEN/708. G/SPS/42 
Page 4  
 
  wood packaging material (ISPM 15).  The United St ates supported the IPPC's approach for addressing 
the debarking issue or any other issue with ISPM 15.  Argentina reported on a system it had developed for the implementation of ISPM 15.
12  The United States, Canada and the European 
Communities encouraged other Members to ma ke known their intentions regarding the 
implementation of ISPM 15.  A lack of universal  implementation of ISPM 15 could jeopardize trade 
in any product.  If countries notified and implemen ted the guidelines as developed by the IPPC and 
engaged in the IPPC process to aid in the implem entation of ISPM 15, this would help to avoid 
unnecessary restrictions to trade and reaffirm the importance of the international standards.  
18. At the meetings of the Committee on 24 October 2005 and February 2006, as well as at the 
meeting in March 2006, the United States and Canada  expressed appreciation for the decision of the 
European Communities to postpone the debarking requirement contained in Directive 2004/102 until 
1 January 2009. 
19. Discussions on ISPM 15 also occurred at the meeting of the Committee in October 2005 and 
February 2006, and March 2006 under the agenda items on specific tr ade concerns.  These discussions 
are summarized in the relevant reports of the meetings.13 
Pest- and disease-free areas (Article 6) 
20. Discussions on regionalization occurred at the meetings of the Committee in October 2005, 
February 2006 and March 2006 under the agenda  item on specific trade concerns and under the 
specific item on regionalization, but not under the item on monitoring the use of international 
standards.  These discussions are summarized in the relevant reports of the meetings.14 
D. RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM THE RELEVANT STANDARD -SETTING ORGANIZATIONS  
Implementation of ISPM 15 on wood packaging material – Response from the IPPC 
21. At the meeting of the Committee in October and February 2006, the IPPC informed the 
Committee that revision of ISPM 15 was given a high priority and that a draft standard on the debarking of wood would be prepared for country co nsultation in 2006 with the intention of  adoption 
at the 2006 meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM).  A workshop on ISPM 15 
had also been held, with great success.  To follow-up on this success, the IPPC secretariat was 
monitoring the SPS notifications of countries' implemen tation of ISPM 15.  At that time, 11 countries 
had notified implementation. 
22. At the June meeting of the SPS Committee, the IPPC reported that the CPM had adopted a 
modification to the methyl bromide fumigation schedul e contained in Annex 1 of ISPM No. 15 so that 
the minimum temperature should not be less than 10°C and the minimum exposure time should be 24 
hours.  Monitoring of concentrations should be carried out at a minimum at 2, 4 and 24 hrs.
15 
Pest- and disease-free areas (Article 6) – Response from the OIE 
23. The OIE reported that the General Session of th e OIE to be held in May 2006 would consider 
zoning and compartmentalization.16  In June, the OIE reported that the OIE International Committee 
in May 2006 had adopted new text s on zoning and compartmentalization, as well as a revised Chapter 
                                                      
12 G/SPS/GEN/653. 
13 G/SPS/R39 and Corr.1 and G/SPS/R40. 
14 G/SPS/R39 and Corr.1 and G/SPS/R40. 
15 G/SPS/GEN/706. 
16 G/SPS/GEN/646.  G/SPS/42 
 Page 5 
 
 
  of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  on Classical Swine Fever – to incorporate the concept of 
compartmentalization. The OIE further reported that the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal 
Diseases had agreed with regard to zoning and regi onalisation that, in the event of a disease outbreak 
in a disease-free zone in a country comprising several zones with similar status, the disease-free status 
of all the zones with similar status in the count ry should be withdrawn pending confirmation from the 
Official Delegate of that country that sufficient sanitary measures are in opera tion to prevent the entry 
of virus into the other non-affected zones.17   
__________ 
  
                                                     
 
17 G/SPS/GEN/708.