WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/671 
30 March 2006 
 
 (06-1465) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   French 
 
 
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF SANITARY 
AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 
 
Information for the Workshop on 31 March 2006  
 
Communication from Cameroon  
  
 The following communication, received on 29 Marc h 2006, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Cameroon. 
 
_______________ 
 
 1. In preparation for the Workshop on the Implementation of the SPS Agreement, Members 
were asked to submit information on their experien ces with respect to the subjects to be discussed. 
2. Cameroon's contribution will focus on the following points: 
 (a) Modalities for the implementation of the SPS Agreement; 
  (b) structure for the handling of SPS matters; 
 
 (c) system of information for economic opera tors and trading partners on the subject of 
SPS requirements; 
  (d) experience of Cameroon with the supply  of and request for technical assistance; 
 
 (e) difficulties and proposals. 
 
(a) Modalities for the implementation of the SPS Agreement 
 
3. On 26 September 1995, Cameroon ratified the Agre ement Establishing the WTO.  Since then, 
it has applied the rules of the multilateral trading system.  Its domestic regulatory texts therefore seek 
to take account of the provisions of the WTO agreements.  Thus, public opinion, the economic operators, society as a whole, and all of the various  sectors of public life have been made increasingly 
aware of the agreements.  This a pplies to the SPS Agreement as well. 
(b) Structure for handling SPS matters 
 4. Following the ratification of the Agreement Estab lishing the WTO, a decree was issued by the 
Prime Minister and Head of Government on 12 March 1997 establishing a National Technical G/SPS/GEN/671 
Page 2  
 
  Committee to monitor the WTO Agreements.  Its mission is: 
 - To establish an operational system for the continuing follow-up of the WTO 
agreements; 
  - to analyse and assess the impact of tho se agreements on the different sectors of the 
country's economy; 
  - to identify the problems that arise at the national and international levels;   - to propose appropriate solutions to the government with a view to defining and 
consolidating a concerted national position on the different areas covered by the 
agreements that are of particular interest to Cameroon; 
  - to monitor the implementation of the gove rnment's proposals in the framework of the 
international trade negotiations. 
 
5. This Committee comprises representatives of: 
 - The government;    - the private sector;  - civil society.  The Chairperson of the Committee (Ministry of Commerce) may invite anyone to participate, 
without the right of discussion or vote, in the work  of the Committee on the b asis or their competence 
in the area under discussion. 
6. Commissions or Sub-Committee's are to be created within the Committee to examine 
predefined issues. 
7. In this connection, a Sub-Committee was se t up within the Committee to examine SPS and 
TBT matters.  A number of standards were  developed within that Sub-Committee: 
 - Standards for wheat flour; 
  - standards for pasta of durum wheat semolina;   - standards for dairy products. 
 
8. Cameroonian exporters are expected to comply wi th the few standards that have the force of 
law (standards on durum wheat meal semolina). 
9. The Sub-Committee reviews the regulations on sanitary and phytosanitary inspection. 
(c) System of information for economic opera tors and trading partners on the subject of 
SPS requirements  
10. There are no specific measures for informing th e Cameroonian economic operators of the new 
SPS requirements.  The only channels used are the meetings that the Sub-Committee may hold, during 
which operators are informed of the measures that the State may take to protect human, animal and 
plant health.  G/SPS/GEN/671 
 Page 3 
 
 
  11. As regards access for Cameroonian products to foreign markets, the Sub-Committee may 
have some information on certain markets, for exam ple the regulations of the European Union, with 
respect to foodstuffs (hard control). 
(d) Experience of Cameroon with the supp ly of and request for technical assistance 
 
12. Cameroon often expresses its human capacity-bu ilding needs and notifies its requests to the 
WTO.  In this connection, it requested a nationa l week on the SPS and TBT Agreements.  The WTO 
sent experts, who trained government and private sector officials and representatives of civil society.  The results were deemed positive, and another tr aining session was requested in 2004.  The WTO sent 
an expert who carried out a needs assessment in June 2005.  Cameroon is currently waiting for the 
WTO to validate the report of the expert so that the requested activity can take place. 
(e) Proposals 
 
13. Technical assistance plays an important role in  the implementation of the WTO agreements.  
In order to benefit from the technical assistan ce offered, countries like Cameroon whose economies 
are in transition must submit specific requests. 
14. It is therefore important that notifications of new requirements of WTO Members should 
reach the Ministry of Commerce in a timely manner so that the administration and business circles 
can be informed. 
15. The WTO could, through the specialized agenci es, help Cameroon in the development and 
certification of standards.  This assistance could ta ke the form of technological and infrastructural 
equipment . 
16. Cameroon requests training for trainers in the SPS and TBT areas, so that the newly-trained 
officials can take over the retraining of economic operators and other officials. 
 
__________