. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1143/Rev.2 
29 March 2012 
 (12-1671) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
SPS MEASURES AND INTERNATIONAL  STANDARDS, GUIDELINES  
AND RECOMMENDATIONS 
 
Communication from Argentina, Australia, Brazil,  Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, New 
Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines and the United States of America 
 
Revision 
   The following communication, received on 16 Marc h 2012, is being circulated at the request 
of the following Delegations:  Argentina, Austra lia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, 
New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines and the United States of America. 
 
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1. The increase in the number of SPS measures that  are not based on international standards, 
guidelines and recommendations or that have inadequate  scientific justification is a point of concern 
readily raised by many Members in the SPS Co mmittee and other contexts.  These measures often 
unduly restrict trade and appear to be associated with objectives that are not deemed as legitimate 
under international trade rules.   
2. Given these recent concerns and in order to fu lfil the objectives of the SPS Agreement, it is 
useful to reconfirm:  
(a) The need for science-based international guidelines, standards and recommendations  
3. As clearly enunciated in the SPS Agreement,  in order to achieve the objective of 
harmonization, WTO Members use, as the basis of  their measures, the standards, guidelines and 
recommendations developed by the internationa l standard-setting bodies cited in the WTO SPS 
Agreement.  Scientific principles provide the st rongest foundation for establishing and, as appropriate, 
updating these international standards, guidelines and recommendations.  
(b) The need to support and strengthen confid ence in SPS international standard-setting 
bodies 
4. Given the importance of international sta ndards, guidelines and recommendations, Members 
must recognize the role of the international standard-setting bodies identified in the WTO SPS 
Agreement, in our multilateral rules-based trading system.   
5. Objective, transparent and well-established processes and procedures must continue to guide 
the work of relevant SPS international standard- setting bodies.  Collectively investing knowledge, 
data and resources towards improvi ng international processes in orde r to establish science-based SPS 
standards, guidelines and recommenda tions in a timely way is para mount for the well-functioning of 
the multilateral trading system.  G/SPS/GEN/1143/Rev.2 
Page 2  
 
  (c) The need for sanitary and phy tosanitary measures which result in a higher level of 
protection than would be achieved by me asures based on the relevant international 
standards, guidelines and recommendations to  be established on the basis of science 
6. It should be recalled that the WTO SPS Agreem ent allows Members to establish sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures which result in a higher le vel of protection than would be achieved by 
measures based on relevant intern ational standards, guidelines and recommendations  provided that 
there is a scientific justification to do so.  In doing so, however, Members should, in determining the 
appropriate level of protection, take into account of the objective of minimizing the negative trade 
effects. 
7. Members of the SPS Committee can positively contribute to minimizing the negative effects 
on trade through their actions not only in the SPS Comm ittee, but also their actions in the relevant 
SPS international standard-setting bodies, ensuring that standards, guidelines and recommendations 
are faithful to the spirit and intent of the SPS Agreement. 
 
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