WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/R/57 
22 February 2010 
 (10-0943) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  
  
 
SUMMARY REPORT OF THE WORKSHOP ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE 
SPS COMMITTEE AND THE INTERNAT IONAL STANDARD-SETTING 
ORGANIZATIONS, 26 OCTOBER 2009 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The WTO Secretariat organized a workshop on  the relationship between the SPS Committee 
and the three international standard-setting orga nizations referenced in the SPS Agreement, the 
FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Code x), the FAO International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (the "three Sisters").  The workshop was held on 26 October 2009, back-to-b ack with the October meetings of the SPS 
Committee.  The programme for the workshop is attached (Annex). 
2. The workshop was open to all Members, Obser ver Governements and organizations with 
observer status in the SPS Committee.  The WTO S ecretariat, through the Global Trust Fund (GTF), 
invited fifty officials from least-developed and developing countries to attend the workshop and the 
subsequent meetings of the SPS Committee. 
3. The workshop was held in response to suggesti ons to clarify the respective roles of the SPS 
Committee, Codex, IPPC and OIE which had been ma de in the Second Review of the Operation and 
Implementation of the SPS Agreement.  The workshop also provided an opportunity to review the 
standard-setting procedures of each of the three Sisters, with a focus on how to enhance the 
participation of developing countries.  Areas for future collaboration between the four bodies were 
identified, and the need for more effective coordi nation of positions at the national level was stressed. 
4. More specifically, the objectives of the workshop were twofold: 
• To examine the procedures and issues faced by Codex, IPPC and OIE in the development, 
adoption and monitoring of the use of intern ational standards of relevance to the SPS 
Committee;  and 
• To discuss concrete actions to improve coor dination between the Committee and the three 
Sisters, in order to increase their effectiv eness and avoid the duplication of work.  
5. Presentations were made by Mr. Brent Larson of  the IPPC Secretariat; Dr. Sarah Kahn of  
OIE; Mr. Tom Heilandt of the Codex Secretariat;  a nd Ms. Gretchen Stanton of the WTO Secretariat.  
The workshop also benefited from the participati on of Ms. Karen Hulebak, Chair of the Codex 
Commission, and of Ms. Reinouw Bast-Tjeerde, Chair of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures 
(CPM).  The presentations from the workshop are available through the SPS gateway of the WTO 
website ( http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/s ps_e/wkshop_oct09_ e/wkshop_oct09_e.htm ). 
                                                      
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/R/57 
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  6. At the end of the workshop, eleven recomme ndations were adopted which seek to improve 
coordination and collaboration between the SPS Committee, Codex,  IPPC and OIE. 
II. BACKGROUND 
7. 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). 
8. At the June 2008 meeting of the SPS Committee,  Japan submitted a proposal (G/SPS/W/226) 
for a special workshop to focus on the procedures a nd issues before the Codex, IPPC, and OIE.  New 
Zealand also proposed some specific issues which c ould be addressed on the relationship between the 
Committee and the three Sisters (G/SPS/W/206).  The Committee endorsed these proposals, and 
asked the Secretariat to organize a special wo rkshop on the relationship between the SPS Committee 
and the three Sisters. 
9. A submission by the European Union on the relationship between the SPS Committee and the 
three Sisters (G/SPS/GEN/970) was also presented and discussed during the workshop. 
III. PRESENTATIONS  
A. WTO
 SECRETARIAT  
10. Ms. Gretchen Stanton, Secretary of the SPS Committee, provided  an overview of some of the 
key questions to be addressed concerning the re lationship between the SPS Committee and the three 
Sisters. 
B. FAO  INTERNATIONAL PLANT PR OTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC) 
11. Mr. Brent Larson of the IPPC Secretariat provi ded a general overview of IPPC including its 
mission, scope and organizational structure.  Mr. Larson presented the IPPC's standard-setting process and the four stages that it encompasses.  To date, 32 International Standards for Phytosanitary 
Measures (ISPMs) have been adopted, covering 87 t opics and subjects.  IPPC has ten Regional Plant 
Protection Organizations (RPPOs) wh ich coordinate the implementation of standards in their regions.  
Mr. Larson briefed participants on the recent developments in IPPC, including: the implementation of 
a special process which is applied mostly to standa rds drafted by technical panels, as opposed to the 
regular process used for concept standards; the de velopment of regional workshops; and the IPPC's 
Implementation, Review and Support System (IRSS).   
12. Mr. Larson addressed the challenges faced by the IPPC regarding: the procedure for standard 
setting, the participation of developing countries, and Secretariat staffing and funding.  Mr. Larson 
also spoke about IPPC's relationship with the SPS Committee and with the other two Sisters.  He 
suggested that potential areas of collaboration among the four bodies included:  the procedures for standard setting;  addressing problems of non-complian ce;  certification;  risk analysis techniques;  
implementation;  capacity building;  private standa rds;  languages;  and funding.  The Chair of the 
CPM, Ms. Bast-Tjeerde, particularly stressed the importance of collabor ation regarding export 
certifications. 
C. T
HE WORLD ORGANIZATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE) 
13. Following a general introduction of the OIE and its membership, Dr. Sarah Kahn highlighted 
the OIE's links with the SPS Committee and with the other two Sisters.  She noted that 40 per cent of  G/SPS/R/57 
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  the specific trade concerns raised in the SPS Co mmittee over the period 1995 -2008 were related to 
animal health and zoonoses.  Dr. Kahn also briefed participants on the OIE's standard-setting work.  
The OIE has 3 specialist Commissions:  the Terrestri al Animal Health Standards Commission;  the 
Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission;  and the Biological Standards Commission.  OIE 
Members are responsible for setting an d adopting international standards. 
14. Dr. Kahn noted that on request from the SPS Committee, the OIE provides advice on specific 
issues relating to international trade,  most recently relating to:  regionalisation;  compartmentalization;  
SPS capacity building;  dispute mediation;  and influenza H1N1. 
15. Dr. Kahn briefed participants on the OIE's colla boration with the other two Sisters and noted 
the OIE's strong collaboration with Codex, as they  both concentrate on measures taken at the farm 
level, and she stated that there have been on going talks about joint stan dards.  On the OIE's 
collaboration with IPPC, Dr. Kahn stated that the respective Secretariats consulted several times a 
year on relevant work, for instance on:  regionali zation;  compartmentalization;  equivalence;  
recognition of disease-free status;  dispute mediation;  approaches towards alien invasive species;  and 
capacity building.  Dr. Kahn stated that a framewo rk for the elaboration of joint standards was, 
potentially, an area for further collaboration, and that the OIE would continue to improve performance 
in standard-setting, focussing on standards that are mo st relevant for the facilitation of trade, as well 
as increasing the participation of developing countries. 
16. With regard to the recommendations which r esulted from the workshop (see Section V), the 
OIE noted its support for Recommendations (1), (2), (4), (7) and (10).  The OIE  also provided specific comments on six of the recommendations.  On  Recommendation (3), the OIE stated that it 
saw value in the proposal provided that the joint wo rk was on topics that were clearly relevant to the 
international standard-setting organi zations and to Members.  The OIE indicated that the proposal to 
develop common OIE–Codex standards, currently under consideration by th e two standard-setting 
organizations, could be relevant in  this regard.  The OIE suggested that Recommendation (5) required 
clarification , as the proposed action was potentially ope n to misinterpretation.  The OIE stated that 
formal recognition of equivalence for the purposes of  international trade depended on the level of 
sanitary protection sought by trading partners and that was a sovereign matter for each WTO Member.  
On Recommendation (6), the OIE noted its support for the proposal which it could readily address by providing information from the OIE Strategic Plan  and the annual work plans of the Specialist 
Commissions.  On Recommendation (8), OIE agreed w ith the proposal but noted that there could be 
some limitations on what could be done using ex isting resources.  On Recommendation (9), the OIE 
agreed with the proposal, provided that resourc es were available to the WTO SPS Secretariat to 
undertake a meaningful analysis.  On Recommendati on (11), the OIE noted that its International 
Trade Department already responded to Members an d organizations' enquiries on international trade 
standards and other trade-related questions.  Cu rrent resources would not enable a significant 
expansion of that activity.  
D. T
HE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX) 
17. Mr. Tom Heilandt provided an overview of the Codex, its mandate and its work.  
Mr. Heilandt stated that Codex offers a global standard-setting forum.  The Codex's results 
encompass: horizontal standards;  product standards;  guidelines;  codes of practice;  maximum residue levels for pesticides and veterinary drugs ;  and regional standards, codes and guidelines. 
18. Mr. Heilandt briefed participants on the structure of the Codex and on the role and 
functioning of the Codex Alimentarius Commissi on (CAC).  He noted that the Executive Committee 
meets once or twice a year to help in the standa rds management process.  The Codex has horizontal 
committees, vertical committees and ad hoc inte rgovernmental task forces, and each Codex 
committee has a host country. G/SPS/R/57 
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  19. Mr. Heilandt explained the eight steps involved in the Codex standard-setting process, noting 
that the process could be completed in only five steps in certain situations.  The role of science in the 
work of Codex was paramount and Codex standa rds and guidelines are based on the principle of 
sound scientific analysis and evidence.  He also briefed participants on the collaboration between 
Codex and the SPS Committee and the other two Sisters,  and on possible areas for further 
collaboration.  The Chair of Codex, Ms Hulebak, noted the need to find the most effective way of 
working with OIE on joint standards.  She also noted  the urgency of concerns related to the issue of 
private standards, and the necessity to focus on conformity with inte rnational standards. 
IV. DISCUSSIONS  
20. The workshop sought to identify concrete acti ons to:  (1) enhance the coordination between 
the SPS Committee and Three Sisters, and between the Three Sisters themselves;  (2) increase the use 
and usefulness of international standards;  (3) a void unnecessary duplication of effort;  and (4) ensure 
that the standard-setting process is in line with  the implementation of the SPS Agreement, and 
facilitates trade in agriculture and food products.  
21. The presentations by the three Sisters addressed (1) the processes and procedures used in the 
development and adoption of intern ational standards, guidelines and recommendations of relevance to 
the SPS Agreement, and (2) possible ways to f acilitate the implementation of the SPS Agreement 
while avoiding duplication of activities. 
22. After each of the presentations by the represen tatives of the three Sisters, there was an 
opportunity for questions and comments.  Particip ants used that opportunity to acquire a better 
understanding of how international standards, whic h are so important in the context of the SPS 
Agreement, were developed, and also how coordi nation and effectiveness c ould be improved between 
the work of the SPS Committee and that of the three Sisters. 
23. The presentations pointed out some variations in the procedures for adopting standards among 
the Three Sisters.  Some participants stressed the need for harmonization of the standard development 
procedures.  However, it was noted that such  harmonization could be challenging due to the 
difference in the three Sisters' procedures and di fferent areas of work.  It was recognized that 
harmonization could be achieved in cross-cutting issues and, while work was being done on this area, 
further coordination was needed. 
24. The afternoon's discussions focussed on identifyi ng concrete actions to enhance coordination 
between the SPS Committee and the three Sisters,  as well as the effective use of international 
standards.  The European Union's submission on th e relationship between the SPS Committee and the 
Three Sisters was also presented and discussed. 
25. There were discussions of what mechanisms the SPS Committee could consider to promote 
the effective use of the international standards in the implementation and administration of the SPS 
Agreement, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort.  Some suggestions were also made on 
how to achieve the most effective collaborati on and communication between the SPS Committee and 
the standard-setting bodies. 
26. Participants raised concerns on the role of  the SPS Committee and the three Sisters in the 
implementation of international standards and the m onitoring of their usage.  Emphasis was given to 
the role of the SPS Committee as a coordinator with  regard to the three standard-setting bodies. 
27. 
The need for coordination at the national leve l was stressed, as well as the importance of 
increasing the participation of developing countries in the meetings of  the SPS Committee and in 
those of the three Sisters.  The importance of SPS-related capacity buildi ng was also highlighted.  G/SPS/R/57 
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  V. RECOMMENDATIONS  
28. The recommendations arising from the workshop included the following:   
 (1) Moving the reports on activities of the three Sisters to earlier in the Committee's 
agenda; 
 (2) Increasing the number of joint capacity building activities which could provide an 
opportunity to discuss current work, for example, draft standards; 
 (3) Joint work by two or all three Sister s on cross-cutting issues such as certification, 
inspection, approval procedur es and/or risk analysis; 
 (4) Coordination meetings among the three Sisters and with the WTO Secretariat;    (5) Consideration of how to ensure equi valence among results of standards on related 
products; 
 (6) Soliciting more information at the strategi c planning phase of the three Sisters work;   
 (7) The SPS Committee transmitting informati on relating to trade issues linked to non-
use of standards, absence of standards, or  inappropriate standards to the relevant 
Sister organization; 
 (8) Requesting the three Sisters to analyze th e current specific trade concerns raised in 
the SPS Committee to see which of these could have been addressed by the use of the 
existing international standards; 
 (9) Better use by the SPS Committee of the info rmation regarding the use of international 
standards which is available from the SPS notifications; 
 (10) Identifying ways to improve coordina tion at a national level of the relevant 
representatives of the three Sisters and SPS representatives;  and  
 (11) The establishment of a "help desk" to answer enquiries and provide information in 
each of the three Sisters and the WTO Secretariat. 
 
 G/SPS/R/57 
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  ANNEX 
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 duplication and opportunities for 
collaboration 
(c) SPS Committee's process to invite 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 interpretati on 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 th eir 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  G/SPS/R/57 
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  (e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards;  climate 
change;  regionalization; e quivalence; pest/commodity 
specific standards, etc. 
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   G/SPS/R/57 
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  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 
(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 
(f) How can the SPS Committee effectively identify relevant 
issues linked to non-use of standards, absence of standards, 
or inappropriate standards, a nd appropriately prioritize these 
issues? 
How to ensure effective collabora tion and communication between the SPS 
Committee and the three Sisters, and among the three Sisters  
(a) Reporting/communic§ation from the three Sisters to the SPS 
Committee 
Is reporting back to the Committee by th e 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 Committ ee 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 the importance and priority placed 
on identified issues?  
(c) Joint action for the prevention/resolution of problems 
What is the role of the SPS Committee in broader issues common to more 
than one (or all) of the three Sisters?   Is it to ensure consistency in 
interpretation of the SPS Agreement across the three Sisters? 
  17.45 – 18.00 Closing remarks by the Chair 
__________