. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/677 
31 March 2006 
 
 (06-1495) 
Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures Original:   French 
 
 
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SPS AGREEMENT 
 
Information for the Workshop on 31 March 2006  
 
Communication from Haiti 
 
  The following communication, received on 30 Marc h 2006, is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of Haiti. 
 
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 1. In preparation for the workshop on the implem entation of the SPS Agreement, Members were 
asked to submit information on their experien ces with respect to the issues to be discussed. 
Setting up the SPS Committee 
 
2. The first step was to appoint an enquiry point and a notification point.  In view of the 
functions of the various Ministries, the following was decided: 
• Enquiry point: Animal & Plant Quarantine Department 
Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural 
Development. 
 
• Notification point: Quality Control Department 
Ministry of Trade and Industry 
 
Election of SPS Committee Members 
 
3. The two departments mentioned above have pooled their resources, with help from the 
Customs Department (Ministry of the Economy and Finance) and with the technical and 
administrative support of the IICA, they have held various meetings with the private sector, with 
importers and exporte rs in particular. 
4. After several briefings and motivational meetings, it was agreed to go ahead with the election 
of the SPS Committee.  The results of this si mple majority election were the following: 
• Chair of the SPS Committee:  a member from the private sector; 
 
• Executive secretary:  the person in charge of the enquiry point;  and 
 
• Assistant executive secretary:  the person in charge of the notification point. 
 G/SPS/GEN/677 
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  5. In carrying out his/her functions, which are clear ly defined, the Chair of the Committee will 
be assisted by four other members from the private sector.  Technical support will have to be provided for the secretariat by the Ministry of Public Health  and Population, and the Ministry of the Interior 
and Territorial Collectivities. 
Delays in operation 
 
6. Once formed, the SPS Commission prepared and pre sented to the Ministry of Agriculture and 
the Ministry of Trade and Industry a draft Decree-Law.  The draft has not yet been considered because it was classified as non-urgent.  It is to be hoped that the draft will fare better when a new 
parliament convenes in a few weeks. 
7. Since the Committee's operational budget is part  of the Decree-Law, it has unfortunately not 
been approved. 
8. The two Ministries most closely involved are curre ntly looking for the best way to make the 
Committee operational. 
Needs 
 
9. In order to operate, the Committee should have certain facilities: 
• Office space; 
 
• computer and communications equipment; 
 
• office equipment; 
 
• back-up staff;  and 
 
• training for technical staff (training material). 
 
Constraints 
 
10. As well as the absence of a budget, which restri cts the SPS Committee's activities, the lack of 
interest shown by certain areas of the public sector  is a major problem.  Moreover, the private sector 
is in no great hurry to give the Committee full backi ng.  It would seem that information on the subject 
is not sufficiently persuasive. 
Prospects 
 
11. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are both ready to give 
their support to the SPS Committee. 
12. The IICA has promised expert advice for the operation of the Committee.  Members of the 
private sector are now approaching the Committee so as to be able to exploit the opportunities that the 
market for new products (fruit and ve getables) is currently offering. 
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