. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1090 
20 June 2011 
 (11-3021) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
QUARANTINE AND TESTING PROCEDURES APPLIED TO SALMON  
IMPORTED FROM NORWAY - QUESTIONS TO CHINA 
 
Communication from Norway 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 16 June 2011, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Norway. 
 
_______________ 
 
 1. The importation of Norwegian fresh salmon into  China has dropped significantly due to the 
testing and quarantine procedures that were implemented on 13 December 2010.  These were 
followed by the strengthened inspection and quaran tine procedures as stated in Notice No. 9 2011 
issued on 20 January 2011, under the authority of th e General Administration of Quality Supervision, 
Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China.  It is our understanding that these are 
SPS measures and are covered by WTO Member country commitments under the WTO Agreement 
on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ("SPS Agreement").  Norway would like 
to solicit information from China in order to rectify this situation. 
2. We would kindly request China to assist us in understanding the scientific evidence which 
justifies these procedures.  What are the results of  the tests conducted in the search for such evidence, 
where have these tests been conducted and what are the Chinese tolerance leve ls for the substances 
found, and how do these procedures comply with the SPS Agreement? 
3. Furthermore, Norway is concerned about the strengthened inspection and quarantine 
procedures as stated in Notice No. 9 2011 issued on 20 January 2011.  We understand this Notice to 
be in addition to the procedure dating from 13 December 2010.  Are Norwegian imports of salmon 
treated and tested according to the procedures in  Notice No. 9 in addition to the procedures dating 
from 13 December? 
4. Notice No. 9 2011 is implemented to safeguard c onsumers in China.  Could information be 
provided on which deficiencies have been identified,  the methods used, the levels documented and the 
corresponding tolerance levels?  
5. Notice No. 9 2011 states that the on-site testing for iced fresh salmon will be strengthened.  
What are the implications?  Which tests will be pe rformed, what does on-site testing imply, what is 
the time frame involved, will all shipments be tested , what will be the consequences for trade in fresh-
iced salmon and how will these trade restrictions be minimized?  
6. Norway fully recognizes the right of nations to  take sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
necessary for the protection of human, animal or  plant life or health under the SPS Agreement, 
provided that such measures are not inconsis tent with the provisions of the Agreement. G/SPS/GEN/1090 
Page 2  
 
  7. Norway invites China to provide an explanation of how these new measures are compliant 
with the SPS Agreement in general and specifically with regard to the following articles and annex: 
 Article 2.2 which states that any SPS-measure is applied only to the extent necessary to 
protect human, animal or plant life or health and is based on scientific principles; 
 Article 5.1 which states that Members shall ensure that the SPS-measures are based on an 
assessment of the risks to life or health, taking into account risk assessment techniques and 
Article 5.4 which states that the appropriate le vel of protection should take into account the 
objective of minimizing negative trade effects; 
 Annex C, paragraph 1(e), that states that any re quirement for control, inspection and approval 
of individual specimens of a product are limited to what is reasonable and necessary. 
8. Norway would also invite China to inform us regarding the standard processing period of this 
new procedure in line with the obligations under Annex C, paragraph 1(b) of the Agreement.  
9. Norway as well urges China to comply with the notification procedures under the SPS 
Agreement and to notify the measures implemen ted on 13 December 2010, as well as Notice No. 9 
2011, to the WTO. 
__________