WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/W/174 
31 May 2005 
 (05-2213) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures  
  
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS 
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION 
 
Draft Seventh Annual Report
1 
  
A. 
INTRODUCTION  
1. At its meeting of 15-16 October 1997, the SPS Committee adopted a provisional procedure to 
monitor the process of international harmonization a nd the use of international standards, guidelines 
or recommendations, as provided for in Ar ticles 3.5 and 12.4 of the SPS Agreement.2  The Committee 
decided to extend the provisional monitoring procedur e for a further two-year period in July 1999, 
and again in July 2001.3  On 25 June 2003, the Committee agre ed to further extend the provisional 
procedure for 36 months, and to revi ew its operation in July 2006 to determine at that time whether to 
continue with the provisional procedur e, amend it, or develop another one.4 
2. The Committee has previously adopted six annual reports on the monitoring procedure.5  
These reports summarized several standards-related issues that the Committee had considered and the 
responses received from the relevant  standard-setting organizations. 
B. REVISION OF THE PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS OF INTERNATIONAL 
HARMONIZATION  
3. At its meeting of 27-28 October 2004, th e Committee adopted modifications to the 
provisional procedure to monitor the use of international standards.6  The deadline for identifying 
issues as established in the agreed proce dures was reduced from 30 days to ten days. 
C. NEW ISSUES  
4. Since the adoption of the Sixth Annual Report th ree new issues have been raised under this 
procedure.  One issue is with regard to regiona lization and two issues concern the implementation of 
the International Standard for Phytosanitary  Measures (ISPM) number 15 on wood packaging. 
Pest and Disease-free Areas (Article 6) 
5. At the meeting of the Committee on 27-28 Oc tober 2004, New Zealand proposed that the 
Committee consider the issue of regionalization un der the procedure for monitoring international 
harmonization.7  Using this procedure could facilitate progress in discussions on regionalization by 
                                                      
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. 
2 G/SPS/11. 
3 G/SPS/14 and G/SPS/17. 
4 G/SPS/25. 
5 These were circulated as G/SPS/13, G/SPS/ 16, G/SPS/18, G/SPS/21, G/S PS/28 and G/SPS/31.  
6 G/SPS/11/Rev.1. 
7 G/SPS/R/35 and G/SPS/W/151. G/SPS/W/174 
Page 2  
 
 seeking the best available scientific and technical advice and thereby avoid unnecessary duplication of 
work.  In accordance with Article 12.6 of the SP S Agreement, New Zealand requested that the 
Committee invite the secretariats of the OIE and the IPPC to examine the speci fic matters raised with 
respect to the relevant international standards, guidelines or recommendations. 
Implementation of ISPM 15 on Wood Packaging 
6. At the meetings of the Committee on 27-28 Oc tober 2004 and 9-10 March 2005, China raised 
a number of concerns regarding the impl ementation of ISPM 15 on wood packaging.
8  In particular, 
China highlighted the problems concerning the eff ectiveness of ISPM 15 in controlling the pine wood 
nematode.  A study conducted by a Sino-Korean re search group concluded that the nematode could 
not be effectively eradicated by methyl bromide fu migation.  This study was presented to the Interim 
Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (ICPM) in Ap ril 2003 and in November 2004 for the ICPM's 
consideration for amendment of the methyl bromide fumigation index. 
7. At the meeting of the Committee on 9-10 Marc h 2005, Mauritius raised concerns over the 
problems that small developing countries faced with the implementation of ISPM 15, particularly the 
heat treatment requirements for wood packing material for export.9  Mauritius had already initiated a 
program to develop the capacity for heat treatment  of exports of wood packaging materials, but 
required more time for the full implementation of IS PM 15.  In this regard, Mauritius was seeking a 4-
year moratorium on the implementation of ISPM 15 from the IPPC and from those Members who had 
adopted the standard.  Mauritius requested Member s to give positive consideration to the use of 
phosphine fumigation treatment as an equivalent treat ment during the interim period.  The European 
Communities' efforts to take into consideration developing countries' concerns as reflected in 
G/SPS/N/EEC/221/Add.3 was welcomed and othe r Members were urged to show similar 
consideration. 
D. RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM THE RELEVANT STANDARD -SETTING ORGANIZATIONS  
Pest and Disease-free Areas (Article 6) – Response from the OIE  
8. At the meeting  of the Committee on 9-10 Marc h 2005, the OIE informed the Committee of 
the OIE's proposed revised chapter on zoning and compartmentalization which addressed many of the 
concerns of the SPS Committee.10  The revised chapter was proposed for adoption at the 73rd General 
Session of the OIE in May 2005.  The OIE stat ed that it was open to further addressing the 
Committee's concerns at the General Session.  The OIE was also working to harmonize its approach 
on regionalization with that of IPPC, and this issu e would be discussed at its next General Session. 
Pest and Disease-free Areas (Article 6) – Response from the IPPC 
9. At the meetings of the Committee on 27-28 October 2004 and 9-10 March 2005, the IPPC 
informed the Committee that the ICPM had taken st eps in considering the issue of regionalization.11  
The issue was to be included on the agenda of the next ICPM meeting to be held on 4-11 April 2005.  The issue of administrative timeframes and recogniti on of pest-free areas had not yet been considered 
by the ICPM but if the Commission agreed, an ope n-ended working group would be established to 
consider this matter.  The OIE and WTO se cretariats were invited to attend the 7
th Session of the 
ICPM meeting which would decide further ac tions and the follow-up work programme.  
                                                      
8 G/SPS/GEN/551. 
9 G/SPS/GEN/547. 
10 G/SPS/R/36 and G/SPS/GEN/552. 
11 G/SPS/R/36 and G/SPS/GEN/529.  G/SPS/W/174 
 Page 3 
 
 
 Implementation of ISPM 15 on Wood Packaging – Response from the IPPC  
10. The IPPC also informed the Committee at th e meeting on 9-10 March 2005, that a technical 
panel would meet that week to consider the data submitted by China with respect to ISPM 15.  In 
addition, the IPPC had co-sponsored a workshop on the practical application of ISPM 15 in 
Vancouver, Canada, on 28 Fe bruary to 4 March 2005. 
 
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