WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/ACC/LBR/7 
11 June 2012 
 (12-3072) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Liberia Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF LIBERIA 
 
Checklist of Illustrative Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Issues 
for Consideration in Accessions 
 
 
 The following submission, dated 16 May 2012, is  being circulated at the request of the 
Government of the Republic of Liberia.  
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  WT/ACC/LBR/7 
Page 2  
Commitments  WTO Reference Status (as of 16 May 2012) 
1. Standstill: the introduction of new standards, animal 
health regulations and food safety regulations shall 
conform to SPS Agre ement principles. 1.  Generally agreed principle in WTO accession 
negotiations. Standards for animal health regulations and food safety 
regulations have already been implemented in Liberia 
pursuant to the Plant and Animal Quarantine Act, which 
conforms to the principles  of the SPS Agreement.  
2. Establishment and operation of a single Contact 
Point for Information ("enquiry point"). 2. Article 7 and Annex B.3. An Enquiry Point for SPS matters is being established.  
Please refer to the answer to Question 63 in document WT/ACC/LBR/4 for further information.   
3. Transparency: notification and access to 
documentation: 3.  Articles 7 and Annex B, al so G/SPS/7. Because there is no  SPS Enquiry Point yet, no 
notifications have been made and other functions of the 
SPS Enquiry Point are not being carried out at this time.  
 (a)  identification of authority responsible for 
making notifications to the WTO and ensuring 
transparency obliga tions are met on an 
ongoing basis;  (a)  Annex B.5. (b) and Annex B.10. Once established as part of the accession process, the 
SPS Enquiry Point will be responsible for making 
notifications to the WTO.  
 (b)  establish guidance or law requiring publication 
of proposed measures at an early stage for comment;  (b)  Annex B.5 (a). As of now, there is no formal guidance or law requiring 
publication of proposed meas ures at an early stage for 
comment.  
 (c)  provision in law or administrative procedure to 
provide copies of proposed measures to WTO 
Members; and  (c)  Annex B.5. (c). Same as above (b).  
 (d)  require in law or administrative procedure, a 
reasonable period of time for comment from 
Members and the public, and establishment of 
a process to take comments into account without discrimination.  (d)  Annex B.5 (d). Same as above (b).  
4. Necessity:  measures are applied only to the extent 
necessary to protect human, animal or plant health. 4.  Article 2.2. The Quarantine Act of 1972 only applies to measures 
necessary to protect human, animal and plant health.  
5. Regulations Based on Science: regulations 
governing animal and plant health and food safety 
shall be based on scientific evidence. 5.  Articles 2.2, 3.3 and 5.2. The Quarantine Act of 1972 requires regulations 
governing animal and plant health and foods safety to be 
based on scientific evidence. 
6. Harmonization:  to the extent possible, members 
shall follow international standards, guidelines, and 
recommendations in establishing SPS measures. 6.  Articles 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4. Liberia is a member of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and the International Plant Protection 
Convention (IPPC) and theref ore follows international 
standards.  
7. Equivalence: members shall recognize different 
measures that achieve the same level of protection. 7. Article 4. Liberia recognizes that different SPS measures can 
achieve the same level of protection.    
   WT/ACC/LBR/7
 Page 3Commitments  WTO Reference Status (as of 16 May 2012) 
8. Risk Assessment: developing scientific evidence 
and conducting risk assessments to ensure that measures are based on science and applied only to 
the extent necessary to protect health. 8.  Article 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3. Liberia is a member of Codex and the Codex standards 
can be applied to establish an acceptable level of protection for food safety. See 5 above. 
9. Regional conditions: measures take into account the 
regional characteristics both of the areas from 
which products originate and the areas for which they are destined. 9.  Article 6 and Annexes A.6 and A.7. Liberia recognizes measures that take into account 
regional characteristics. 
10. Non-discrimination:  measures do not arbitrarily or 
unjustifiably discriminate between different 
members or between domestic and foreign suppliers. 10.  Article 2.3, and Annex C.1 (a) and (d). Liberi a’s measures do not arbitrarily or unjustifiably 
discriminate between different Members.  
11. Control, inspection and approval procedures: ensure 
that procedures, including systems for approval of 
the use of additives or for establishing tolerances for contaminants in foods, beverages or feedstuffs 
comply with the Agreement.  11.  Article 8 and Annex C. Liberia does have control, inspection and approval 
procedures for the use of additives or tolerances for 
contaminants in foods, beverages or feedstuffs.   
  
  
 
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