WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/690 
12 April 2006 
 (06-1730) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
WORKSHOP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WTO-SPS 
 
Information for the Workshop on 31 March 2006
 
 
Communication from South Africa  
 
 
 The following communication, received on 31 Marc h 2006, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of South Africa.  
_______________ 
  
1. In preparation for the Workshop on the Implem entation of the SPS Agreement, participants 
were invited to provide information relating to th eir experiences in relation to the issues to be 
discussed. 
I. WHAT TOOLS CURRENTLY EXIST AND HOW BEST CAN THEY BE USED TO 
ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTA TION OF THE SPS AGREEMENT AT 
THE NATIONAL LEVEL? IS THERE A NEED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL TOOLS? 
2. Many changes happened in South Africa in the area of the WTO-SPS Agreement over the 
past few years and which are ongoing.  One of the overarching challenges lies in that South Africa as 
a developing country needs to conform to SPS re quirements and to be successful in international 
agricultural trade to sustain job creation and econom ic growth.  Resources capacity (human, financial, 
infrastructure) remains one of the biggest challeng es, however, we believe that much had been done 
or had been put into place and we will continue to strengthen these systems.  
3. As in many other countries there are various  departments and levels of government 
departments involved and systems had been, and are being created to ensure cooperation and 
coordination to be more effective.  There is a good legislative basis with various acts of parliament 
applicable and efforts are ongoing to review and to focus these within and between departments 
(ministries). 
4. Within the Department of Agriculture, which exists on a national level as well as in nine 
provinces, institutional arrangements had been est ablished to coordinate activities.  Recent 
restructuring on the national level will now furt her strengthen the implementation of the SPS 
Agreement (agriculture) in South Africa.  With the SPS and TBT activities as a specific strategy a 
branch/program had been structured to focus on food  safety and bio-security (Annexes 1-4).  It will be 
further refined and resourced.  There is a need for th e development of additional tools in this regard 
for additional surveillance and monitoring of pests and diseases, early warning systems, etc.  The 
intent is to also use assessment tools which are available. G/SPS/GEN/690 
Page 2  
 
  II. MATTERS RELATED TO A NATIONAL SPS COMMITTEE 
5. There are well established forums, work grou ps and committees on operational level with 
industries in South Africa which have been in exis tence for many years.  Government Departments, 
including the Department of Agriculture, participat e actively in the work of international standards 
setting bodies (CODEX, IPPC, OIE) and the info rmation and requirements stemming from these 
sources are well covered in South African legislati on and subordinate regulations where necessary.  
Work programs and protocols are also established on a bilateral basis with many of our trading 
partners.  (In these fields resources need to be strengthened taking the ever-increasing demand into 
consideration.) 
6. A need which has been identified and currently /recently attended to was the placement of a 
South African Agricultural Representative in Geneva.  On a higher level than the operational level, a 
SPS Committee (consisting of official/government repr esentation) had been established.  In future, 
this committee will feed information, advice and guidance into the various mentioned agricultural 
operational structures as well as into an establishe d Agricultural Trade Forum that consists of 
industry, government (national and provincial), la bour and consumer organisations where information 
on all trade issues is exchanged. 
7. It is envisaged that this committee will act on the SPS level (as a link to Geneva) and that 
there will be a need to develop an office/tools to deal more systematically with information 
dissemination and the other generic issues. 
III. MATTERS RELATING TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
8. Active participation in SPS matters in Geneva  had been identified as necessary to deal 
effectively also with issues regarding technical assi stance.  The placement of  a permanent agricultural 
representative and regular attendance of meetings a nd interaction in Geneva has been instituted. 
9. There are current technical assistance programs and projects running in South Africa.  The 
need exists to investigate/look at more sustainabl e measures to be implemented to support legislative 
and control (law enforcement) systems that are currently  in place.  It is eviden t that one needs to move 
away from the ad hoc solutions with regard to problems experienced towards more specific programs 
and protocols and identify the underlying reasons  for these and address them through technical 
assistance where needed.    
   G/SPS/GEN/690
 Page 3ANNEX 1 
 
SANITARY  AND  PHYTOSANITARY  AND TECHNICAL 
BARRIERS TO TRADE AGREEMENTS 
¾ Science based systems and requirements 
¾ Systems/requirements - Risk management 
basis 
¾ Requirements to deal similarly with all 
countries 
¾ Insist on equivalency  
¾ Unallowable to institute different systems 
and requirements on imported goods than 
what is applicable on your own. 
  
  G/SPS/GEN/690 
Page 4 ANNEX 2 
 
PRACTICAL  CONSEQUENCE 
Globally it is required that countries -  
 
¾ Guarantee feed and food comply to laws and/ or equivalent 
laws/systems (WTO-SPS/ TBT) 
 
¾ Systems that will focus on Legislation in country 
 - Organization of Competent Authority  - Control Services  - Training of Staff 
 -  Resources and Diagnostic Facilities 
 - Situation regarding Animal Health, Zoonoses, Plant   Health and any other relevant information    
   G/SPS/GEN/690
 Page 5 
 
 
     
 
 
 ANNEX 3 
 
PROGRAM 3 
BIOSECURITY / NRS 
 WTO 
Food Safety Biosecurity
S TBT PS ZS
FS & QA PH      AH
Inspection Services 
APIS   Agreements 
(SPS/TBT) 
Directorates  
  G/SPS/GEN/690 
Page 6  
 
 
     
 
    
 
    
 
     
 
    
 
     
 
__________ 
 
 ANNEX 4 
MINISTRY  
DIRECTOR-GENERAL  N A M C ,   A RC, LAND B A N K , 
O B P   L I MITED, PPE C B 
N C E R A   F ARMS (PTY )   L T D 
Economic
a nd Statistical
ServicesBIOSECURITY
AND
DISASTER
MANAGEMENTPRODUCTION
AND
RESOURCES
MANAGEMENTSECTOR SERVICES
AND
PARTNERSHIPSA D M I N I S TRATION
•   C h i e f   O p e r a t ing Office
•   C h i e f   F i n a n c ial Office
•   C h i e f   P r o g r a mmes Office PROGRAMMES
SUBPROGRAMMESL I V E LIHOODS,
E C O N OMICS AND
B U SINESS
D E V E LOPMENT1 2 3 4 5
Sector
 ServicesH uman
R e s o urces and
L e g a l ServicesAgricultural
ProductionPlant Health
and Inspection
ServicesLivelihoods
D evelopment
Support
Trade and
Business
D evelopmentIntergovernmental
and Stakeholder
RelationsF i nancial
M a n agementEngineering, Energy,
Resource Use and
ManagementFood, Animal
Health and Disaster
Management