WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/W/235 
20 February 2009 
 (09-0899) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
  
 
PROPOSED PROGRAMME FOR A WORKSHOP  ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 
THE SPS COMMITTEE AND THE INTE RNATIONAL STANDARD-SETTING 
ORGANIZATIONS 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 
 1. One of the issues identified for further c onsideration by the SPS Committee during the 
Second Review of the Operation and Implementa tion of the SPS Agreement was the relationship 
between the SPS Committee and the three internationa l standard-setting organi zations referenced in 
the SPS Agreement (G/SPS/36, paragraphs 89-91).  At the June 2008 meeting of the SPS Committee, 
Japan submitted a proposal (G/SPS/W/226) for a speci al workshop to focus on the procedures and 
issues before the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), the FAO International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC), and the World Organiza tion for Animal Health (OIE) ("3 Sisters").  
New Zealand also proposed some specific issues which could be addressed on the relationship between the Committee and the 3 Sisters (G/SPS/ W/206).  The Committee endorsed those proposals, 
and the Secretariat indicated that such a worksh op could be organized in the margins of the 
Committee's October 2009 meeting.   
2. Members requested the Secretariat to prepar e a draft programme for the workshop, for 
consideration by the Committee.  The attached  proposed programme is based primarily on the 
suggestions from Japan and New Zealand, and consultations w ith Codex, IPPC and OIE.  
3. The workshop will invite the representatives of  the 3 Sisters to describe the process and 
procedures used in the development and adopti on of international standards, guidelines and 
recommendations of relevance to the SPS Agreement.   Delegates to the SPS Committee will have the 
opportunity to discuss how to improve coordinati on of the work between the 3 Sisters and the 
Committee to enhance effectiv eness and avoid duplication. 
 
                                                     
 
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. G/SPS/W/235 
Page 2  
 
  WORKSHOP ON THE RELATIONSH IP BETWEEN THE SPS COMMITTEE 
AND THE CODEX, IPPC AND OIE 
26 October 2009 
 
PROPOSED PROGRAMME 
 
10.00 – 10.15 Opening remarks by the Chair 
10.15 – 10.30 General introduction – WTO Secretariat 
Highlight questions to be addressed : 
 
(a) Relevant role of the SPS Committee vis-à-vis  (Codex, IPPC, 
OIE, "3 Sisters") 
(b) Potential areas of duplica tion and opportunities for 
collaboration 
(c) SPS Committee's process to invite 3 Sisters to address 
concerns 
(d) Evaluation of the actions taken by 3 Sisters to resolve issues 
forwarded by the SPS Committee 
(e) Consistency in interpretation of the SPS Agreement across the 
3 Sisters 
(f) Monitoring of work carried out by other relevant international 
bodies 
(g) Equivalence, non-use of standards, absence of standards, or 
inappropriate standards and their prioritization within the Committee 
10.30 – 11.00 FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee 
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-
making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-implementation;  difficulties with implementation;  new 
developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting 
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards;  climate 
change;  regionalization;  equivalence, etc. 
11.00 – 11.20 Questions and answers  G/SPS/W/235 
 Page 3 
 
 
  11.20 – 11.50 World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee 
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-
making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-implementation;  difficulties with implementation;  new 
developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting  
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards; climate 
change;  regionalization;  equivalence, commodity based standards, etc. 
11.50 – 12.10 Questions and answers 
12.10 – 12.40 FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) 
 
(a) Background on standard-setting and collaboration with the 
SPS Committee 
(b) The standard-setting process:  role of science;  participation of 
Members, in particular developing countries;  decision-making  process;  duration, etc. 
(c) Monitoring the use of standards:  how is it done;  where and 
how to effectively address concerns related to non-
implementation;  difficulties with implementation;  new developments requiring review of standards, etc. 
(d) Recent/systemic improvements in standard-setting  
(e) Emerging/challenging issues:  private standards;  food safety 
vs. quality;  equivalence, etc. 
12.40 – 13.00 Questions and answers 
  
13.00 – 15.00 Lunch break 
  
15.00 – 17.45 Identifying concrete actions to: 
 
(i) Enhance the coordination between the Committee and 
3 Sisters; 
(ii) Increase the use and usefulness of international 
standards;  and 
(iii) Avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. G/SPS/W/235 
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15.00 – 15.45 
  
 
    
15.45 – 16.45 
    
 
    
 
     
 
    
 
  
16.45 – 17.45 Discussions could be grouped under the following headings
: 
 
How to effectively encourage the use of  international standards, guidelines or 
recommendations by all Members  
(a) How can the SPS Committee effectively identify relevant 
issues linked to non-use of standards, absence of standards, or inappropriate standards, and appropriately prioritize these issues? 
How to ensure effective collaborati on and communication between the SPS 
Committee and the 3 Sisters 
 
(a) Reporting/communication from the 3 Sisters to the SPS 
Committee 
Is reporting back to the Committee by the 3 Sisters:  (i) effective; 
(ii) up to Members expectations;  and (iii) a tool for harmonization? 
Does the Committee have a role in assessing the actions taken by the 
3 Sisters to resolve a specific issue?   
(b) Communication from the SPS Committee to the 3 Sisters 
Is the process used by the Committee to invite the 3 Sisters to address  
concerns clear and efficient?  To what extent can or should the 
Committee:  (i) give guidance towards an outcome;  and (ii) provide information, guidance or background to the issue? 
What are the most effective mechanisms for the Committee to 
communicate to the 3 Sisters the im portance and priority placed on 
identified issues? 
(c) Joint action for the prevention/resolution of problems 
What is the role of the SPS Committe e in broader issues common to more 
than one (or all) of the 3 Sisters?  Is it to ensure consistency in interpretation 
of the SPS Agreement across the 3 Sisters? 
  
17.45 – 18.00 Closing remarks by the Chair 
 
 
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