WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/940 
16 June 2009 
 
 (09-2942) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   Spanish 
  
 
 
PROJECT ON COOPERATION FOR HARMONIZATION OF VETERINARY 
AND PHYTOSANITARY STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES, FOOD SAFETY  
AND DIFFERENTIATED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION 
 
Communication from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
 
   The following communication, received on 11 June 2009, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegations of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
. 
 
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I. BACKGROUND - OBJECTIVES 
1. On 23 May 2006, the European Commission, on behalf of the European Union, and the 
Common Market Group (GMC), on behalf of MERCOSUR, signed the Agreement on Cooperation 
for Harmonization of Veterinary and Phytosanita ry Standards and Procedures, Food Safety and 
Differentiated Agricultural Production with total fundi ng amounting to 7,160,000 euros.  This project 
fits within the framework of the Memora ndum of Understanding 2000-2006 between the 
European Union and MERCOSUR, signed in 2001, which establishes the strategy for financial, 
technical and economic coope ration during this period. 
2. The direct beneficiary is the Common Market Group, which delegated the administration to 
the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Depa rtment of the Ministry of Production of the 
Argentine Republic. 
3. The final beneficiaries are the Ministries of Agriculture and Sanitary Services of the 
MERCOSUR States Parties. 
4. The European Union has extensiv e experience with regional economic integration, since the 
construction of the Community internal market began in the 1950s.  The MERCOSUR integration 
process is of more recent origin and is currently in the middle of the phase of evolution towards the 
formation of a Customs Union.  Despite the st ructural differences between the two integration 
schemes, the experience of the European Union is of  great interest for the MERCOSUR States Parties. 
5. The Project fits within this framework, th e intention being to compare experiences and 
situations with a view to the incorporation of so lutions and mechanisms already implemented by the 
European Union.  The general objective is to  identify the mechanisms  implemented by the 
European Union and use them as a benchmark with a view to improving the facilitation of the trade in 
agricultural products within MERCOSUR, as well  as that between the regional block and third 
countries.  It is intended to achieve this objective by taking the specific action necessary to strengthen 
the MERCOSUR institutional and legal framework in the sanitary and phytosanitary fields, together G/SPS/GEN/940 
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  with the capacity and infrastructure of the States Parties in terms of laboratories and information 
networks. 
6. The project is of special importance for MERCOSUR not only because it provides an 
extremely useful tool for consolidating the intern al market but also because it favours the integration 
and coordination of the block's pos itions in its approach to trade negotiations with third countries. 
7. The project envisages four concrete results relati ng to:  (i) institutional strengthening;  (ii) the 
review and improvement of sanitary  data information networks;  ( iii) cooperation for laboratories;  
and (iv) the coordination of risk assessment activ ities.  To achieve these concrete results various 
activities have been planned, such as seminars, re ports and training trips, as described below. 
II. MANAGEMENT REPORT 
8. The following brief summary takes the form of a list of the activities already carried out 
during the period, together with those begun and scheduled to end during 2009: 
(a) Rotation of MERCOSUR officials to Eu ropean Commission bodies (DG SANCO, 
FVO, EFSA); 
(b) training of trainers in transfer techniques; 
(c) workshop on the preparation of a technical plan for helping to intensify the current 
work on the harmonization of standards; 
(d) design of mechanisms for facilitating the fr ee intrazonal movement of products in 
SPS matters and raising the level of re gional integration in these respects; 
(e) training courses for strengthening MERCOSUR  regional sanitary and phytosanitary 
integration and identifying options for in stitutional strengthening in SPS matters; 
(f) development of systems for promoting good practice at MERCOSUR regional level; 
(g) survey of the current situation in each c ountry in relation to sanitary information 
systems; 
(h) definition, content and objectives for the implementation of a sanitary and 
phytosanitary information system for MERCOSUR; 
(i) survey of training needs and preparation of a plan for strengthening the laboratories; 
(j) survey of needs and purchase of equipmen t for the laboratories of the sanitary 
services of the beneficiary countries;  and 
(k) evaluation of regional needs and capaciti es for qualitative and quantitative sanitary, 
phytosanitary and food safety testing for the purpose of developing a risk analysis strategy. 
9. To improve the laboratories that support MERCO SUR's sanitary and phytosanitary services, 
the project activities include the purchase of equi pment and inputs.  Work has been done with 
representatives of the laboratories of the sanitary ser vices of the beneficiary countries and, with their 
approval, a list of requests has been drawn up.  La boratory equipment and in puts have been purchased 
for the four States Parties.  G/SPS/GEN/940 
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  10. Other supplies purchased within the framework of the project include servers and software for 
the design and implementation of the Information System.  These will be installed in the MERCOSUR Secretariat (SM). 
11. The following activities will be undertaken starting from June 2009: 
(a) Development and connection of the Integr ated Information System (REDISAM); 
(b) studies for the risk analysis component; 
(c) formulation of strategies for the intensification of the MERCOSUR harmonization 
process that govern SPS disciplines and the development of a system for monitoring 
compliance with the regulations; 
(d) dissemination of good practice as a means of strengthening MERCOSUR institutions; 
(e) training in risk analysis; 
(f) programme of training in animal health, plant protection, hygiene and food control; 
(g) strengthening of sanitary and phytosanitary laboratories – training;  and 
(h) training in regional integration. 
 
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