G/SPS/GEN/2016/Rev.1  
 
15 June 2022 
(22-4667) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
 
SPS COMMITTEE  THEMATIC SESSION ON THE USE OF REMOTE (VIRTUAL) AUDIT  
AND VERIFICATION IN REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS  
TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022  
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME1 
Revision  
The SPS Committee agreed, at its November 2021 meeting, to hold a thematic session on the Use  of 
Remote (Virtual) Audit and Verification in Regulatory Frameworks in the margins of its June 2022 
Committee meeting , based on  proposals submitted by Australia.2 
The COVID -19 pandemic has accel erated the use and development of methods to conduct remote 
assessments, such as audits and inspections, in agricultural and food supply chains. Drawing on the 
experiences of Members and industry, this thematic session will explore the benefits and implica tions 
associated with the use of remote assessments, including the effectiveness, reliability, and 
accessibility of such approaches. With international guidance emerging in this area, 
the thematic  session will provide insight on the consistency of applicat ion of remote assessment 
tools across countries and the ongoing work of international organizations and standard -setting 
bodies such as the Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification  Systems (CCFICS). Overall, the thematic session will provide an opportunity to share 
experiences on remote assessment methods, discuss how such approaches may assist Members 
with meeting obligations under Annex  C of the SPS Agreement, and take a closer look at the 
relevance and scope for future use.  
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 21 June 2022 , beginning at 
10:00  (CET), and continuing in the afternoon at 15:00  (CET) . The thematic session can be attended 
in person or virtually  through the Interprefy platform . Interpretation will be provided in English, 
French , and Spanish.  
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 G/SPS/GEN/1949  and G/SPS/GEN/1949/Rev.1 . G/SPS/GEN/2016/Rev.1  
 
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  Chairperson: Mr Juteau Déadjufo Toussé  
1  RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE SPS AGREEMENT  
Speaker:  
▪ Mr Rolando Alcalá , WTO Secretariat . 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
2  FORMS OF REMOTE ASSESSMENT  
This session will provide insights into  various forms of remote assessments  such as the review of 
documentation and video inspection, including those used during the COVID -19 pandemic, and 
the link with regulatory frameworks.  
Speakers:  
▪ Mr Jean Felipe Celestino Gouhie , Head of International Audits Division , Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply , Brazil . Remote Audits: Brazilian Experience . 
▪ Ms Yelin W ong, Director, Risk Management and Surveillance Department, Joint Operations 
Division, Singapore Food Agency, Singapore . Singapore 's experience in remote audits.  
▪ Dr John McEvoy , Head of Unit F4, European Commission Directorate General Health and 
Food Safety , European Union . Remote auditing of the operation of official control systems in 
the SPS domain – Experience of the European Commission 's Health and food, audits and 
analysis Directorate . 
▪ Dr Gabor Molnar , Associate Industrial Development Expert, United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO).  Standards and Trade Development Facility 
(STDF)/UNIDO Project Preparation Grant on "Remote  Inspection Practices in Food Safety for 
Improved Trade" . 
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
3  RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND OTHER INITIATIVES  
This session will provide an update on  relevant international standards, guidelines and/or 
recommendations and other ongoing work relating to remote audit and other forms of remote 
assessment.  
Speakers:  
▪ Ms Nicola Hinder , Chair of CCFICS  and First Assistant Secretary, Exports and Veterinary 
Services Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment , Australia . Codex – 
Developing guidance on the use of remote audit and ver ification in regulatory frameworks . 
▪ Dr Annelies Deuss , Agricultural Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, 
Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development ( OECD ). Ongoing work on remote 
audit at the OECD . 
▪ Ms Anne Gerardi , Senior Manager ; and Mr Howard Popoola , Steering Committee Co -chair, 
Global Food Safety Initiative  (GFSI) . GFSI and the use of information and communication 
technologies (ICT) in the food safety supply chain for third party audits: learnings and 
challenges.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . G/SPS/GEN/2016/Rev.1  
 
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  4  ROUNDTABLE - PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES ON THE USE OF REMOTE AUDIT  
In this roundtable discussion, Members and industry representatives of the agri -food sector  will 
exchange experiences and discuss the benefits of u sing remote assessment methods such as remote 
(virtual) audit to facilitate international trade. The challenges associated with remote audit will also 
be discussed, including those related to privacy and security issues.  
Moderator : Ms Nicola Hinder , Chair of CCFICS  and First Assistant Secretary, Exports and 
Veterinary Services Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment , Australia . 
Speakers:  
▪ Dr Bill Jolly , Chief Assurance  Strategy Officer, Ministry for Primary Industries , New Zealan d. 
▪ Dr Sibel Bas , Veterinarian , Department of Border Control for Animal and Animal Products , 
Directorate General for  Food and Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye . 
▪ Dr Ashok Mengi , National Manager;  and Dr Aman Deep , National Veterinary Specialist, 
Food Systems Evaluation, International Programs Directorate, Canadian Food Inspection 
Agency, Canada.  
▪ Ms Clare Rapa -Marley , Head of Global Supplier Standards and Audits,  Tesco  PLC, 
United  Kingdom.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
5  CASE STUDY EXAMPLES  ON THE USE OF REMOTE AUDIT  
Members and industry representatives of the agri -food sector  will present case studies on the use 
of remote audit. Those case studies will be the occasion to shed light on the benefits and challenges 
of remote audit in practice . 
Speakers:  
▪ Mr Hector Escobar , Head of the Sub -Directorate  of Food Safety and Certification , National 
Fisheries and Aquaculture Service ; and Mr Álvaro Díaz Gallmetzer , Food Safety and 
Certification Department , Livestock Protection Division , Agriculture and Livestock Service , 
Chile.  Chile's experience with remote audits in animal and plant products processing 
establishments.  
▪ Ms Choi Eun Ju , Deputy Director, On -site Inspection Division, Ministry of Food and Drug 
Safety, Republic of Korea.  The COVID -19 pandemic , pre-emptive response with remote 
inspection . 
▪ Mr Jim Moseley , CEO of Red Tractor, United Kingdom.  Use of remote audit by a UK voluntary 
third party assurance (vTPA) scheme, approach and lessons learned.  
Followed by Q&A session and discussion . 
6  PANEL DISCUSSION  - THE FUTURE FOR REMOTE AUDIT: OPPORTUNITIES AND 
CHALLENGES  
Panellists will discuss the opportunities and challenges regarding the future use of remote audit. 
Questions from the floor would be welcome during the discussion.  
Moderator:  Ms Nicola Hinder , Chair of CCFICS and First Assistant Secretary, Exports and 
Veterinary Services Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australia . 
Panellists : 
▪ Mr Jean Felipe Celestino Gouhie , Head of International Audits Division , Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply , Brazil.  G/SPS/GEN/2016/Rev.1  
 
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  ▪ Dr John McEvoy , Head of Unit F4, European Commission Directorate General Health and 
Food Safety , European Union.  
▪ Mr Carlos Navarro , Head of the Department of Animal Health, National Fisheries and 
Aquaculture Service ; and Mr Claudio  Moore , Department of Phytosanitary Regulation and 
Certification , Agricultural, Forestry and Seed Protection Division , Agriculture and Livestock 
Service , Chile.  
▪ Dr Annelies Deuss , Agricultural Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture Directorate, 
Organization for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD).  
7  CLOSING REMARKS  
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