. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/W/257 
18 March 2011 
 (11-1380) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
WORK OF THE COMMITTEE EMANATING FROM THE THIRD REVIEW –  
PROPOSED PRIORITY ISSUES 
 
Comments from Canada and New Zealand on the Communication from Argentina
 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 18 Marc h 2011, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegations of Canada and New Zealand . 
 
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 1. This document contains comments from Ca nada and New Zealand on Argentina's 
communication entitled Work of the Committee Emanating from the Third Review – Proposed 
Priority Issues  (G/SPS/W/252) , circulated on 5 October 2010. 
2. Canada and New Zealand thank Argentina for id entifying proposed priority issues and look 
forward to further discussing proposals to orga nize the SPS Committee's work at the upcoming 
meeting. 
3. Canada and New Zealand have provided de tailed comments regarding certain specific 
proposals contained in the text of G/SPS/W/252. 
SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON  PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN G/SPS/W/252: 
A. M
ONITORING THE USE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS (ARTICLES 3.5 AND 12.4) 
4. Canada and New Zealand are of the view th at Members have underutilized the procedure 
developed to monitor the use of internationa l standards (G/SPS/11/Rev.1).  We support the 
Committee's recommendations regarding this procedur e (G/SPS/53, paragraph 49), particularly that 
the Committee should continue to monitor the use of  international standards at each of its regular 
meeting, and that Members are encouraged to provid e information regarding their experiences, or lack 
thereof, in the implementation of international standards.  However, we do not think that the 
procedure warrants a revision at this time.  Rather, it is our view the Members begin by discussing the reasons why they do not make better use of the existing procedure and th e related formal agenda item.  
If problems with the existing procedure are clearl y identified during this discussion, Members could 
then consider reviewing and revising the procedure. 
B. I
MPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT (ARTICLE 13) 
5. Canada and New Zealand note that Argentina's pr oposal regarding Article 13 is similar to a 
proposal put forward by Mercosur (in G/SPS/W/245) during discussions on the possible recommendations for the Third Review.  We recal l that during these discussions, some Members 
noted that developing guidelines for Article 13 could pre-empt the results of the Committee's current G/SPS/W/257 
Page 2  
 
  work on private standards.  The Committee's re commendations (G/SPS/53, paragraph 98) are as 
follows:  
• Members are encouraged to make use of the Committee's meetings to share, on an ad hoc 
basis, information regarding their experi ences in the implementation of Article 13; 
• Specific problems relating to the implementation of Article 13 may be raised as specific trade 
concerns. 
It is our view that the Committee follow its recommendations. 
C. I
MPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT – USE OF AD HOC CONSULTATIONS  
6. Canada and New Zealand support Argentina concerning the need for a rapid solution to the 
issue of ad hoc consultations, as per the recommenda tion made in the Third Review of the Operation 
and Implementation of the SPS Agreement (G/SPS/53, paragraph 126).  We con tinue to support the 
development of guidelines for the use of ad hoc c onsultations that are voluntary, confidential, and 
flexible.  We recall, however, that the ad hoc consultation process is currently available to all 
Members, even as guidelines are being discussed. 
D. CONTROL , INSPECTION AND APPROVAL PROCEDURES (ARTICLE 8 AND ANNEX C) 
7. Canada and New Zealand note that Argentina' s proposal is similar to that submitted by 
Mercosur (G/SPS/W/244) during discussions on the possible recommendations for the Third Review, 
and recall that during discussions on the issue of Article 8 and Annex C, there was no agreement 
amongst Members with respect to the development of guidelines.  The Comm ittee's recommendations 
(G/SPS/53, para.146) are as follows: 
• Members are encouraged to provide inform ation regarding their experiences in the 
implementation of Artic le 8 and Annex C; 
• The Committee should consider the most effec tive way of facilitating the implementation of 
Article 8 and Annex C of the SPS Agreement, with a focus on those problems identified by 
Members, based on specific suggestions for consideration by the Committee; 
• Codex, IPPC and OIE should be invited to conti nue to provide information on their work in 
the area to the SPS Committee and should also e nvisage to further their processes in this 
regard. 
8. Based on these recommendations, Canada a nd New Zealand would propose that an 
appropriate path forward would be for Members to provide information regarding their experiences in 
the implementation of Article 8 and Annex C.  Once the Committee has been provided such 
information, it can consider the most effective wa y of facilitating the implementation of Article 8 and 
Annex C, with a focus on those problems identified by  Members.  It is our view that Members should 
first focus on sharing experiences in order to arrive at a clear articulation of the problem at issue. 
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