. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/W/261 
20 June 2011 
 (11-3030) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  
  
 
PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ACTION SIX OF THE REPORT OF THE AD HOC 
WORKING GROUP ON SPS-RELATED PR IVATE STANDARDS (G/SPS/W/256) 
 
 1. The ad hoc working group on SPS-related private standards completed its work on identifying 
"Possible Actions for the SPS Committee Regardi ng SPS-Related Private Standards", and presented 
its report to the SPS Committee in March 2011.  The report of the working group is contained in 
document G/SPS/W/256. 
2. At the March 2011 meeting, the Committee adopt ed actions 1 to 5 (G/SPS/55) and decided to 
revert to action six following the submissi on of proposed revisions by 29 April 2011. 
3. Members have proposed the following changes to Action 6 (as presented in G/SPS/W/256): 
Action 6:  Members are encouraged to exchange, outside the formal and informal sessions of the 
SPS Committee, relevant information regarding SPS-related private standards to enhance 
understanding and awareness on how these compa re or relate to international standards and 
governmental regulations, without prejudice to the different views of Members regarding the 
scope of the SPS Agreement. 
24. Members have raised a number of concerns  regarding SPS-related private standards, 
including: 
 the lack of a scientific basis for requirements; 
 deviations from international standards or from official governmental requirements 
(for example, for maximum residue limits); 
 the multiplicity of standards and th e lack of harmonization among them; 
 the costs of compliance and certification, especially with a multitude of standards; 
 the lack of transparency, consultation and appeal mechanisms; 
 the prescriptive, rather than outcome-b ased, operational procedures required by 
private standards, which disregards the concept of equivalence;  and 
 the disproportionate effect on small- and medium-sized producers and exporters in 
developing countries. 
25. A number of positive aspects have also been mentioned, including: 
 the facilitation of compliance with national a nd international standards, where private 
schemes take as a basis these standards and provide comprehensive guidance on achieving them; 
 the promotion of best practices and productivity; 
 improved brand reputation a nd facilitation of access to markets and credits;  and G/SPS/W/261 
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   the ability to address emerging risks in a rapi d manner, fill gaps, and pave the way for 
eventual adoption of international standards. 
26. With a view to enhancing understanding and awareness on international, governmental, and 
private SPS-related standards without creating an  excessive burden, Members and observers are 
encouraged to exchange relevant information on this topic, including on the margins of the SPS 
Committee.  Such exchanges could involve writt en or oral communications on any relevant 
conferences or studies on SPS-related private standa rds or on concrete experiences of exporters in 
meeting these.1 
27. In addition, the Secretariat may be request ed to organize ad hoc information events2 with 
relevant stakeholders, including  international organizations; entities developing, adopting and 
certifying private standards3;  as well as producers and/or exporters who need to meet these standards.  
Such events could provide an oppor tunity for interested Members to highlight the concerns mentioned 
in paragraph 24 and follow the latest developments in an evolving field.  To facilitate the participation 
of a larger number of delegations, such informa tion events could be held back-to-back with SPS 
Committee meetings.  It should be underlined, however, that neither Members nor the WTO 
Secretariat would endorse or support any particular entity participating in such events. 
 
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1 Examples include the circulation of a communica tion by Switzerland entitled "Voluntary Standards" 
(G/SPS/GEN/967) and of an information note from the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) through the 
Secretariat (G/SPS/GEN/1004). 
2 Earlier information sessions include the STDF Information Session on Private Standards 
(http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/private_standards_june08_e/private_standards_june08_e.htm ) and 
the Joint UNCTAD/WTO Informal Inform ation Session on Private Standards 
(http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/private_standards_june07_e/private_standards_june07_e.htm ). 
3 Potential invitees could include representatives of  the ISO, Global Food Safety Initiatve (GFSI), 
GlobalGAP, Chile GAP, New Zealand GAP, Thailand GAP, and SSAFE.