RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/W/103
30 August 1999
(99-3542)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE OPERATION OF SPS ENQUIRY POINTS AND NATIONAL
NOTIFICATION AUTHORITIES
1. Pursuant to Article 14 of the Agreement on th e Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary
Measures "[t]he least-developed country Members may delay application of the provisions of this
Agreement for a period of five years following the da te of entry into force of the WTO Agreement with
respect to their sanitary or phytosanitary measur es affecting importation or imported products".  This
period ends on 31 December 1999.  Following the expiry  of this transition period, the least-developed
countries are, inter alia , subject to the obligations to establis h an Enquiry Point, as provided for in
paragraphs 3 and 4 of Annex B of the SPS Agreement; and a National Notification Authority
responsible for the implementation, at the national level, of the provisions concerning notificationprocedures according to paragraphs 5, 6, 7 and 8 of Annex B.
2. The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect information from Members on the operation of
their Enquiry Points and National Notification Authorities.  Drawing on Members' experience the
Secretariat then intends to develop a manual to assist least-developed countries in the establishment of
Enquiry Points and National Notification Authorities.
3. Members are therefore requested to fill in the attached questionnaire.  Any additional
information relevant to the matter at issue is also welcome.  To receive an electronic version of the
questionnaire, please send an e-mail to Christiane.Wolff@wto.org (cc: Irma.Bracco@wto.org) with
the words "Enquiry Point Questionnaire" in the subject line.
4. Please return the completed questionnaire to the Secretariat by Friday, 30 September 1999.
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QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE OPERATION OF SPS ENQUIRY POINTS AND NATIONAL
NOTIFICATION AUTHORITIES
Enquiry Point and National Notification Authority
1.  Are SPS Enquiry Point and National Notification Authority two separate agencies?
Yes [   ]            No [   ]
- If yes, how do they co-ordinate?
Staff and equipment – Enquiry Point2.  Please indicate how many officials serve the Enquiry Point and describe their functions.
3.  What equipment does the Enquiry Point use?
Telephone [   ] Fax [   ] Computer [   ]
4. If the Enquiry Point has computer faci lities, which of the following are used?
Word processor [   ]     Please specify: MS Word [   ], Word Perfect [   ], Other [   ]
Database [   ]     Please specify:
Internet (www) [   ]     Address:
e-mail [    ]     Address:
Other [   ]     Please specify:G/SPS/W/103
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Staff and equipment –National Notification Authority
5.  Please indicate how many officials serve the National Notification Authority and describe their
functions.
6.  What equipment does the National Notification Authority use?
Telephone [   ] Fax [   ] Computer [   ]
7.  If the National Notification Authority has computer facilities, which of the following are used?
Word processor [   ]     Please specify: MS Word [   ], Word Perfect [   ], Other [   ]
Database [   ]     Please specify:
Internet (www) [   ]     Address:
e-mail [    ]     Address:
Other [   ]     Please specify:
Handling requests for full text of proposed and adopted regulations
8.  Who handles requests for full texts of proposed regulations (draft regulations)?
Enquiry Point [   ] Notification Authority [   ]
9.  Do you have a complete inventory of your country's proposed and adopted sanitary and
phytosanitary regulations?
Yes, at the Enquiry Point [   ]      Yes, at the Notification Authority [   ] No [   ]G/SPS/W/103
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10.  Do you have copies of the full texts of your country's proposed and adopted sanitary and
phytosanitary regulations?
Yes, at the Enquiry Point [   ]      Yes, at the Notification Authority [   ] No [   ]
- If not, how do you obtain texts when they are requested?  How long does it usually take?
11.  In case your country's language is not one of the WTO's working languages (English, French and
Spanish), is the Enquiry Point/Notification Authority able to provide summaries of the sanitary and
phytosanitary regulations in one of these languages?
Yes, the Enquiry Point [   ] Yes, the No tification Authority [   ] No  [   ]
Handling other requests for information
12.  Are questions addressed to the Enquiry Point (e.g. about control and inspection procedures,
quarantine treatment, risk assessment, bilateral and multilateral agreements etc.) answered  directly  by
the Enquiry Point?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, please give a brief explanation of the procedure followed by the Enquiry Point.
- If not, please give a brief explanation of th e procedure followed by the Enquiry Point and
identify the authorities dealing with those questions.
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13.  How long does it normally take to respond to questions?
Inter-agency communication and co-ordination
14.  Does the Enquiry Point have regular contact with officials in the relevant ministries/agencies (for
example agriculture, health and trade ministries, veterinary office, plant protection office, etc.)?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how often? With whom (at what leve l)? What type of information does the Enquiry
Point provide/receive?
15.  Does the National Notification Authority have regular contact with officials in the relevantministries/agencies (for example agriculture, health and trade ministries, veterinary office, plant
protection office, etc.)?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how often? With whom (at what level)? What type of information does the National
Notification Authority provide/receive?
SPS documents/committee meetings
16.  Does the Enquiry Point receive other Members' SPS notifications?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how (fax, email, etc.)?
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17.  Does the Enquiry Point receive copies of other SPS Committee documents?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how?
18.  Does the Enquiry Point regularly follow the work of the SPS Committee?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how?
19.  Does the Enquiry Point have regular contact with other WTO Members' Enquiry Points?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- For what purpose?
Other services
20. Does the Enquiry Point provide information about other  countries' import requirements to
interested domestic producers/exporters?
Yes [   ] Yes, when requested [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, please specify.
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21.  Does the Enquiry Point provide information about your national  import requirements to
interested producers/importers/exporters?
Yes [   ] Yes, when requested [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, please specify.
22.  Does the Enquiry Point provide any other services? (For example serving as contact point for
Codex, OIE, IPPC, etc.)
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, please explain.
Information exchange
23.  Is the Enquiry Point regularly informed of th e development of international standards by Codex,
OIE and IPPC?
Yes [   ] No [   ]
- If yes, how?
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Comments/Suggestions
24.  Do you have any other comments about the operation of an Enquiry Point, or suggestions for
those who are to establish an Enquiry Point?
25.  Do you have any other comments about the operation of a National Notification Authority, orsuggestions for those who are to establish a National Notification Authority?
Technical assistance
26.  Would you be willing to provide technical assistance to Enquiry Points?
Yes, to least-developed countries [   ]    Yes, to other developing countries [   ]    No  [   ]
- If yes, in what form?
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27.  Would you be willing to provide technical assistance to National Notification Authorities?
Yes, to least-developed countries [   ]    Yes, to other developing countries [   ]    No  [   ]
- If yes, in what form?
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