RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/W/89
7 September 1998
(98-3399)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission by Canada
In accordance with paragraph 6 of the provisional procedure to monitor the use of international
standards (G/SPS/11), Canada proposes the three i ssues attached for the Committee's consideration.
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PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission by Canada
Commodities affected: Meat Products
Disease/problem/issue: Certification requirements for origin of animals
Is international trade significantly affected
because of this issue?Yes
Does there currently exist an international
standard for this disease/problem/issue with
these commodities?No
If so:
Briefly describe the existing standard:
Is the international standard
inappropriate?
Description of how trade is affected by this issue and how the issue can be resolved through
new or existing international standards:
Restrictions are imposed on trade of meat products because some countries require that the country
of origin of the animal from which the meat products were derived be identified.
As a general practice, meat processors import animals, process the meat and export the products to
another country.  Some countries require that imported meat products be derived only from animalsraised in the exporting country, i.e., no products derived from non-domestic animals may be
imported. This requirement is maintained even when the importing country is also importing meat
products directly from the source country of the animals.   This requirement presents a difficulty for
processors in the exporting country who must segregate shipments in order to meet this requirement.
OIE could be asked to establish criteria and conditions for determining country of origin
requirements.G/SPS/W/89
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Commodities affected: Meat Products
Disease/problem/issue: Certification regarding the absence of certain
pathogens in raw meat products
Is international trade significantly affected
because of this issue?Yes
Does there currently exist an international
standard for this disease/problem/issue with
these commodities?No
If so:
Briefly describe the existing standard:
Is the international standard
inappropriate?
Description of how trade is affected by this issue and how the issue can be resolved through new
or existing international standards:
Restrictions are imposed on trade of meat products because certain countries require that the meat be
free of certain pathogens, e.g. salmonella.
CODEX could be asked to determine if developing standards for pathogens in raw meat is feasible or
appropriate.  Countries would then have an obliga tion to use the CODEX standards, if they were in
place.  A country choosing to implement more stringent standards would have to justify them in
accordance with the provisions of the SPS Agreement.G/SPS/W/89
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Commodities affected: Meat products
Disease/problem/issue: Certification requirements for diseases for which
national control measures may not exist.
Is international trade significantly affected
because of this issue?Yes
Does there currently exist an international
standard for this disease/problem/issue with
these commodities?OIE lists diseases and recommends safeguards
appropriate for trade in animals or animal
products.
If so:
Briefly describe the existing standard: OIE establishes standards for safeguards against
diseases, e.g. List A and B.
Is the international standardinappropriate?OIE guidelines are generally appropriate.
Description of how trade is affected by this issue and how the issue can be resolved through
new or existing international standards:
Restrictions are imposed on trade of meat products because of the presence of certain animal diseases
which are unlikely to be transmitted through meat.
OIE guidelines should serve as the basis for animal health certification.  Only diseases of importance
(e.g. OIE list A) should be required to be listed on export certificates.  OIE could be asked to develop
more specific guidelines for the animal health certification of meat products, i.e. diseases of concern
and appropriate safeguards such as country freedom, farm-free, farm-free-plus-certain-radius.
Guidelines could also be developed for countries that want to require more stringent certification,
e.g. surveillance program, disease transmission data from meat products.
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