RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/51
15March 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0943)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
MONITORING THE PROCESS OFINTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission bytheEuropean Community
Thefollowing paper hasbeenreceived fromthedelegation oftheEuropean Community with
therequest thatitbecirculated toallCommittee Members andconsidered under theproposed agenda
itemrelating tothemonitoring ofuseofinternational standards (Item G).
_______________
Article 12(4) oftheSPSAgreement
TheCommittee shall develop aprocedure tomonitor theprocess ofinternational
harmonization andtheuseofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations. Forthis
purpose, theCommittee should, inconjunction withtherelevant international organizations,
establish alistofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations relating tosanitary or
phytosanitary measures which theCommittee determines tohaveamajor trade impact. Thelist
should include anindication byMembers ofthose international standards, guidelines or
recommendations which theyapply asconditions forimport oronthebasis ofwhich imported
products conforming tothese standards canenjoy access totheirmarkets. Forthose cases in
which aMember doesnotapply aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation asa
condition forimport, theMember should provide anindication ofthereason therefor, and,in
particular, whether itconsiders thatthestandard isnotstringent enough toprovide the
appropriate level ofsanitary protection. IfaMember revises itsposition, following its
indication oftheuseofastandard, guideline orrecommendation asacondition forimport, it
should provide anexplanation foritschange andsoinform theSecretariat aswellasthe
relevant international organizations, unless such anotification andexplanation isgiven
according totheprocedures ofAnnex B.
Introduction
1. Article 12(4) oftheSPSAgreement setsoutaseries ofactions fortheSPSCommittee and
forMembers.TheCommitteeisspecificallychargedwithdevelopingaproceduretomonitortheprocess
ofinternational harmonization andtheuseofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations
andtodraw upalistofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations considered tohave
amajor tradeimpact. Once thislistisestablished, Members arecharged withproviding andupdating
details oftheiruseoftheinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations considered tohave
amajor trade impact.G/SPS/W/51
Page2
ListofInternational Standards, Guidelines andRecommendations
2. Thefirstrequirement todevelop amonitoring procedure istheestablishment bytheCommittee
ofalistofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations tobemonitored. Toenable the
Committee tofulfilthistaskaninventory ofinternational standards isneeded. Article 3(4)oftheSPS
Agreement refers to"therelevant international organizations" andinparticular theCodex, theOIE
andtheIPPC. These threeorganizations havealready provided material ontheirstandards (documents
G/SPS/W/18 Codex Alimentarius Commission; G/SPS/W/21 Office International desEpizooties;
G/SPS/W/23InternationalPlantProtectionOrganization),andhaveagreedtoprovidetheSPSCommittee
withupdates onchanges anddevelopments. TheCommittee candraw upaninventory from the
information provided bytheinternational organizations.
3. Intheinitialstagesthescopeofamonitoringsystemshouldbelimitedtothestandards,guidelines
orrecommendations developed bytheso-called "three sisters". TheCommittee should, atasubsequent
stage, consider standards, guidelines orrecommendations produced byinternational organizations other
thanthethree specifically citedintheSPSAgreement.
ListofInternational Standards, Guidelines orRecommendations which have
aMajor Trade Impact
4. Toassess whether aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation hasamajor trade
impact requires anobjective approach. Thisassessment mustinvolve atleastthefollowing elements:
(a) Whether ornottheinternational standard, guideline orrecommendation isapplied to
imports;
(b) thelevel ofuptake byMembers oftheinternational standard, guideline or
recommendation;
(c) theproblems experienced intrade.
5. Inaddition totheelements identified inparagraph 5,anassessment ofthestandard itself is
necessary. Forexample, astandard established onthebasisofproduction incertain areas oftheworld
maynotbeapplicable tothesame extent inother areas where factors ofdisease, climate andriskare
different.
6. Most oftheinformation setoutinparagraph 4isnotcurrently available totheCommittee.
Thework programmes oftheinternational organizations forthereassessment ofexisting standards
would provide auseful contribution, buttherestoftheinformation needs tobeprovided byMembers,
notably onthetrade effects oftheuseofSPSmeasures andtheleveloftrade. Astandard format for
thisinformation should bedeveloped, toenable theCommittee todrawupthefirstlistofinternational
standards, etc.tobeincluded inthemonitoring process.
7. Inaddition tothework ofassessing which existing standards haveamajor impact oftrade,
themonitoring oftheprocess ofinternational harmonization should alsoseektoidentify areas where
theabsence ofaninternational standard creates problems fortrade orwhere theexisting standard is
outdated. Thisinformation could provide abasisforrecommendations totheinternational organizations
fortheirfuture work.G/SPS/W/51
Page3
TheMonitoring Process
8. Theabove paragraphs show theamount ofinformation gathering andanalysis thatisnecessary
toestablish amonitoring system. Such abasis isnecessary tomeet theobligation provided forin
Article 12(4) oftheSPSAgreement.
9. Article 3(1)oftheSPSAgreement setsouttheobjective of"harmonizing sanitary and
phytosanitary measures onaswideabasis aspossible". Itisnotthetaskofthemonitoring process
toinclude every standard, guideline orrecommendation thatposetrade problems foroneoranother
Member. However, thesystem should becapable ofmonitoring those which poseserious problems
totrade forarange ofMembers, andthesystem must becapable ofmodification anddevelopment
tomeet changing circumstances. TheCommittee willtherefore need toestablish priorities for
monitoring, andtoreview atleastyearly thelistofstandards, guidelines orrecommendations subject
tothemonitoring process andmake anynecessary modifications oradditions tothatlist.
10. Article 12(4) provides thatthelistofinternational standards, guidelines orrecommendations
determined tohaveamajor trade impact should include anindication byMembers ofthose standards,
guidelines orrecommendations which theyapply asconditions forimport oronthebasis ofwhich
imported products conforming tothose standards canenjoy access totheirmarkets, andthatwhere
aMember doesnotapply astandard, guidelines orrecommendation theMember should provide an
indication ofthereason therefor, and,inparticular, whether itconsiders thatthestandard isnotstringent
enough toprovide theappropriate levelofsanitary orphytosanitary protection. Theonlysystem which
cancurrently produce information onthelevelofuptake ofstandards, guidelines orrecommendations
byMembers istheCodex acceptance procedure. TheCodex haveagreed toprovide information on
acceptance, butthisisunlikely toprovide afullpicture oftheuseofsuchstandards, guidelines or
recommendations. Therefore themajority ofthisinformation willhavetobeprovided byMembers.
11. Toassist Members insupplying information ontheuseornon-use ofinternational standards,
guidelines orrecommendations, andincollating theresults, astandard format should beusedtodraw
together theinformation.
Initial Actions
12. Theabove paragraph setsouttheprinciples andgeneral linesfortheoperation ofamonitoring
system. Itisessential thatwhatever mechanism isputinplace becapable ofoperation without creating
unnecessary bureaucracy andbeuseful intheinformation provided. Amain element inthisaspect
willbethechoice ofhowmany, andwhich standards arechosen. Afurther choice wold needtobe
made astowhether themonitoring process should focus solely onindividual standards, orrather to
lookattherange ofsanitary and/or phytosanitary standards, guidelines orrecommendations affecting
trade inanindividual product, animal orplant.
13. Itisdifficult fortheCommittee totakeadefinitive viewonthisintheabsence ofanypractical
experience oftheoperation ofamonitoring system. Itistherefore suggested thatapilotproject be
run,covering alimited areaofbothindividual international standards, guidelines orrecommendations
andoneproduct area. Forexample, thepilotcould becarried outonthebasis ofthefollowing:
OIEChapter 2.1.1 Footandmouth disease
Codex Code ontheGeneral Principles ofFood Hygiene (CAC/RCP)
Sanitary measures applicable totrade incanned sardines
oralternatives, asdecided upon bytheCommittee.G/SPS/W/51
Page4
14. Following thecollation ofinformation from thepilotexercise, theCommittee should bein
aclearer position todetermine howtoprogress further forthefullmonitoring system. Other information
necessary forthefullmonitoring process should begathered together during theoperation ofthepilot
programme, notably assetoutunder paragraphs 15(d) and(e)below.
Suggested Actions
15. TheCommittee isinvited toexamine theideassetoutinthispaper andtosuggest thefollowing
actions:
(a) Toconfirm withtheCodex, theOIEandtheIPPC thattheywillsupply theCommittee
withupdates onchanges oradditions totheirstandards, guidelines orrecommendations;
(b) tomaintain aninventory ofSPSrelevant standards, guidelines orrecommendations;
(c) toconfirm withtheCodex thattheywillsupply details ontheacceptance oftheir
standards, guidelines orrecommendations, andprovide regular updates;
(d) toconsider establishing alistofinternational organizations other thanCodex, theOIE
andtheIPPC whose standards, guidelines orrecommendations could beconsidered
forinclusion inthemonitoring process;
(e) toinvite Members toidentify those areas forwhich theuseornon-use ofthe
international standards, guidelines orrecommendations oftheCodex, theOIEorthe
IPPC they consider tohave amajor trade impact, inaccordance with format
MONITORING/1;
(f) toinvite Members toidentify anyareas where theabsence ofinternational standards,
guidelines orrecommendations poses significant trade problems inaccordance with
format MONITORING/2;
(g) toagree tosetupapilotprogramme tobecompleted inashort period, assetoutin
paragraphs 12-14 above;
(h) tomaintain thisissueontheagenda forthenextmeeting oftheSPSCommittee, notably
fordiscussion of:
(i) practical elements ofhowthemonitoring process would operate;
(ii) theneedforfurther guidelines foridentifying those standards, guidelines or
recommendations which areconsidered tohaveamajor trade impact;
(iii) toreview theinformation supplied byMembers andthefurther information
provided bytheinternational organizations;
(iv) thedrawing upbytheSPSCommittee ofthefirstlistofinternational standards,
etc.tobeincluded under themonitoring process forwhich Members would
beinvited tosupply theCommittee withinformation ontheuseornon-use
ofsuchinternational standards, etc.andtodrawupastandard format forsuch
information.G/SPS/W/51
Page5
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
MONITORING/1
1. Member toAgreement:
2. International Standard, guideline orrecommendation orproduct/animal/plant:
3. Products covered (HSorCCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff
heading. ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable):
4. Problems experienced intrade:G/SPS/W/51
Page6
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
MONITORING/2
1. Member toAgreement:
2. Products covered (HSorCCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff
heading. ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where applicable):
3. Sanitary orphytosanitary measures forwhich nointernational standard exists:
4. Problems experienced intrade: