RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/56
2April 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1195)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
STATEMENT MADE BYTHE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
ATTHE MEETING OF20-21 MARCH 1996
WHO hashadobserver status inthisCommittee since lastyear. Aswork hasprogressed in
thisCommittee, WHO hasalsoinitiated aninternal review process inorder tore-define thenewrole
itwillplayinthecontext oftheSPSAgreement andother WTO Agreements. During thisprocess,
ithasbeenpointed outthatthehealth sector atnational levelhasnotalways beenfullyinformed of
theimplications andconsequences ofthenewWTO Agreements. Thismaybepartly duetoan
inadequate communication within government branches.
Inthisregard, weareplanning toorganize aninformation meeting forthedelegates attending
theforthcoming session oftheWorld Health Assembly starting on20May. Thisinformation meeting
would givespecial focus totheroleofthehealth sector inthecontext ofseveral health-related WTO
Agreements, including theSPSAgreement.
WHO strongly believes thattheinformation network between different sectors should be
strengthened urgently, andallrelevant government ministries should haveaccess tonecessary and
pertinent information. Therefore, from aWHO point ofview, wewould verymuch appreciate itif
thedistinguished delegates could takenoteofthissituation andforward thisimportant message totheir
colleagues inthehealth department whoaremembers oftheirrespective delegations totheWorld Health
Assembly.
WHO hopes thisinitiative willalsohelpensure thehigh-level commitment ofdecision makers
inthehealth sector. Thiswillbeveryuseful when theMembers ofWTO, themajority ofwhich are
alsoMember States ofWHO (developing orindustrialized), come tocomply withtheSPSAgreement
which, afterall,addresses toalarge extent foodsafety andhealth protection. Webelieve thatthe
involvement ofallsectors concerned, andtheforming ofatrueconsensus andcoordination among
those sectors, arekeystothesuccessful implementation oftheAgreement. Inthiscontext, itisrecalled
thattheWTO health-related agreements place anincreased responsibility upon WHO 'snormative
functions. Thiscreates additional challenges andaneedforresources atatimewhen WHO isina
financial difficulty asareother United Nations Agencies.
WHO wishes tothank itspartners fortheircontinuous collaboration, andhopes toreceive
increased support fromMember countries andotherorganizations sothatitcancontinue andstrengthen
assistance toWHO Member States, incollaboration withWTO, FAO andtheOIE.