RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/48
6March 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0810)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
PROPOSED RULES OFPROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS OF
THE COMMITTEE ONSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Note bytheSecretariat
Atitsmeeting on26-27 June1995, theCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
decided thatpending finalization oftheRules ofProcedure bytheCouncil onTrade inGoods, the
Committee would continue tooperate onthebasis ofitsWorking Procedures (G/SPS/1). TheRules
ofProcedure oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods (WT/L/79) wereadopted bytheGeneral Council on
31July1995. Thefollowing draftRules ofProcedure areproposed foradoption bytheCommittee
onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures. They shallsubsequently beforwarded forapproval tothe
Council forTrade inGoods inaccordance withparagraph 6ofArticle IVoftheWTO Agreement.
These draftRules ofProcedure takeastheirbasistheWorking Procedures already agreed by
theCommittee. Where there arenospecific provisions intheWorking Procedures, itisproposed
toapply theRules ofProcedure formeetings oftheGeneral Council, except where these would not
beappropriate.
Tofacilitate consideration bytheCommittee, annexed isaconsolidated presentation ofthe
resulting Rules ofProcedure, using thestructure andheadings oftheGeneral Council 'sWorking
Procedures. Those rules which havepreviously beenadopted bytheCommittee areidentified as
"SPS/1", followed bytherelevant paragraph number ofdocument G/SPS/1. Those rules which are
identical totheonesoftheGeneral Council arereferenced as"GC"; where modifications toaGeneral
Council ruleareproposed, aspreviously indicated innon-paper #361 orasaresult ofthediscussion
ofthisnon-paper, thisisindicated by"n-p#361".G/SPS/W/48
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PROPOSED RULES OFPROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS OF
THE COMMITTEE ONSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
TheRules ofProcedure formeetings oftheGeneral Council (WT/L/28) shallapply mutatis
mutandis formeetings oftheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures except asotherwise
provided intheWorking Procedures (G/SPS/1) asestablished orassubsequently amended bythe
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures andexcept asprovided below:
(i) Rule5ofChapter II(Agenda) isnotapplicable.
(ii) Rule6ofChapter II(Agenda) shallbemodified toreadasfollows:
Thefirstitemofbusinessateachmeetingshallbetheconsiderationandapproval
oftheagenda. Representatives ortheChairperson maysuggest amendments tothe
proposed agenda, oradditions totheagenda under "Other Business". Representatives
shall provide theChairperson ortheSecretariat, andtheother Members directly
concerned, whenever possible, advance notice ofitems intended toberaised under
"Other Business".
(iii) Rules 12,13and14ofChapter V(Officers) shallbemodified toreadasfollows:
Rule12
TheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures shall elect a
Chairperson1[andmayelectaVice-Chairperson] from among therepresentatives of
Members. Theelection shalltakeplace atthefirstmeeting oftheyearandshalltake
effect attheendofthemeeting. TheChairperson [andVice-Chairperson] shallhold
office untiltheendofthefirstmeeting ofthefollowing year.
Rule13
IftheChairperson isabsent from anymeeting orpartthereof, [theVice-
Chairperson shallperform thefunctions oftheChairperson. IfnoVice-Chairperson
waselected oriftheVice-Chairperson isnotpresent,] theCommittee onSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures shallappoint aninterim Chairperson forthatmeeting orthat
partofthemeeting.
Rule14
IftheChairperson cannolonger perform thefunctions oftheoffice, the
CommitteeonSanitaryandPhytosanitaryMeasuresshall[designatetheVice-Chairperson
referredtoinRule12or,ifnoVice-Chairpersonwaselected,itshall]appointaninterim
Chairperson toperform those functions pending theelection ofanewChairperson.
1TheCommitteeonSanitaryandPhytosanitaryMeasuresshallapplytherelevantguidelinescontained
inthe"Guidelines forAppointment ofOfficers toWTO Bodies" (WT/L/31 dated 7February 1995).G/SPS/W/48
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(iv) Rule16ofChapter VI(Conduct ofBusiness) isnotapplicable.
(v) Rule24ofChapter VI(Conduct ofBusiness) shallbemodified toreadasfollows:
Inorder toexpedite theconduct ofbusiness, theChairperson mayinvite
representatives thatwishtoexpress theirsupport foragiven proposal toshow their
hands; thus, onlyrepresentatives withdissenting views orwishing tomake explicit
points orproposals would actually beinvited tomake astatement. Thisprocedure
shallonlybeapplied inorder toavoid undue repetition ofpoints already made, and
willnotpreclude anyrepresentative whosowishes from taking thefloor.
(vi) Rule33ofChapter VII(Decision-Making) shallbemodified toreadasfollows:
Inaccordance withArticle 12:1oftheAgreement ontheApplication ofSanitary
andPhytosanitary Measures, theCommittee shallreach itsdecisions byconsensus.
(vii) Rule34ofChapter VII(Decision-Making) isnotapplicable.
(viii) Rule36ofChapter IX(Records) shallbereplaced bythefollowing:
Records oftheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures meetings
shall taketheform ofasummary report tobeprepared bytheSecretariat. Any
delegation may,atitsrequest, verify those portions ofthedraftreport containing their
statements prior totheissuance oftheSecretariat summary report. Delegations that
wish toavail themselves ofthisverification procedure should soindicate tothe
Secretariat within 7daysoftheclose ofthemeeting concerned.G/SPS/W/48
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ANNEX
Consolidated Presentation oftheProposed Rules ofProcedures
fortheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Chapter I—Meetings
Rule1
TheCommittee shallmeettocarry outthefunctions necessary toimplement theprovisions
oftheAgreement, orsuchother tasks which itmayberequired todealwith. (SPS/1, para. 1)
Rule2
TheCommittee shallholdatleasttwomeetings peryear. Each meeting shallprovisionally
schedule thedates andagenda forthenextmeeting. Additional meetings oftheCommittee maybe
scheduled asappropriate. (SPS/1, para. 4)
Rule2bis
Attherequest ofaMember, orathis/her owninitiative, andwhere thematter involved is
oneofsignificant importance orurgency, theChairperson may, unless itisconsidered thatresort to
other procedures would bemore appropriate, convene aspecial meeting oftheCommittee. (SPS/1,
para. 5)
Chapter II—Agenda
Rule3
Notice ofmeetings oftheCommittee andadraftagenda shallbeissued atleast10daysprior
tothedateofthemeeting. Intheevent thatthetenth dayfallsonaweekend oraholiday, thenotice
shallbeissued nolaterthanthepreceding WTO working day.(n-p#361) Itshallbeopen toany
Member torequest, inwriting totheSecretariat, theinclusion ofitems under theproposed agenda
upto,butnotincluding, thedayonwhich thenotice convening themeeting istobeissued. (SPS/1,
para. 2)
Rule4
Matters relating tonotifications, including notifications considered atprevious meetings, can
beraised orreverted tointhecourse ofanymeeting. AMember which proposes toraiseanymatter
relating toaparticular notification inthecourse ofameeting shallgivenotice ofitsintention tothe
notifying Member concerned andtheSecretariat, together withanoutline ofitsconcerns, asfaras
possible inadvance ofthemeeting. (SPS/1, para. 3)
Rule51
notapplicable (n-p#361)
1Aproposed agenda shallbecirculated bytheSecretariat oneortwodaysbefore themeeting.G/SPS/W/48
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Rule6
Thefirstitemofbusiness ateachmeeting shallbetheconsideration andapproval oftheagenda.
Representatives ortheChairperson maysuggest amendments totheproposed agenda, oradditions to
theagenda under "Other Business". Representatives shallprovide theChairperson ortheSecretariat,
andtheother Members directly concerned, whenever possible, advance notice ofitems intended to
beraised under "Other Business". (n-p#361)
Rule7
TheCommittee mayamend theagenda orgivepriority tocertain items atanytimeinthecourse
ofthemeeting. (GC)
Chapter III—Representation
Rule8
Each Member shallberepresented byanaccredited representative. (GC)
Rule9
Eachrepresentative maybeaccompanied bysuchalternates andadvisers astherepresentative
mayrequire. (GC)
Chapter IV—Observers
Rule10
Representatives ofStates orseparate customs territories mayattend themeetings asobservers
ontheinvitation oftheCommittee inaccordance withparagraphs 9to11oftheguidelines inAnnex 2
totheRules ofProcedure forMeetings oftheGeneral Council (WT/L/28). (GC)
Rule11
Representatives oftheFAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), theOffice
international desepizooties (OIE) andtheFAO Secretariat fortheInternational Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC) willbeinvited toattend meetings asobservers, pending thefinaldecision bythe
General Council. Representatives ofotherinternational intergovernmental organizations maybeinvited
bytheCommittee toattend meetings asobservers inaccordance withtheguidelines tobeadopted by
theGeneral Council. Notwithstanding theabove, theCommittee may, asappropriate, decide tohold
restricted sessions withparticipation ofMembers only. (SPS/1, para. 7)G/SPS/W/48
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Chapter V—Officers
Rule12
TheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures shallelectaChairperson2.Theelection
shalltakeplace atthefirstmeeting oftheyearandshalltakeeffect attheendofthemeeting. The
Chairperson shallholdoffice untiltheendofthefirstmeeting ofthefollowing year. (n-p#361)
Rule13
IftheChairperson isabsent fromanymeeting orpartthereof, theCommittee onSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures shallappoint aninterim Chairperson forthatmeeting orthatpartofthemeeting.
(n-p#361)
Rule14
IftheChairperson cannolonger perform thefunctions oftheoffice, theCommittee onSanitary
andPhytosanitary Measures shallappoint aninterim Chairperson toperform those functions pending
theelection ofanewChairperson. (n-p#361)
Rule15
TheChairperson shall normally participate intheproceedings assuch andnotasthe
representative ofaMember. TheChairperson may, however, atanytimerequest permission toact
ineither capacity. (GC)
Chapter VI—Conduct ofbusiness
Rule163
notapplicable (n-p#361)
Rule17
Inaddition toexercising thepowers conferred elsewhere bythese rules, theChairperson shall
declare theopening andclosing ofeachmeeting, shalldirect thediscussion, accord therighttospeak,
submit questions fordecision, announce decisions, ruleonpoints oforder and,subject tothese rules,
havecomplete control oftheproceedings. TheChairperson mayalsocallaspeaker toorder ifthe
remarks ofthespeaker arenotrelevant. (GC)
2TheCommitteeonSanitaryandPhytosanitaryMeasuresshallapplytherelevantguidelinescontained
inthe"Guidelines forAppointment ofOfficers toWTO Bodies" (WT/L/31 dated 7February 1995).
3Asimple majority oftheMembers shallconstitute aquorum.G/SPS/W/48
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Rule18
During thediscussion ofanymatter, arepresentative mayraiseapoint oforder. Inthiscase
theChairperson shallimmediately statetheruling. Iftheruling ischallenged, theChairperson shall
immediately submit itfordecision anditshallstand unless overruled. (GC)
Rule19
During thediscussion ofanymatter, arepresentative maymove theadjournment ofthedebate.
Anysuchmotion shallhavepriority. Inaddition totheproponent ofthemotion, onerepresentative
maybeallowed tospeak infavour of,andtworepresentatives against, themotion, afterwhich the
motion shallbesubmitted fordecision immediately. (GC)
Rule20
Arepresentative mayatanytimemove theclosure ofthedebate. Inaddition totheproponent
ofthemotion, notmore thanonerepresentative maybegranted permission tospeak infavour ofthe
motion andnotmore thantworepresentatives maybegranted permission tospeak against themotion,
afterwhich themotion shallbesubmitted fordecision immediately. (GC)
Rule21
During thecourse ofthedebate, theChairperson mayannounce thelistofspeakers and,with
theconsent ofthemeeting, declare thelistclosed. TheChairperson may, however, accord theright
ofreply toanyrepresentative ifaspeech delivered afterthelisthasbeendeclared closed makes this
desirable. (GC)
Rule22
TheChairperson, withtheconsent ofthemeeting, maylimitthetimeallowed toeachspeaker.
(GC)
Rule23
Representatives shall endeavour, totheextent thatasituation permits, tokeep their oral
statements brief. Representatives wishing todevelop theirposition onaparticular matter infuller detail
maycirculate awritten statement fordistribution toMembers, thesummary ofwhich, atthe
representative 'srequest, maybereflected intherecords oftheCommittee. (GC)
Rule24
Inorder toexpedite theconduct ofbusiness, theChairperson mayinvite representatives that
wishtoexpress theirsupport foragiven proposal toshow theirhands; thus,onlyrepresentatives with
dissenting views orwishing tomake explicit points orproposals would actually beinvited tomake
astatement. Thisprocedure shallonlybeapplied inorder toavoid undue repetition ofpoints already
made, andwillnotpreclude anyrepresentative whosowishes from taking thefloor. (n-p#361)G/SPS/W/48
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Rule25
Representatives should avoid unduly longdebates under "Other Business". Discussions on
substantive issues under "Other Business" shallbeavoided, andtheCommittee shalllimititselftotaking
noteoftheannouncement bythesponsoring delegation, aswellasanyreactions tosuchanannouncement
byother delegations directly concerned. (GC)
Rule26
While theCommittee isnotexpected totakeaction inrespect ofanitemintroduced as"Other
Business", nothing shallprevent theCommittee, ifitsodecides, totakeaction inrespect ofanysuch
itemataparticular meeting, orinrespect ofanyitemforwhich documentation wasnotcirculated
atleasttencalendar daysinadvance. (GC)
Rule27
Representatives should make every effort toavoid therepetition ofafulldebate ateachmeeting
onanyissue thathasalready beenfullydebated inthepastandonwhich there appears tohavebeen
nochange inMembers 'positions already onrecord. GC)
Rule28
Proposals andamendments toproposals shallnormally beintroduced inwriting andcirculated
toallrepresentatives notlaterthantwelve hours before thecommencement ofthemeeting atwhich
theyaretobediscussed. (GC)
Rule29
Iftwoormore proposals aremoved relating tothesamequestion, themeeting shallfirstdecide
onthemostfar-reaching proposal andthenonthenextmost far-reaching proposal andsoon.(GC)
Rule30
When anamendment ismoved toaproposal, theamendment shallbesubmitted fordecision
firstand,ifitisadopted, theamended proposal shallthenbesubmitted fordecision. (GC)
Rule31
When twoormore amendments aremoved toaproposal, themeeting shalldecide firston
theamendment farthest removed insubstance from theoriginal proposal, then, ifnecessary, onthe
amendment nextfarthest removed, andsoonuntilalltheamendments havebeensubmitted fordecision.
(GC)
Rule32
Parts ofaproposal maybedecided onseparately ifarepresentative requests thattheproposal
bedivided. (GC)G/SPS/W/48
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Chapter VII—Decision-Making
Rule33
Inaccordance with Article 12:1 oftheAgreement ontheApplication ofSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures, theCommittee shallreach itsdecisions byconsensus. (n-p#361)
Rule344
notapplicable (n-p#361)
Chapter VIII—Languages
Rule35
English, French andSpanish shallbetheworking languages.(GC)
Chapter IX—Records
Rule36
Records oftheCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures meetings shalltakethe
formofasummary report tobeprepared bytheSecretariat. Anydelegation may,atitsrequest, verify
those portions ofthedraftreport containing theirstatements prior totheissuance oftheSecretariat
summary report. Delegations thatwishtoavailthemselves ofthisverification procedure should so
indicate totheSecretariat within 7daysoftheclose ofthemeeting concerned. (n-p#361)
Chapter X—Publicity ofmeetings
Rule37
Themeetings oftheCommittee shallordinarily beheldinprivate. Itmaybedecided thata
particular meeting ormeetings should beheldinpublic. (GC)
Rule38
After aprivate meeting hasbeenheld, theChairperson mayissueacommuniqué tothePress.
(GC)
4When, inaccordance withtheWTO Agreement, decisions arerequired tobetaken byvote, such
votes shallbetaken byballot. Ballot papers shallbedistributed torepresentatives ofMembers present
atthemeeting andaballot boxplaced intheconference room. However, therepresentative ofany
Member mayrequest, ortheChairperson maysuggest, thatavotebetaken bytheraising ofcards
orbyrollcall.Inaddition, where inaccordance withtheWTO Agreement avotebyaqualified majority
ofallMembers isrequired tobetaken, theGeneral Council maydecide, uponrequest fromaMember
orthesuggestion oftheChairperson, thatthevotebetaken byairmail ballots orballots transmitted
bytelegraph ortelefacsimile inaccordance withtheprocedures described inAnnex 1tothese Rules.G/SPS/W/48
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Chapter XI—Revision
Rule39
TheCommittee maydecide atanytimetorevise these rules oranypartofthem. (GC)
Chapter XX--Other Matters
Rule40
Withrespect toanymatter which hasbeenraised under theAgreement, theChairperson may,
attherequest oftheMembers directly concerned, assist them indealing withthematter inquestion.
TheChairperson shallnormally report totheCommittee onthegeneral outcome withrespect tothe
matter inquestion. (SPS/1, para.6)