RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/60
9May1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1828)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
CANADIAN PROPOSAL FOR THE DERESTRICTION
OFSPSNOTIFICATIONS AND LISTS
OFENQUIRY POINTS
Atthe21-22 March 1996meeting oftheSPSCommittee, heldinGeneva, theChairman asked
theCanadian delegation toputinwriting theirproposal forthederestriction ofcertain SPSdocuments.
TheCanadian proposal istoderestrict theexisting notifications andlistsofEnquiry Points
and,inthefuture, tocirculate additions ordeletions tothelistofEnquiry Points andfurther notifications
asUNRESTRICTED documents.
Atthe1March 1996meeting oftheTBTCommittee, theCanadian delegation made asimilar
proposal forthederestriction ofsimilar TBTdocuments. Atthatmeeting itwasagreed bythemembers
ofthatCommittee toproceed onthebasis oftheCanadian proposal.
Thisproposal would bring consistency tothewaythatlistsofEnquiry Points andnotifications
were treated under thetwoAgreements. Itwould alsoprovide formore timely andwidespread
transparency ofthenotifications thatwere sentbyMember countries totheWTO Secretariat. This
could greatly assist countries intheirinternal consultations onproposed changes toregulations notified
byother Members. Itcould alsofacilitate moreappropriate inputintocomments being prepared, within
a60-day timeframe, onanotified proposed change.