Implementation of international standards: collaboration between the WTO and the three sisters (Codex, IPPC and OIE) Marième Fall Agriculture and Commodities Division World Trade Organization
Two-pronged collaboration regarding the implementation of international standards: Built-in collaboration: Provisions of the SPS Agreement relating to international standards On-going collaboration: Standing agenda items and work of the SPS Committee
Relevant provisions of the WTO SPS Agreement relating to international standards The SPS Agreement recognises the OIE as the competent international organization for the development of international standards regarding animal health and zoonoses. The SPS Agreement encourages the adoption of international standards and calls on WTO Members to participate in the work of the relevant standard-setting organizations. (Art. 3.4 and 10.4)
Harmonization Article 3 and Annex A:3 Art. 3.1: Members shall base SPS measures on the relevant international standards Art. 3.2: Measures which conform to the international standards are deemed necessary to protect health and presumed to be consistent with SPS Agreement and GATT Art. 3.3: Members may have measures with higher ALOP than international standards but in accordance with Art.5 (risk assessment)
Risk assessment Article 5.1 Members shall ensure that their SPS measures are based on an assessment, as appropriate, of the risks to human, animal or plant life or health, taking into account risk assessment techniques developed by the relevant international organizations. 5
Article 7 & Annex B - Transparency 5. Whenever a Codex, IPPC or OIE standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist or the content of a proposed SPS regulation is not substantially the same as the content of that standard, guideline or recommendation, and if the regulation may have a significant effect on trade of other Members, Members shall provide an advance notification...
Regular notifications referring to a relevant international standard (1 January 2015 to March 2016)n international standard None 48% OIE 6% IPPC 13% Codex 34%
Emergency notifications referring to a relevant international standard (1 January 2015 to March 2016) international standard Codex 1% None 5% IPPC 18% OIE 73%
Pest- or Disease-Free Areas Article 6 disease prevalence Members shall take into account : guidelines set by relevant international organizations existence of eradication programmes 9
Work of the WTO SPS Committee relating to international standards Art. 12.2 SPS Committee to encourage use of international standards Art. 12.3 SPS Committee should seek scientific and technical advice from OIE for the administration of the SPS Agreement and to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts Art. 12.6 SPS Committee may request 3 sisters to examine specific matters with respect to a particular standard, guideline or recommendation including basis of explanations for non-use. Art. 3.5 and 12.4 SPS Committee procedure to monitor the process of international harmonization in coordination with OIE.
Harmonization Monitoring Procedure G/SPS/11/Rev.1 Aim of encouraging Members to use international standards Identifying where there is a major impact on trade resulting from the non-use of standards Help to understand when an international standard, guideline or recommendation is needed by: Identifying the required international standard and informing OIE and other 2 sisters Information from Members on their use or non-use of the identified standards, guidelines or recommendations 11
SPS Committee Decision Joint work by Codex, IPPC and OIE on cross-cutting issues G/SPS/58 of October 2011 The Committee desiring to promote international standards and further the use of harmonized SPS measures on the basis of the international standards of Codex, IPPC and OIE Agreed that: The Committee encourages joint work by two or all three of the relevant international organizations on cross-cutting issues such as, inter alia, certification, inspection, approval procedures and/or risk analysis. 12
Work of the WTO SPS Committee relating to international standards Further specific collaboration with the OIE, IPPC and Codex as part of Committee discussions under : -Work in the area of private standards - Committee to work with OIE to develop and/or disseminate informative materials underlining the importance of international SPS standards -Technical advice for use in dispute settlement (Art. 11.2) -Technical assistance & capacity building (Art. 9.1) -ETC
SPS Technical assistance G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.6/Add.1 (Information on 2016 SPS technical assistance activities) WTO-funded regional training events on the SPS Agreement in 2016: Regional SPS Workshop will be held upon requests from regional organizations Online application form for SPS Technical Assistance activities are available at: https://worldtradeorganization.wufoo.eu/forms/2016-wto-sps-technicalassistanceapplication-form/ Also: SPS thematic workshop on Maximum Residue Levels (in English, French and Spanish) (Geneva, Switzerland) on 24 25 October 2016 (deadline for applications: 17 June) Advanced Course on the SPS Agreement in French (Geneva, Switzerland), 17 October 4 November 2016 (deadline for applications: 3 June) The OIE secretariat participates as resource persons in all these annual SPS TA activities One-page flyer available on documents table outside!
Standards and Trade Development Facility A global partnership in SPS technical cooperation to strengthen developing countries capacity to meet international standards
Recent work/activities Seminar on Electronic SPS Certification (28 June 2016), register on: www.standardsfacility.org/stdf-ecert-seminar Research in Southern Africa (Malawi, South Africa and Zambia) on implementing SPS measures to facilitate safe trade & new STDF film: Safe Trade Solutions User guide Prioritizing SPS Investments for Market Access (P-IMA) Joint EIF/STDF study on SPS issues in EIF Diagnostic Trade Integration Studies (DTIS) Subscribe to the STDF Electronic mailing list on the STDF Website: www.standardsfacility.org
STDF projects & PPGs of interest STDF/PG/13: Strategy for selected African regions to comply with international standards in trade of livestock and products STDF/PG/495: Accreditation of laboratory diagnostic tests for animal diseases in OIRSA member countries STDF/PPG/516: Cost-Benefit Analysis for Establishing a Foot and Mouth Disease Free Zone or Compartment in Tanzania STDF/PPG/534: Preparation for a project proposal to develop traceability and identification of livestock in Mongolia STDF/PPG/550: Feasibility study for establishment of a fresh meat producing compartment in Zimbabwe Applications focused on animal health are encouraged!!!