Implementation of international standards: collaboration between

the WTO and the three sisters (Codex, IPPC and OIE)

Marième FallAgriculture and Commodities Division

World Trade Organization

Two-pronged collaboration regarding the implementation of international standards:

Built-in collaboration: Provisions of the SPSAgreement relating to international standards

On-going collaboration: Standing agenda itemsand work of the SPS Committee

The SPS Agreement recognises the OIE as the competentinternational organization for the development ofinternational standards regarding animal health and zoonoses.

The SPS Agreement encourages the adoption of internationalstandards and calls on WTO Members to participate in thework of the relevant standard-setting organizations. (Art. 3.4and 10.4)

Relevant provisions of the WTO SPS Agreement relating to international standards

Art. 3.1: Members “shall base” SPS measures onthe relevant international standards

Art. 3.2: Measures which “conform to” theinternational standards are “deemed necessary toprotect … health” and “presumed to beconsistent” with SPS Agreement and GATT

Art. 3.3: Members may have measures with higherALOP than international standards – but … inaccordance with Art.5 (risk assessment)

HarmonizationArticle 3 and Annex A:3

Members shall ensure that their SPSmeasures are based on

an assessment, as appropriate, of the risks tohuman, animal or plant life or health,taking into account risk assessmenttechniques developed by the relevantinternational organizations.

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Risk assessmentArticle 5.1

Article 7 & Annex B - Transparency

5. Whenever a Codex, IPPC or OIE standard,guideline or recommendation does not exist or thecontent of a proposed SPS regulation is notsubstantially the same as the content of thatstandard, guideline or recommendation, and if theregulation may have a significant effect on tradeof other Members, Members shall provide anadvance notification.....

Regular notifications referring to a relevant internationalstandard (1 January 2015 to March 2016)n international standard

None 48%

IPPC 13%

OIE 6%

Codex 34%

Emergency notifications referring to a relevant international standard (1 January 2015 to March 2016) international standard

None 5%

IPPC 18%

OIE 73%

Codex 1%

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disease prevalence

guidelines set by relevant international

organizations

existence of eradication

programmes

Pest- or Disease-Free AreasArticle 6

Members shall takeinto account :

Art. 12.2SPS Committee to encourage use of international standards

Art. 12.3SPS Committee should seek scientific and technical advice fromOIE for the administration of the SPS Agreement and to avoidunnecessary duplication of efforts

Art. 12.6SPS Committee may request 3 sisters to examine specific matterswith respect to a particular standard, guideline orrecommendation including basis of explanations for non-use.

Art. 3.5 and 12.4SPS Committee procedure to monitor the process ofinternational harmonization in coordination with OIE.

Work of the WTO SPS Committee relating to international standards

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Harmonization — Monitoring Procedure G/SPS/11/Rev.1

Aim of encouraging Members to use internationalstandardsIdentifying where there is a major impact on traderesulting from the non-use of standardsHelp to understand when an internationalstandard, guideline or recommendation is neededby:

Identifying the required international standard andinforming OIE and other 2 sistersInformation from Members on their use or non-use ofthe identified standards, guidelines orrecommendations

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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 internationalstandards and further the use of harmonized SPSmeasures on the basis of the internationalstandards of Codex, IPPC and OIE

Agreed that:

The Committee encourages joint work by two or allthree of the relevant international organizations oncross-cutting issues such as, inter alia, certification,inspection, approval procedures and/or risk analysis.

Further specific collaboration with the OIE, IPPC and Codexas part of Committee discussions under :-Work in the area of private standards - Committee to workwith OIE to develop and/or disseminate informative materialsunderlining the importance of international SPS standards

-Technical advice for use in dispute settlement (Art. 11.2)

-Technical assistance & capacity building (Art. 9.1)

-ETC …

Work of the WTO SPS Committee relating to international standards

SPS Technical assistance

G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.6/Add.1 (Information on 2016 SPS technicalassistance 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-technical-assistanceapplication-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 allthese 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 andZambia) on implementing SPS measures to facilitate safetrade &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 TradeIntegration 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 foranimal diseases in OIRSA member countries

• STDF/PPG/516: Cost-Benefit Analysis for Establishing aFoot and Mouth Disease Free Zone or Compartment inTanzania

• STDF/PPG/534: Preparation for a project proposal todevelop traceability and identification of livestock in Mongolia

• STDF/PPG/550: Feasibility study for establishment of a freshmeat producing compartment in Zimbabwe

Applications focused on animal health are encouraged !!!