special meeting on the operation of sps enquiry points gretchen h. stanton secretary of the sps...
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Special meeting on the Operation of SPS
Enquiry Points
Gretchen H. StantonSecretary of the SPS Committee
31 October 2003
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Statistics
• 135 Members have a National Enquiry Point (91 %)
• 125 Members have a National Notification Authority (84 %)
• 83 out of the WTO’s 148 Members have notified SPS measures (56 %)
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Notifications - Statistics
As of 1 October 2003:
• 3,649 notifications circulated (excluding Corrigenda, Addenda and Revisions)
• 3,935 (including Corrigenda, Addenda and Revisions)
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Notifications Circulated
0100200300400500600700800900
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003(until 1
October)
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Number of Notifications per Member
1995 to 1 October 2003
0123456789
1011121314151617181920212223
1 2 to 5 6 to10
11 to20
21 to30
31 to100
101 to200
201 to300
301 to850
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Notifications: some statistics
• USA (820)• New Zealand (259)• EC (214)• Mexico (203)• Chile (156)• Korea (141)• [China (140)]
• Japan (106)• Thailand (105)• Philippines (48)• Indonesia (19)• South Africa (17)• Jamaica (6)• Egypt (0)• India (0)
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Members Notifying1995 until 1 October 2003
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Developedcountries
Developingcountries
LeastDevelopedCountries
Total
Nu
mb
er o
f M
emb
ers
Not Notified
Notified
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Notifications by RegionMiddle East
1%Africa 2%
Western Europe 11%
Central and Eastern
Europe 4%
Latin America
25%
North America
28%
Asia 29%
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Transparency Obligations Infrastructure
• National notification authority – A single central government authority
responsible for the implementation of notification procedures
• Enquiry Point – Responsible for the provision of answers &
documentation to all reasonable questions from interested Members
Tell us who and where you are!
Annex BPara. 3
Para. 10
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Communication Issues
If the WTO Secretariatcannot get hold of the Enquiry Point/National Notification
Authority...
WHO CAN?
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Results from QuestionnaireG/SPS/W/103/Rev.1
• Of 72 responses to Questionnaire on Operation of SPS EPs and NNAs (49%)
In 50% of Members the EP and NNA are same agency
• Average – 3 staff for EP and for NNA
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National Notification Authority
(NNA)•prepares notifications about new or changed
measures
•provides copies of the measure upon request
•receives and takes into account comments
Annex BParagraph 10
Latest List: G/SPS/NNA/#
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• After receiving comments:– acknowledge receipt– explain:
• how taken into account• provide additional relevant information
– provide: • copy of regulation as adopted• or, information of non-adoption
– where possible, make available to other Members comments/questions received and answered
Handling of Comments
Recommended Notification ProceduresG/SPS/7/Rev.2 - Point E-
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Handling requests
Requests for texts of SPS regulations• 71% of Members have a complete
inventory of SPS regulations
Requests for informationHow long does it take to respond?• 10 days on average
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The Enquiry Point
• “answers to all reasonable questions” about:• adopted or proposed SPS regulations,• control, inspection procedures, quarantine
treatment, approval procedures,• risk assessment procedures,• membership / participation in international and
regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral agreements and arrangements
Latest List: G/SPS/ENQ/#
Annex BParagraph 3
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Establishing an Enquiry Point
• Government or independent
• Access to information/relationships with responsible agencies
• Can be same as NNA
• Some countries have more than one: clearly define responsibilities of each
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Providing Documents• Responding to requests
– five working days– if not, acknowledge request
• estimation of time required
• Via– fax / e-mail if possible– Internet
• Acknowledge receipt of documents
Recommended Notification ProceduresG/SPS/7/Rev.2 - Point D -
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Providing Documents
Recommended Notification ProceduresG/SPS/7/Rev.2 - Point D -
• Translation– If exists / planned -
•indicate or send along– Developed countries:
•supply translation of document or translated summary in WTO working language
– Share translations– Unofficial translations
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Using the Enquiry Point: Beyond Obligations
• Collect/disseminate SPS information
– SPS documents
– SPS notifications received
• Inform other government agencies, private sector
• Coordinate comments on other countries’ notifications
• Submit comments – follow-up
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How to obtain notifications?
• Paper copies:Copy to Geneva Mission
ORSingle address inCapital
• Electronic copies:Documents online from
the WTO web site www.wto.org
(G/SPS/N/+ country symbol e.g. USA)
• Email updates:(Send e-mail to
[email protected] with Subscribe SPS + your name in body of message
e.g. Subscribe SPS Mickey Mouse)
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Notifications90% of EPs receive SPS Notifications
How?• 22% via the WTO web page• 57% via email from the Secretariat• 35% via mail from the Secretariat• 18% via Geneva based Missions
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How to make it work
• Relationship with other government departments
• Interface with industry• Relationship with the
Geneva Mission• Contact with the
Secretariat
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Inter-agency coordination and communication
Does the EP/NNA have regular contact with officials in relevant agencies?
• 87% of EPs have regular contact• 88% of NNA have regular contact
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Other Services
• 79% of EPs provide information about other countries’ import requirements to interested domestic producers
• 61% of EPs are regularly informed of developments in Codex, OIE and IPPC
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What if a proposed regulation will affect my exports?
• Request text of the draft regulation
• Request extension of comment period, if needed
• Make comments on the proposed regulation
• Request an explanation for measures that are not based on an international standard, guideline or recommendation
• Raise the issue in the SPS Committee
• Bilateral consultations; seek technical assistance
• Dispute Settlement Procedures
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Assistance• The Transparency Handbook –
including letters and fax templates– 62% of EPs/NNAs have a copy of the
WTO Handbook on Transparency• Questionnaire on Technical
Assistance – G/SPS/W/113– What are your countries’ technical
assistance requirements? – information, training, infrastructure (hard and/or soft)
Tell us what you need
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Technical Assistance
Responding Members willing to provide technical assistance
• 58% willing to provide technical assistance to EPs
• 54% willing to provide technical assistance to NNAs