Members review progress in resolving SPS trade concerns at WTO

Resolution of specific trade concerns

The WTO Secretariat reported on its 2026 exercise regarding the resolution of specific trade concerns (STCs) raised in the SPS Committee. The Secretariat contacted 39 members to seek information regarding the status of their STCs that had not been raised after November 2024. Based on responses received from 25 members, 55 STCs are considered as resolved while 19 others are considered partially resolved.

Overall, the Secretariat noted that out of the 640 concerns discussed by members since 1995 - excluding those new concerns raised at the current meeting - 326 have been reported as resolved, while an additional 75 concerns have been reported as partially resolved. This represents 63% of the total concerns addressed by the Committee since 1995.

A document has been circulated detailing the SPS concerns that have been reported as resolved or partially resolved.

Specific trade concerns - latest developments

Members raised 78 STCs at the November SPS Committee meeting. Five of the STCs were raised for the first time while the remainder were previously raised issues.

The new STCs included concerns related to maximum residue levels (MRLs) for certain pesticides in the European Union; a new EU regulation on MRLs for copper compounds in preserved century eggs; restrictions in Colombia on the import of meat and meat products from Mexico; delays in Japan in approving market access for beef from Paraguay; and Colombia's non-recognition of Chile as a country free from avian influenza and its market restrictions on poultry meat from Chile.

A list of the STCs discussed is available in the Trade Concerns Database.

Transparency Working Group

The SPS Transparency Working Group held its sixth meeting on 3 November.  The working group's mandate is to enhance the clarity and predictability of SPS measures by keeping trading partners informed of SPS regulatory changes and allowing for comments on draft regulations, among other things, to help avoid unnecessary barriers to trade.

The sixth session addressed four specific topics:  the title and description of notified SPS measures, including their likely effects on trade; facilitating access to supporting documentation, including the use of PDFs, links and document access; improving information regarding deviations from international standards; and national coordination mechanisms and practical rules that can facilitate the application of transparency requirements. 

Chile, one of the co-stewards of the Transparency Working Group, said the debates highlighted the importance of focusing on viable solutions that are easy to use and which can be of practical use.

Mentoring system

The WTO Secretariat updated members on the SPS mentoring system, which was launched in June 2025 and renewed for an additional two years at the last Committee meeting in June. The mentoring system connects government officials in order to establish informal, ad hoc supportive relationships for knowledge-sharing, peer learning and engagement on SPS-related issues.  A Secretariat official said the feedback from mentors who participated in the pilot phase last year is that this was a very rewarding experience. A new cohort of six mentees was selected and they will be matched with mentors after 13 November based on expressions of interest received.

Thematic sessions

Two thematic sessions took place on 2-3 November.  The first, proposed by Australia and Canada, looked at the issue of hitchhiker pests in international trade. A hitchhiker pest refers to an organism that travels unintentionally on or in traded commodities, packaging, conveyances or containers, posing the threat of significant economic and environmental consequences when established in a new region.  The event brought together practical experience and expertise in managing pests that can move unnoticed through international trade and addressed the risks and impacts from such pests, domestic and regulatory responses, prevention through supply chains and innovation, and international standards supporting action on hitchhiker pests.

The event was moderated by Kiyokazu Murai, Deputy Director for Animal and Plant Products with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who provided a brief oral report on the discussions. A detailed report will be prepared by Mr Murai and circulated by the WTO Secretariat in the coming weeks for members' comments.

The second thematic session looked at promoting transparency in sampling, testing, and analytic methods used to determine compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.  Proposed by Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, New Zealand and the United States, the session addressed challenges members, exporters, and importers face when sampling, testing, and analytic methods are not published or otherwise readily available; best practices in transparent sampling, testing, and analytic methods; and possible next steps for the SPS Committee.

The session was moderated by Kim Meegan, Deputy Director with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, who provided a brief oral report on the discussions.  A detailed written report of the discussions will be prepared by Ms Meegan and circulated by the Secretariat for members' comments.

Chair highlights Committee success stories

The Chair, Diego Franco of Paraguay, emphasized the importance of in-person participation in the Committee. In this regard, he highlighted the recent experience of Ukraine. Thanks to the participation of a high-level delegation from Ukraine, the country had been able to engage bilaterally with Japan to restore access for its poultry products to the Japanese market following restrictions that had been imposed in response to an outbreak of avian influenza. This outcome was made possible through close cooperation and dialogue with the competent authorities of Japan and highlighted the importance of the opportunities for exchange provided by the SPS Committee. It is a concrete example of how dialogue among members, both during Committee meetings and through bilateral discussions held on their margins, can help overcome trade-related challenges and find mutually satisfactory solutions, the Chair said.

The Secretariat drew attention to another successful outcome: following their attendance of the Committee's Transparency Workshop held in June, a number of WTO-funded participants had become actively involved in the Transparency Working Group. About half the participants volunteered to advance work on the topics under discussion in the group, and three coordinated the work and presented its outcomes at the most recent meeting of the Transparency Working Group. This experience illustrates how technical assistance activities can lead to sustained participation in SPS Committee work and help diversify the group of members actively contributing to discussions, the Secretariat said.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is tentatively scheduled for 3-5 March 2027.