sanitary & phytosanitary measures
Review of Operation and Implementation of SPS Agreement
The SPS Committee is required to review the operation and implementation of the SPS Agreement, as specified under Article 12.7 of the SPS Agreement. The Agreement was first reviewed three years after its entry into force in 1995. Subsequently, a Decision adopted at the fourth Ministerial Conference in 2001 instructed the Committee to undertake this review at least once every four years.
Reports of previous reviews
Relevant documents
- Sixth Review proposed process – G/SPS/W/346
- Overview of proposals – G/SPS/GEN/2194
- Major decisions and documents
Review-related News
- Members advance discussion on addressing challenges in implementing SPS Agreement
- Fifth Review (2020), WTO members adopt report on food safety, animal and plant health, paving way for new work
- Fourth Review (2017), WTO members adopt report on food safety agreement
- Third Review (2010), African observers accepted in food safety, animal-plant health committee
- Second Review (2005), Private sector standards discussed as SPS Committee adopts two reports
Sixth Review of Operation and Implementation of SPS Agreement
WTO members discussed and adopted the proposed process for the Sixth Review of the SPS Agreement at the November 2023 meeting of the SPS Committee. The Committee will work on the Review of the Agreement throughout 2024. The process is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.
- Secretariat Briefing for Delegates on the Sixth Review (13 March 2024): presentation and recording
- All documents related to the Sixth Review are available here.
- Review proposals and documents submitted by members are available here.
- An overview of issues/papers/proposals received is available here.
- 15-17 November 2023: SPS Committee meeting - Adoption of proposed process for Sixth Review and initial discussion of possible issues
- 19 January 2024: Written submission of issues and papers/proposals to be considered during Review, for consideration
- 7 February 2024: Circulation by WTO Secretariat of overview of issues/papers/proposals received
- 20-22 March 2024: SPS Committee meeting - Discussion on issues identified and papers/proposals submitted
- 19 April 2024: Submission of additional papers/proposals on issues for consideration and specific proposals for actions
- 30 April 2024: Circulation by Secretariat of updated overview of issues/papers/proposals received
- 8 May 2024: Circulation by Secretariat of background document
- 17 May 2024: Submission of comments, in writing, on papers/proposals on issues under consideration
- 5 June 2024: Submission of written comments on background document; circulation of compilation of comments on papers/proposals on issues under consideration
- 26-28 June 2024: SPS Committee meeting - Discussion of specific proposals for actions on issues under consideration; identification and discussion on issues for further work; discussion of background document
- Early September 2024: Circulation of draft report of Sixth Review and updated background document
- 4 October 2024: Submission of written comments on draft report and additional written comments on updated background document
- 23 October 2024: Circulation of compilation of comments on draft report
- 13-15 November 2024: SPS Committee meeting - Discussion of draft report and updated background document
- 13 December 2024: Submission of additional written comments on draft report
- December 2024/January 2025: Circulation of compilation of additional comments on draft report
- January/February 2025: Circulation of revised draft report
- Informal meeting of March 2025: Consideration and, if possible, finalization of report
- Formal meeting of March 2025: Adoption of report on Sixth Review
SPS Agreement Handbook
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