SPS Transparency Working Group

At its March 2025 meeting, the SPS Committee agreed to the creation of an SPS Transparency Working Group (TWG), following a recommendation from the Sixth Review of the Operation and Implementation of the SPS Agreement (G/SPS/74 and G/SPS/74/Add.1). The TWG will be open to the participation of all WTO members and observers, with a two-year duration that may be extended by the SPS Committee. It will explore a non-exhaustive list of topics outlined in paragraph 2.34 of document G/SPS/74.

As decided by the SPS Committee at its June 2025 meeting, the SPS TWG will hold its inaugural meeting in November 2025, with Chile and New Zealand acting as co-stewards and the Group's work guided by the operational guidelines available in document JOB/SPS/41. Members are encouraged to facilitate the active participation of SPS National Notification Authorities (NNAs), Enquiry Points (NEPs) and other officials involved in implementing SPS transparency provisions, in this working group.

All SPS notifications, as well as the list of SPS NNAs and NEPs contact details, are available on the ePing SPS&TBT Platform. Further SPS transparency-related information is available from the SPS Transparency Toolkit.

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Why participate in the SPS Transparency Working Group?

Transparency is a core principle in the SPS Agreement, enhancing the clarity and predictability of SPS measures. Since changes in SPS regulatory requirements can affect market access, keeping trading partners informed of such changes and allowing for comments on draft regulations, among others, can help avoid unnecessary barriers to trade.

Following the adoption of the report of the Sixth Review in March 2025 (G/SPS/74 and G/SPS/74/Add.1), the SPS Committee agreed to create an SPS TWG to explore possible improvements to SPS notifications, the comment process, possible enhancements to the ePing SPS&TBT Platform, and revisions of key SPS transparency documents. The first meeting of the TWG will be held in November 2025.

Who can participate in the SPS Transparency Working Group?

All WTO members and observers can participate in the working group. Given its transparency focus, SPS NNAs and NEPs as well as other officials involved in implementing SPS transparency provisions are encouraged to actively participate.

How to participate?

The TWG will take place in a hybrid format during the SPS Committee meeting week; the Committee may also convene additional meetings during the year if needed. Government officials should contact their WTO Representation (e.g. Permanent Mission in Geneva) to obtain badges to attend the TWG meetings in person or to obtain the necessary credentials to participate online.

Timeline and relevant documents (please login to access)

Date	Description	Documents
20 August 2026	Following the TWG meeting held on 23 June and the subsequent call for volunteers to support the TWG's work, the Secretariat, on behalf of the TWG stewards, shared the final list of volunteers for each topic of interest. Participants who have expressed an interest in coordinating the work under each topic are highlighted in bold.	Communication sent on 20 August PDF
21 July 2026	Following the Transparency Workshop, the Secretariat's report was circulated.	Report of the Transparency Workshop G/SPS/R/120 G/SPS/R/120
9 July 2026	Following the fifth TWG meeting of 23 June, a revised version of the work plan was circulated.	TWG Work Plan G/SPS/W/376/Rev.5
23 June 2026	Presentations delivered during the fifth TWG meeting by the rapporteurs of group exercises held during Session 2 of the Transparency Workshop on the priority topics identified in the compilation (G/SPS/W/378/Rev.2), including capacity building issues. Key ideas emerging from the group exercises were shared through a link to the Miro platform.	Rapporteur 1 (Argentina) PPT, topics: titles and other documents (items 5, 9 of notification template), and attaching PDF files vs providing links Rapporteur 2 (Brazil) PPT, topic: Description of content, incl. likely effects on trade (item 6) Rapporteur 3 (India) PPT, topic: Deviation from international standards (item 8) Miro board in PDF format
19 May 2026	Following the fourth TWG meeting of 28 April, a revised version of the work plan was circulated. In addition, a contribution from Peru to the work of the TWG was shared. A revised draft programme for the transparency workshop was also circulated. The programme will continue to be updated on the dedicated webpage.	Revised TWG Work Plan (G/SPS/W/376/Rev.4) Peru's contribution G/SPS/GEN/2409 Revised draft programme for the June Transparency Workshop (G/SPS/GEN/2405/Rev.2) Dedicated June Transparency Workshop webpage
5 May 2026	A revised version of the compilation of challenges/solutions was circulated. This version corrects the column headings under theme 2 (ePing related issues), which now read "Challenges" and "Proposed solutions", in line with the format used for the other themes.	Revised version of the compilation of challenges/solutions G/SPS/W/378/Rev.2
28 April 2026	Secretariat presentation on joint notifications at the fourth TWG meeting	Secretariat: PPT
16 April 2026	Following the third TWG meeting of 10 March, a revised version of the compilation of challenges and proposed solutions discussed was circulated. This revised version incorporates, in a new column, the stewards' proposed ideas for advancing work on the identified topics, for discussion at the next meeting of the TWG on 28 April.	Revised version of the compilation of challenges/solutions G/SPS/W/378/Rev.1.
2 April 2026	Following the third TWG meeting of 10 March, a revised version of the work plan and the compilation of challenges and proposed solutions discussed were circulated. In addition, the first draft programme for the transparency workshop to be held on 22-23 June was circulated. Members were invited to submit comments and suggested speakers for session 4 by 16 April.	TWG Work Plan G/SPS/W/376/Rev.3 Compilation of challenges/solutions G/SPS/W/378 Draft programme for the June Transparency Workshop G/SPS/GEN/2405
10 March 2026	Presentations delivered during the working sessions of the third TWG meeting	Secretariat: PPT Brazil: PPT Theme 1 Chile: PPT Theme 1 China: PPT Theme 1; PPT Theme 2 Dominican Republic: PPT Theme 1 EU: PPT Theme 1 ; PPT Theme 2 Japan: PPT Theme 1 Kenya: PPT Theme 2 Morocco: PPT Theme 2 Peru: PPT Theme 1 (EN); PPT Theme 1 (ES) South Africa: PPT Theme 2 Türkiye: PPT Theme 2 Uganda: Inputs Three Sisters: PPT Theme 2
20 February 2026	Further contribution of the Three Sisters to the work of the TWG	G/SPS/GEN/2391
19 February 2026	Following the second TWG meeting of 3 February, a revised version of the compilation of contributions was circulated	G/SPS/W/377/Rev.1
13 February 2026	Following the second TWG meeting of 3 February, a communication was sent to the TWG participants with advance copies of a new revised version of the work plan and the proposed agenda for the 10 March TWG meeting Guidelines for presenters: The communication also included a call for speakers along with basic guidelines for interventions	G/SPS/W/376/Rev.2 Proposed agenda for 10 March TWG meeting Communication sent on 13 February 2026
20 January 2026	Compilation of contributions: Following the work plan (G/SPS/W/376/Rev.1), the compilation of contributions received by 6 January was circulated on 20 January 2026 Guiding questions: communication sent to SPS delegates with questions to help guide discussion at the TWG meeting of 3 February 2026	G/SPS/W/377 Communication sent on 20th January
15 January 2026	Upon a Member’s request, the Secretariat has added responses to question 3 to the Excel file containing the open-ended responses to questions 2, 5, 6, 8, and 11 of the transparency survey. The revised file is made available to all Members	SPS TWG Survey Responses-Revision 2
19 December 2025	Upon a Member’s request, the Secretariat has added responses to questions 2, 5, 6, 8, and 11 to the Excel file containing the open-ended responses to the transparency survey. The revised file is made available to all Members	SPS TWG Survey Responses-Revision
5 December 2025	Following the first TWG meeting, the stewards shared the revised Work Plan and open-ended responses to the transparency survey Responses to the feedback received on the work plan	WTO SPS Committee TWG Work Plan G/SPS/W/376/Rev.1 SPS TWG Survey Responses Communication sent on 5 December
3 November 2025	Presentations made during the first meeting of the TWG	Stewards: Survey results and work plan Peru: Peru's follow-up initiative on promoting transparency in APEC region TBT Secretariat: TBT TWG
14 October 2025	Proposed work plan for the TWG	G/SPS/W/376
14 October 2025	Annotated agenda for the first meeting of the TWG (Monday, 3 Nov. 2025, a.m.)	JOB/SPS/44
24 July 2025	Launch of the SPS TWG Survey	Survey
18–19 June 2025	The SPS Committee agreed that the first meeting of the TWG would be held in November 2025 with Chile and New Zealand as co-stewards	G/SPS/R/117 (section 6.7.2 and Annex C)
15 May 2025	Operational guidelines proposed by New Zealand discussed at Informal SPS Committee meeting	JOB/SPS/41
20 March 2025	Sixth Review recommendation to create an SPS Transparency Working Group (TWG) adopted by the SPS Committee	Sixth Review report (Para. 2.34 of G/SPS/74); Summary report of the March 2025 meeting (G/SPS/R/116)

Contact Us

Any questions on the SPS Transparency Working Group?

Please send an email to [email protected].

To request technical assistance on the WTO SPS Agreement, including national activities focused on transparency or the ePing SPS&TBT Platform, please see document G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.15 or contact the Secretariat at [email protected].

SPS transparency resources

SPS transparency toolkit
Recommended Transparency Procedures (G/SPS/7/Rev.5)
Practical Manual for SPS National Notification Authorities and SPS National Enquiry Points
Annual reports on transparency
SPS Transparency Champions Courses: 2022 - 2023 and 2024 - 2025
SPS Transparency Workshops
Transparency in the SPS Agreement (Video created and provided by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries)

TBT transparency resources

Compilation of TBT notification formats and guidelines (G/TBT/59/Rev.1)
Commenting on a TBT notification - Good practice guide (G/TBT/GEN/386)
TBT Transparency Working Group

Domestic transparency resources

Chile: Guías sobre gestión de las notificaciones MSF