The Secretariat of the World Trade Organization organized a workshop on control, inspection and approval procedures in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, 9 July and Tuesday, 10 July 2018. Representatives of Members, Observers and Observer Organizations were all invited to participate in the workshop, as well as the subsequent meetings of the Committee.
Documents G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.8 and G/SPS/GEN/997/Rev.8/Add.1 provide information on the workshop. The WTO, with the financial assistance of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF), sponsored the participation of approximately 40 government officials from developing country Members and Observers in the workshop. The Secretariat selected participants to be sponsored among applications from government officials in charge of the implementation of the SPS Agreement.
The workshop provided a forum for discussion and experience sharing on developments, challenges and practices in implementing Article 8 and Annex C of the SPS Agreement on control, inspection and approval procedures. Through presentations, practical case stories and discussions, the workshop aimed at expanding Members' understanding of the relevant provisions, jurisprudence, guidance from the international standard-setting bodies, as well as regional and national experiences.
The final programme and report are contained in G/SPS/GEN/1613/Rev.2 and G/SPS/R/91 respectively.
Monday, 9 July 2018
(10:00–18:00)
Opening remarks by Mr Marcial Espínola Ramirez, Chairman of the SPS Committee
10:00–10:15
Overview of the workshop and its objectives
Session 1: Overview of the International Framework
10:15–12:00
Part I: Overview of Annex C provisions, related jurisprudence and relationship with the Trade Facilitation Agreement
Speakers:
Part II: Overview of relevant work in the Three Sisters
Speakers:
Session 2: The Rationale behind Annex C
12:00–13:00
This session will give an overview of STCs and notifications on control, inspection and approval procedures. It will also discuss the economic rationale for strengthening the implementation of Annex C in order to reduce trade transaction costs.
Speakers:
13:00–15:00 Lunch Break
Session 3: Implementation of Annex C
15:00–17:45
Part I: Opportunities to improve the implementation of Annex C
Speakers:
- Ms Martha Byanyima, COMESA: Assessing costs of SPS measures along key trade routes in COMESA
Presentation
- Ms Marlynne Hopper, STDF Secretariat: Experiences and lessons from STDF's work on facilitating safe trade
Presentation
Discussants:
- Ms Alejandra Estrada, Veterinarian, Agricultural and Livestock Service, Chile
- Ms Andrea Bravo, Veterinarian, SENASA, Argentina
Part II: Sharing of Members' experiences
Speakers:
- Mr John Mc Evoy, Head of Unit, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, European Union: The EU approach to systems-based audits
Presentation
- Ms Mara Burr, Public Health and Trade Manager, US Food and Drug Administration, United States: Risk-based import procedures
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
- Mr Linye Cong, Deputy Director, General Administration of Customs, China: China's reforms in the inspection and supervision systems for food imports
Presentation
Closing remarks and wrap-up of day 1
17:45-18:00
Tuesday, 10 July 2018
(10:00-18:00)
Opening remarks
10:00–10:15
Session 3: Implementation of Annex C (cont'd)
10:15–11:45
Part II: Sharing of Members' experiences
Speakers:
- Mr Fred Gorrell, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs Branch, Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Canada’s risk-based approach to inspections
Presentation
- Ms Tugba Adiguzel Kargin, EU Expert, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Turkey: Imports of animals and animal products
Presentation
- Mr Kenneth Msiska, Principal Agriculture Research Officer, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Zambia: Implementing Article 8 and Annex C - A Zambian perspective
Presentation
- Ms Delilah Cabb Ayala, Coordinator, SPS Enquiry Point, Belize Agricultural Health Authority: Belize experience - 3rd party certification
Presentation
Session 4: Annex C in the digital world
11:45–13:00
Part I: The international framework for SPS e-certification
Speakers:
- Ms Ketevan Lomsadze, IPPC: E-phyto and e-commerce
Presentation
- Ms Rosine Uwamariya, UNCTAD: Simplified procedures for obtaining SPS permits, Rwanda's case
Presentation
Discussants:
- Mr Patrick Sekitoleko, Codex (CCFICS)
Presentation
- Ms Ann Backhouse, OIE
Session 4: Annex C in the digital world (cont'd)
15:00–16:00
Part II: Sharing of Members' experiences in SPS e-certification
Speakers:
- Mr Jay Mitchell, Director for Trade, Europe, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), US Department of Agriculture, United States: US experience with implementing ePhytos: Vision for an improved system of the future
Presentation
- Ms Claudia Custodio Dantas, Official Veterinary, Accreditation and Certification Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Brazil: Electronic sanitary certification in Brazil
Presentation
- Mr Philippe Loopuyt, Head of Unit, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, European Union: e-Certification – the European Union approach and and experience
Presentation
Session 5: Opportunities to mobilize resources for SPS capacity building to support the implementation of Annex C
16:00–17:30
Roundtable moderated by Mr Melvin Spreij, STDF:
- Mr Erich Kieck, Trade Facilitation Support Program, WBG
- Ms Pamela Ugaz, Trade Facilitation Section, UNCTAD
- Mr Pierre Bonthonneau, Trade Facilitation and Quality for Trade Programme, ITC
- Ms Milena Budimirovic, Procedures and Facilitation Sub-Directorate, WCO
- Ms Sheri Rosenow, Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, WTO
Session 6: Conclusions
17:30–18:00