Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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WTO News Item, 29 September 2023
WTO members on 29 September discussed two outcome documents of the Work Programme of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Declaration adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022, which aimed at identifying and addressing challenges in the implementation of the SPS Agreement. The documents under review were a factual summary of the Work Programme and the SPS Committee’s report to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, as mandated in the Declaration.
A first version of both documents had been discussed at the July 2023 SPS Committee meeting. A revision of both documents, taking into account comments received, was circulated for members' consideration after the July meeting.
The MC12 SPS Declaration instructed the SPS Committee to launch a Work Programme to identify challenges in the implementation of the SPS Agreement and the mechanisms available to address them as well as the impacts of emerging challenges on the application of the SPS Agreement. The Committee established five thematic groups to undertake this work.
The factual summary of the Work Programme (latest revision of G/SPS/GEN/2134), prepared by the WTO Secretariat, explains the process undertaken in the Work Programme and summarizes the discussions held in each of the five thematic groups. The outcome document (latest revision of G/SPS/W/344), prepared by the former Chair of the SPS Committee acting as facilitator, Mr Tang-Kai Wang of Chinese Taipei, details key findings of the Work Programme and includes a recommendation for the Committee moving forward.
Members are expected to adopt the report of the Work Programme in November, at the last formal meeting of the SPS Committee prior to MC13. Members will have an opportunity to further discuss the documents in an informal session prior to the November Committee meeting.
Additionally, the current Chair of the Committee, Mr Tayutic Mena of Costa Rica, reported on the introductory session for new SPS delegates organized by the Secretariat on 18 September as well as on the preparation of the upcoming Committee meeting.
For previous news item on this topic, see:
