   
  
G/SPS/GEN/2155  
 
19 October 2023 
(23-7052) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures   
 
  
SPS COMMITTEE THEMATIC SESSION ON RISK COMMUNICATION,   
MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION  
TUESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 202 3 
WTO, CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, GENEVA  
PROGRAMME1 
At its  November 2022 meeting, the SPS Committee discussed holding  a Thematic Session on Risk 
Communication, Misinformation and Disinformation on the margins of its November 2023 Committee 
meeting, based on proposal s submitted by the United States.2  
 
Building on the successful SPS Committee W orkshop on  Risk Analysis:  Risk Assessment, Risk 
Management, and Risk Communication that was held on 12-13 July 20213, the United States 
proposed a thematic session to further focus on SPS risk communication, with an emphasis on public 
perceptions of issues concerning food, technology, health, and the environment. The United States 
argued that this was  a topical, relevant theme for discussion by the SPS Committee, as regulators 
around the world were increasingly exposed to information from a multitude of sources, some of 
which may have s pecific biases or objectives that are not science -based or risk -based and do not 
contribute to the development of justified SPS measures. Th is thematic session will  explore the 
concepts surrounding information manipulation and their relevance within the co ntext and 
implementation of the SPS Agreement. Speakers will focus on the evolution of misinformation and 
disinformation, including its possible effect on policy decisions, how it is being deployed around 
agricultural food safety issues, and how Members ca n identify and address it at early stages.  
 
The thematic session will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, 14 November 2023, beginning 
at 10:00 (CET), and continuing in the afternoon at 15:00 (CET) as necessary.  The thematic session 
can be attended in person or virtually via Zoom . Interpretation will be provided in English, French 
and Spanish.   
 
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1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  
2 G/SPS/GEN/2067  and revision.  
3 SPS Committee Workshop on Risk Analysis: Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Risk 
Communication . G/SPS/GEN/2155  
 
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  Chairperson : Mr Tayutic Mena  Retana  
 
1  WHAT IS DISINFORMATION/MISINFORMATION?  
In this session , Members and industry  will discuss the origins of disinformation and misinformation 
with a view to understanding the ir significance  in society today. The speakers will explore the 
evolution of the use of misinformation and disinformation, and the challenges they pose to risk 
communication.  
 
▪ Mr Zbigniew Gniatkowski , Disinformation Response Officer, Directorate -General 
for Communication (DG COMM), European Commission, European Union . Challenges in 
times of disinformation and the EU's measures to tackle it . 
▪ Ms Kirsten Grinter , Chair,  Alternative Proteins Council . 
▪ Dr Pablo  Breuer , Co-Founder , DISARM Foundation . Introduction to disinformation and the 
DISARM Framework . 
Q&A session  
2  RELEVANCE TO SPS  
In this session, representatives of Members, industry, and academia will share their perspectives on 
current issues linked to consumer risk perception, disinformation/misinformation, and SPS risk 
management.  
 
▪ Ms Michelle Patel , Deputy Director, Analysis and Insight , Food Standards Agency for 
England, Wales and Northern Ireland , United Kingdom . 
 
▪ Mr Lamin Jaiteh , Principal Scientific Officer, F ood Safety  and Quality Authorit y, The 
Gambia . Gambia’s  experience on misinformation/disinformation related to food safety 
issues.  
 
▪ Mr Alejandro Rodarte , Senior Manager of Food Safety, Research and Innovation, 
FoodDrin kEurope . FoodDrinkEurope actions in food safety and the role of communication . 
 
▪ Dr Carl Blackburn , Food Irradiation Specialist , Joint FAO/IAEA  Centre of Nuclear 
Techniques in Food and Agriculture . Irradiated food . 
 
▪ Dr William Hallman , Professor , Rutgers University . The psychology of risk perception, 
misinformation, disinformation, and SPS risk management.  
 
Q&A session  
3  HOW DID WE GET HERE AND WHAT DO WE DO NOW?  
This session will provide examples from Members, industry , consumer organizations,  and academia 
of the evolution and effects of SPS misinformation and disinformation , and strategies for addressing 
these issues, including roles and responsibilities, communicating with factcheckers, weaponization 
of information, social media influencers, and communicatin g proactively.  
 
▪ Dr Nurjanah , Chief of Seed Importation, Centre for Plant Quarantine and Biosafety, 
Indonesia Quarantine Authority , Indonesia . Indonesia 's experience on risk communication : 
Misinformation and disinformation . 
▪ Mr James Ramsay , Head of Unit, Communications, European Food Safety Authority, 
European Union . Use of societal insights in risk communication: An evidence -based approach 
by the European Food Safety Authority.  G/SPS/GEN/2155  
 
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  ▪ Ms Nicole McKenzie , Acting Section Head of Science Communication, Pest Management 
Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, Canada . A public trust case study: Communicating about 
maximum residue limits. 
▪ Mr Claudio Canales , Advisor , Risk Communication Area, Chilean Agency for Food Safety 
and Quality, Chile . Educating doubts: Risk literacy, heuristics and creative processes for 
communication.  
▪ Mr Aaron Lavallee , Deputy Assistant Administrator, Food Safety  and Inspection Service  
(FSIS) , United States . 
▪ Ms Léa Auffret , Senior International Affairs Officer, The European Consumer Organisa tion; 
and Ms Isabelle Buscke , Head of the EU Liaison Office, Federation of German Consumer 
Organisations . The perspective of EU consumer organisations on misinformation and 
disinformation around food . 
▪ Ms Melissa San Miguel , President of Red Flag . Examples of misinformation/disinformation 
undermining good regulation and science : A public relations and risk communication 
perspective . 
Q&A session  
4  DISCUSSION – NEXT STEPS  
This session will be an open discussion on next steps . 
5  CLOSING REMARKS  
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