WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/81
14March 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1048)
Original: English Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
PROPOSED PROCEDURE FOR MONITORING THE PROCESS OF
INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION AND THE USEOF
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Submission bytheUnited States
1. Based ontheCommittee ’sdiscussions todate, itappears thataprocedure tomonitor the
harmonization anduseofinternational standards should besubject tothefollowing parameters:
- itshouldnotimposeexcessiveresourceburdensonMembersorontheWTOSecretariat;
- itshould notduplicate scientific ortechnical workthatismoreappropriately conducted
ininternational standards-setting organizations; and
- itshould focus ontrade problems ofimmediate anddirect importance toMembers.
2. Thefollowing proposal seeks, within thecontext ofthese parameters, toestablish apragmatic
andeffective procedure forfulfilling themandate setoutinArticle 12.4oftheSPSAgreement.
3. Recommended Procedure:
(a) TheCommittee should endorse theChairman ’sinvitation toMembers tosubmit, on
acontinuing basis, concrete examples ofsignificant tradeproblems related totheharmonization
anduseofinternational standards, recommendations andguidelines.
(b) Members’submissionsshoulddescribethenatureofeachtradeproblemandnotewhether
itistheresult of:
(i) thenon-use ofanappropriate existing international standard, guideline or
recommendation;
(ii) anout-dated, technically flawed, orinother ways inappropriate existing
international standard, guideline orrecommendation; or
(iii) theabsence ofanappropriate international standard, guideline or
recommendation.
(c) TheCommittee should establish astanding agenda itemtoreview theinformation
submitted byMembers under thisprocedure.
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(d) Drawing ontheinformation submitted, theSecretariat should prepare anannual report
totheCommittee onthetrade problems identified under item3(b), above. TheSecretariat
shouldtransmititsreporttotheinternationalorganizationsresponsiblefordevelopingtherelevant
sanitary andphytosanitary standards, guidelines andrecommendations.1
(e) Atsuchtimeastheinformationsubmittedunderitem3(b)(i)maybesufficienttoindicate
theexistence ofissues thathaveamajor impact oninternational trade andareofwidespread
concerntoMembers,theSecretariatorindividualMembersmayrecommendthattheCommittee
place suchissues onitsregular agenda or,asappropriate, coordinate multilateral consultations
aimed atdeveloping proposals forresolving suchissues.
1Itisexpected thatMembers willtakethisinformation intoaccount, through their participation inthese
international organizations, inestablishing those organizations 'work priorities.