RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/13
3May1995
ORGANIZATION(95-1132)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
INFORMATION TOBESUBMITTED BYOBSERVER GOVERNMENTS
Note bytheSecretariat
1. Atitsmeeting of29-30 March 1995, theCommittee briefly discussed theissueofrequesting
Observer Governments tosubmit specific relevant information foritsconsideration. Some WTO
CommitteesrequestinformationfromObserverGovernments,suchastheCommitteesonAnti-Dumping
Practices, onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures, andonSafeguards, while other WTO bodies
encourage Observer Governments toprovide technical, background information. Withrespect tothe
SPSCommittee,theobjectiveofrequestinginformationfromObserverGovernmentswouldbetoincrease
thetransparency ofSPSmeasures andtoavoid, totheextent possible, potential tradedifficulties arising
from SPSrequirements.
2. TheCommittee maywishtoencourage Observer Governments toestablish andidentify an
Enquiry Point which could respond torequests forinformation concerning specific SPSmeasures, and
toprovide advance notice, whenever possible ofproposed newSPSregulations orchanges inSPS
regulations which might haveasignificant effect ontrade.
3. TheCommitteemayalsowishtoconsiderinvitingObserverGovernmentstosubmitthefollowing
information:
(a) identification ofthose relevant international andregional standards-developing
organizations inwhich theyparticipate;
(b) theiractions orplanned action toimplement theobligations oftheSPSAgreement,
including theadaptation oftheirexisting procedures andSPSrequirements; and
(c) adescription oftheirregulatory procedures forthedevelopment ofSPSstandards and
measures.