RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/W/47
6March 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0809)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS TO
RECOMMENDED NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Note bytheSecretariat
AtthespecialjointmeetingwiththeCommitteeonTechnicalBarrierstoTradeon6-7November
1995, participants suggested anumber ofmodifications totherecommended notification procedures
andformat withregard toparagraph 5ofAnnex BoftheAgreement. These suggestions areincluded
inthereport bytheChairman onthatmeeting (G/SPS/W/33), particularly inparagraphs 3,4and9.
Atthemeeting oftheCommittee on15-16 November 1995, itwasfurther suggested thatall
oftherecommended procedures, including those fornotification ofurgent actions under paragraph 6
ofAnnex B(G/SPS/W/30/Rev.1), should becontained inasingle document. Thishasbeendonein
thedraftbelow. Tofacilitate comprehension oftheconsolidated procedures, thepresentation ofthe
recommendations hasbeenre-ordered.
Should theCommittee agree tothenotification procedures asproposed below, orwith
modifications,thesewouldreplacethepreviouslyagreedrecommendednotificationprocedurescontained
indocument G/SPS/2/Rev.1, aswellastheagreed format foremergency notifications (G/SPS/4) and
theproposed procedures forthenotification ofurgent actions (G/SPS/W/30/Rev.1).G/SPS/W/47
Page2
RECOMMENDED NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
Members should follow these guidelines when notifying regulations asrequired inparagraphs
5or6ofAnnex B.Theformat forregular notifications (Item Fbelow) should beusedfornotifications
inaccordance withparagraph 5ofAnnex B,whereas theformat foremergency notifications (Item
Gbelow) should beusedfornotifications asprovided forinparagraph 6ofAnnex B.
A. Application ofAnnex B,paragraph 5(preambular part) oftheSPSAgreement
Recommendation:
Forthepurposes ofAnnex B,paragraphs 5and6intheSPSAgreement, theconcept of
"significant effect ontrade ofother Members" mayrefertotheeffect ontrade:
- ofonesanitary orphytosanitary regulation onlyorofvarious sanitary orphytosanitary
regulations incombination;
- inaspecific product, group ofproducts orproducts ingeneral; and
- between twoormore Members (countries).
When assessing whether thesanitary orphytosanitary regulation mayhaveasignificant effect
ontrade, theMember concerned should takeintoconsideration, using relevant information which is
available, suchelements asthevalue orother importance ofimports inrespect oftheimporting and/or
exporting Members concerned, whether fromother Members individually orcollectively, thepotential
development ofsuchimports, anddifficulties forproducers inother Members tocomply withthe
proposed sanitary orphytosanitary regulations. Theconcept ofasignificant effect ontrade ofother
Members should include bothimport-enhancing andimport-reducing effects onthetrade ofother
Members, aslongassucheffects aresignificant.
B. Timing ofnotifications
Recommendation:
When implementing theprovisions ofparagraph 5ofAnnex B,anotification should bemade
when adraftwiththecomplete textofaproposed regulation isavailable andwhen amendments can
stillbeintroduced andcomments taken intoaccount.
C. Translation ofdocuments relating tonotifications andaddress ofbody supplying the
documents
Recommendation:
When aMember seeks acopyofadocument relating toanotification which doesnotexist
inthatMember 'sWTO working language, itwillbeadvised, onrequest, bythenotifying Member
ofother Members thathaverequested, asofthatdate,acopyofthedocument. TheMember seeking
acopy ofadocument relating toanotification maythencontact suchother Members inorder toG/SPS/W/47
Page3
determine whether thelatter areprepared toshare, onmutually agreed terms, anytranslation thatthey
haveorwillbemaking intorelevant WTO working language(s).
(a) When atranslation ofarelevant document exists orisplanned, thisfactshall be
indicated ontheWTO notification form nexttothetitleofthedocument. Ifonlya
translated summary exists, thefactthatsuchasummary isavailable shallbesimilarly
indicated.
(b) Upon receipt ofarequest fordocuments, anytranslated summaries thatexistinthe
language oftherequester or,asthecasemaybe,inaWTO working language, shall
beautomatically sentwiththeoriginal ofthedocuments requested.
(c) Members shallindicate under point 11oftheWTO notification form (point 10for
Emergency Notifications) theexact address ofthebody responsible forsupplying the
relevant documents ifthatbody isnottheenquiry point.
D. Processing ofrequests fordocumentation orinformation
Recommendation:
(a) Requests fordocumentation should contain alltheelements permitting theidentification
ofthedocuments andinparticular, theWTO notification number towhich therequests
refer. Thesame information should appear onthedocuments supplied inresponse
tosuchrequests.
(b) Anyrequest fordocumentation orinformation should beacknowledged ifitcannot
beresponded toandprocessed within fiveworking days. Ifadelay insupplying the
documentation orinformation requested isforeseen, thisshould beacknowledged to
therequester.
(c) FAX facilities should beusedtotheextent possible inresponding torequests for
documentation orinformation.
E. Handling ofcomments onnotifications
Recommendation:
(a) Each Member should notify theWTO Secretariat oftheauthority oragency (e.g.its
enquiry point) which ithasdesignated tobeincharge forhandling ofcomments
received.
(b) AMember receiving comments through thedesignated body should without further
request
(i) acknowledge thereceipt ofsuchcomments;
(ii) explain within areasonable timetoanyMember from which ithasreceived
comments, howitwillproceed inorder totakethese comments intoaccount
and,whereappropriate,provideadditionalrelevantinformationontheproposed
sanitary orphytosanitary regulations concerned; andG/SPS/W/47
Page4
(iii) provide toanyMember fromwhich ithasreceived comments, acopyofthe
corresponding sanitary orphytosanitary regulations asadopted orinformation
thatnocorresponding sanitary orphytosanitary regulations willbeadopted
forthetimebeing.
(c) Favourable consideration should begiven torequests forextension ofthecomment
period, notably where there havebeendelays inreceiving andtranslating therelevant
documents.
F. Completion offormats -Regular notifications (Annex B,Paragraph 5)
Information contained inthenotifications should beacomplete aspossible andnosection should
beleftblank. Where necessary, "notknown" or"notstated" should beindicated.
Item Description
1.Member notifying Government, including thecompetent authorities ofthe
European Community, which ismaking thenotification.
2.Agency responsible Body elaborating aproposal fororpromulgating asanitary or
phytosanitary regulation.
3.Products covered Tariff itemnumber(s) (normally HS,chapter orheading and
number) ascontained innational schedules deposited withthe
WTO. ICSnumbers maybeprovided inaddition, where
applicable. Aclear description isimportant foran
understanding ofthenotification bydelegations and
translators. Abbreviations should beavoided.
4.Titleandnumber of
pages ofthenotified
documentTitle oftheproposed oradopted sanitary orphytosanitary
regulation. Number ofpages inthenotified document.
5.Description ofcontent Anabstract oftheproposed oradopted sanitary or
phytosanitary regulation clearly indicating itscontent. A
clear description isimportant foranunderstanding ofthe
notification bydelegations andtranslators. Abbreviations
should beavoided.
6.Objective andrationale Forinstance: food safety, animal health, plant protection,
etc.
7.Existence of
international standardIfarelevant international standard doesnotexist, putacross
intheboxprovided; otherwise briefly describe howthe
proposed regulation deviates from such international
standard.G/SPS/W/47
Page5
8.Relevant documents and
language(s) inwhich
these areavailable(a)Publication where notice appears, including dateand
reference numbers;
(b)Proposal andbasic document towhich proposal refers
(with specific reference number orother identification), and
thelanguage(s) inwhich thenotified documents andany
summary ofthese areavailable;
(c)Publication inwhich proposal willappear when adopted;
(d)Whenever practicable, give reference torelevant
international standard. Ifitisnecessary tocharge for
documents supplied, theamount ofthecharge should be
indicated.
9.Proposed dateof
adoptionThedatewhen thesanitary orphytosanitary regulation is
expected tobeadopted.
10.Proposed dateofentry
intoforceThedatefrom which therequirements intheregulation are
proposed ordecided toenter intoforce.
11.Final dateforcomments
andagency orauthority
handling commentsThedate bywhich Members may submit comments in
accordance with Annex B,Paragraph 5(b) oftheSPS
Agreement. Aspecific dateshould beindicated. Anormal
timelimit forcomments onnotifications ofsixty days has
beenrecommended. AMember may, ifnecessary, however,
indicate initsnotification thatitwillproceed toimplement
theproposed measure afterforty-five daysifnocomments or
requests forextension ofthetimelimit have been received
from other Members within thattime. AnyMember which
isable toprovide atime limit beyond sixty days is
encouraged todoso.
Theagency orauthority which hasbeendesignated tohandle
thecomments should beindicated.
12.Texts available from Ifavailable from national enquiry point, putacross inthe
boxprovided. Ifavailable from another body, give its
address, telefax number and(ifavailable) E-mail address.
Suchindications should notinanywaydischarge therelevant
enquiry point ofitsresponsibilities under theprovisions of
Annex B,Paragraphs 3and4oftheSPSAgreement.G/SPS/W/47
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RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/COUNTRY
dateofdistribution
ORGANIZATION
(95-0000)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member toAgreement notifying:
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible:
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with
theWTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable):
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document:
5. Description ofcontent:
6. Objective andrationale:
7. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
8. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable:
9. Proposed date ofadoption:
10. Proposed date ofentry intoforce:
11. Final date forcomments:
Agency orauthority designated tohandle comments:
12. Texts available from: National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number andE-mail
address (ifavailable) ofother body:G/SPS/W/47
Page7
G. Completion offormats -Emergency notifications (Annex B,Paragraph 6)
Information contained inthenotification formshould beascomplete aspossible andnosection
should beleftblank. Where necessary, "notknown" or"notstated" should beindicated.
Item Description
1. Member notifying Government, including thecompetent authorities ofthe
European Community, which ismaking thenotification.
2. Agency responsible Body elaborating aproposal fororpromulgating a
sanitary orphytosanitary regulation.
3. Products covered Tariff itemnumber(s) (normally HS,chapter or
heading andnumber) ascontained innational schedules
deposited withtheWTO. ICSnumbers maybe
provided inaddition, where applicable. Aclear
description isimportant foranunderstanding ofthe
notification bydelegations andtranslators.
Abbreviations should beavoided.
4. Titleandnumber of
pages ofthenotified
documentTitle ofthe proposed oradopted sanitary or
phytosanitary regulation. Number ofpages inthe
notified document.
5. Description of
contentAnabstract oftheproposed oradopted sanitary or
phytosanitary regulation clearly indicating itscontent. A
cleardescription isimportant foranunderstanding ofthe
notification bydelegations andtranslators. Abbreviations
should beavoided.
6. Objective and
rationaleFor instance: food safety, animal health, plant
protection, etc.
7. Nature ofurgent
problem(s)Indication oftheunderlying reasons forresorting to
emergency action.
8. Existence of
international standardIfarelevant international standard doesnotexist, puta
cross intheboxprovided; otherwise briefly describe
how theproposed regulation deviates from such
international standard.G/SPS/W/47
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9. Relevant documents
andlanguage(s) in
which these are
available(a)Measure(s) taken andbasic regulation which was
modified (with specific reference number orother
identification), andthelanguage(s) inwhich thenotified
documents andanysummary ofthese areavailable;
(b)Publication inwhich regulation willappear;
(c)Whenever practicable, give reference torelevant
international standard. Ifitisnecessary tocharge for
documents supplied, theamount ofthecharge should be
indicated.
10. Dateofentry into
force andperiod of
applicationThedatefromwhich therequirements entered intoforce,
and,ifapplicable, theperiod oftimeduring which they
will apply. (Forexample: immediate entry intoforce
[date], duration oftwomonths.)
11. Texts available from
andcomments toIfavailable from national enquiry point, putacross in
theboxprovided. Ifavailable from another body, give
itsaddress, telefax number and(ifavailable) E-mail
address. Such indications should notinanyway
discharge therelevant enquiry point ofitsresponsibilities
under theprovisions ofAnnex B,Paragraphs 3and4of
theSPSAgreement.
Theagency orauthority which hasbeen designated to
handle thecomments should beindicated.G/SPS/W/47
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RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE
G/SPS/N/COUNTRY
dateofdistribution
ORGANIZATION
(95-0000)
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION OFEMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member toAgreement notifying:
Ifapplicable, name oflocal government involved:
2. Agency responsible:
3. Products covered (tariff item number(s) asspecified innational schedules deposited with the
WTO. ICSnumbers may beprovided inaddition, where applicable):
4. Title andnumber ofpages ofthenotified document:
5. Description ofcontent:
6. Objective andrationale:
7. Nature oftheurgent problem(s):
8. Aninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation does notexist [].
Ifaninternational standard, guideline orrecommendation exists, whenever possible,
identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents andlanguage(s) inwhich these areavailable:
10. Date ofentry intoforce/period ofapplication (asapplicable):
11. Texts available from/comments to:National enquiry point []oraddress, telefax number
andE-mail address (ifavailable) ofother body: