   
  
G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1/Add.1  
16 December  2021 
(21-9441) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
WTO SPS COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON APPROVAL PROCEDURES  PROCESS  
SUBMISSION FROM CANADA  AND PARAGUAY  
Addendum  
The following communication, received on  14 December  2021, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of Canada  and Paraguay . 
 
_______________  
 
 
As co-steward s, Canada  and Paraguay  submit the following document outlining the details and 
process of the SPS Committee Worki ng Group on Approval Procedures, which was extended  for one 
year at the November 2021 SPS Committee.  
1  WORKING GROUP TITLE  
1.1.  SPS Committee Working Group (WG) on Approva l Procedures  
2  LANGUAGE  
2.1.  The process and liaison with WG participants will be conducted in English. The Secretariat may 
assist with translation of comments and proposals, if requested.  
3  FORMAT  
3.1.  The WG will primarily work electronically. Intersessionally, the WG may meet virtually as 
required.  The WG will also meet on the margins of the SPS Committee meetings, in person, virtually, 
or through a hybrid approach depending on whether the SPS Committee is meeting in person, 
virtually, or takin g place through a hybrid approach.  
4  PARTICIPATION AND STEWARD S 
4.1.  The WG is open to all Members and Observers, those interested in participating submitted their 
contact email address to the Secretariat.  
4.2.  Canada and Paraguay  will act as neutral steward s. 
5  DESCRIP TION OF WORK  
5.1.  The WG will explore the following topics:  
(1) Key challenges of approval procedures that impact international trade and that the 
Committee should seek to address ; 
(2) Principles of approval procedures that facilitate international trade while meeting the 
importing Member's appropriate level of sanitary or phytosanitary protection and the 
Committee's role in highlighting these principles ; 
(3) Tools available and best practices to enhance the implementation of the obligations of the 
SPS Agreement as they apply to approval procedures ; G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
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  (4) Other topics raised by WG participants over the course of the WG.  
5.2.  Following the examination of topics 1 -4, the WG will give consideration to the following topic:  
(5) Possible future work of the Committee on approval procedure s. 
6  DURATION OF THE WORKING GROUP  
6.1.  The WG was extended for one year and will conclude at the November 202 2 SPS Committee 
meeting following three rounds of deliberations (over three SPS Committee meetings) unless the 
WG and Committee agree to extend the timeframe of the WG.  
7  REPORTING TO COMMITTEE  
7.1.  The steward s of the WG will report on its work to the informal an d/or formal SPS Committee 
meetings to keep the Committee informed of its deliberations.  
7.2.  Following the conclusion of its deliberations, the WG will submit a written report to the SPS 
Committee.  
8  TIMELINES AND NEXT STEPS1 
8.1.  The deadlines suggested for the prop osed process are as follows. If the timeframe of the WG 
is extended, a revised set of timelines and next steps will be issued.  
8.2.  As appropriate, the stewards will identify key themes and concepts, develop questions for 
consideration by the WG, and identify i nformation gaps.  
8.1  Fourth  round (period after the November 2021 SPS Committee until the March 202 2 
SPS Committee):2 
(1) WG participant will submit written comments , through the Secretariat, no later 
than 20 December 202 1; 
(2) The steward s will develop a written document consolidating the input received, which will be 
circulated to all participants of the WG by 14 January 202 2; 
(3) The WG will meet virtually intersessionally  on 7 February 2022 to discuss:  
a. Key challenges of approval procedures that impact international trade and that the 
Committee should seek to address;  
b. Other agenda items, as required . 
(4) The steward s will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no  later than 2 5 February 2022 ; 
(5) Meeting of the WG on the margins of the March 2022  SPS Committee meeting, 
where WG  participants will discuss:  
a. Key challenges of approval procedures that impact international trade and 
that the Committee should seek to address;  
b. Other agenda items, as required . 
(6) The steward s will report on the work of the WG at the informal March 2022 SPS Committee 
to provide the Membership the opportunity to discuss the work of the WG ; 
(7) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at the informal SPS Committee 
at the formal March 2022 SPS Committee, as appropriate.  
8.2  Fifth  round (period after the March 2022  SPS Committee until the June  2022  
SPS Committee):2 
(1) If necessary, the steward s will circulate a revised set of deadlines for the WG following the 
March 2022 SPS Committee meeting ; 
(2) The steward s will incorporate the input received during the WG meeting on the margins of 
the SPS Committee meeting and during the informal and formal March 2022 SPS Committee 
 
1 Note that timelines and next steps could be revised by the WG as appropriate.  
2 The WG may meet virtually intersessionally, as required.  G/SPS/W/328/Rev.1/Add.1  
 
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  meeting. The steward s will prepare a revised document, which will be circulated to all 
participants of the WG no later than 8 April 2022; 
(3) WG participants will submit written proposals and comments to the steward s, 
through the Secretariat, no later than 22 April  2022 ; 
(4) The steward s will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 6 May  2022; 
(5) The WG will meet virtually inter sessionally on 13 May 2022 to discuss:  
a. Principles of approval procedures that facilitate international trade while 
meeting the importing Member's appropriate level of sanitary or 
phytosanitary protection and the Committee's role in highlighting these 
principles;  
b. Other agenda items, as required . 
(6) The stewards will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 30 May 2022;  
(7) Meeting of t he WG on the margins of the June  2022 SPS Committee meeting, where 
WG participants wil l discuss:  
a. Principles of approval procedures that facilitate international trade while 
meeting the importing Member's appropriate level of sanitary or 
phytosanitary protection and the Committee's role in highlighting these 
principles;  
b. Other agenda items, as required . 
(8) The steward s will report on the wor k of the WG at the informal June  2022 SPS Committee 
to provide the Membership the opportunity to discuss the work of the WG ; 
(9) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at the informal SPS Committee 
at the formal June  2022 SPS Committee, as appropriate.  
8.3  Sixth  round (period a fter the June  2022  SPS Committee until the November 2022  
SPS Committee):2 
(1) If necessary, the steward s will circulate a revised set of deadlines for the WG following the 
June 2022 SPS Committee meeting ; 
(2) The steward s will incorporate the input received during  the WG meeting on the margins of 
the SPS Committee meeting and during the inform al and formal June  2022 SPS Committee 
meeting. The steward s will prepare a revised document, which will be circulated to all 
partic ipants of the WG no later than 8  July 2022; 
(3) WG participants will submit written proposals and comments to the steward s, 
through the Secretariat, no later than 22 July  2022 ; 
(4) The stewards will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 5 August 2022;  
(5) The WG will meet virtually intersessionally on 1 6 September 2022 to discuss:  
a. Consider need for additional tools and best practices to enhance the 
implementation of the obligations of the SPS Agreement as they apply to 
approval procedures ; 
b. Other agenda items, as required . 
(6) The steward s will prepare a revised document based on the input and comments received, 
which will be circulated to all participants of the WG no later than 3 October  2022; 
(7) Meeting of the WG on the margins of the November 2022  SPS Committee meeting, 
where WG participants will discuss  
a. Possible future work of the Committee on approval procedures;  
b. The status of the WG;  
c. Other agenda items, as required . 
(8) The steward s will report on the work of the WG at the informal November 2022 
SPS Committee. The Membership will discuss the work of the WG, including whether the WG 
will conclude or be extended ; 
(9) The steward s will report on the work of the WG and discussion at the informal SPS Comm ittee 
and at the formal November 2022 SPS Committee, as appropriate. The Committee will 
decide whether the WG will conclude or be extended.  
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