   
  
G/SPS/W/314  
 
27 June 2019  
(19-4323) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
 
SOUTH AFRICA 'S PROPOSAL ON THE RO LE OF ISSBS  IN ADDRESSIN G 
SPECIFIC TRADE CONCE RNS (G/SPS/W/304 AND  G/SPS/W/304 /ADD.1)  
SUBMISSION FROM THE "THREE SISTERS ": CODEX ALIMENTARIUS , IPPC AND OIE  
The following communication, received on 26 June  2019, is being circulated at the request of Codex 
Alimentarius , IPPC and OIE. 
 
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1.  South Africa proposed that the SPS Committee Secretariat write to the International Standard 
Setting Bodies (ISSBs) , requesting them to implement Recommendation 8 : 
• Recommendation 8 : Requesting the three Sisters to analyze  the current specific trade 
concerns raised in the SPS Committee to see which of these could have been addressed by 
the use of the existing international standards . 
2.  The ISSBs would be requested to:  
• Analy ze the specific trade concerns (STCs) and to identify  those which could have been 
addressed by the use of existing international standards. The relevant ISSB will then submit 
a report to the Secretariat;  
• Upon receipt of this report from each of the three ISSBs, it is proposed that the Secretariat 
share the r eport with the Committee and organize a workshop wherein each of the "Three 
Sisters " will share its analysis of the identified STC(s).  
3.  The three ISSB s have considered this proposal  and have agreed to the following:  
• It is necessary that ISSBs remain neutral  on STCs , given that the interpretation of standards, 
guidelines and recommendations is the responsibility of each Member ; 
• The ISSBs could however provide clarification/complementary information upon request 
from WTO Members or the SPS Committee Secretaria t during SPS Committee meetings , as 
long as this does not involve interpretation of the provisions in the international s tandard ; 
• Analyzing and reporting on STCs is outside of the ISSBs ' respective mandates ; 
• This approach would require considerable staff r esources and diverse technical expertise to 
review STCs, and the three ISSBs have limited resources for such an activity.  
4.  The ISSBs remind the SPS Committee of Members' obligations regarding prior notification of 
proposed SPS measures.  
5.  The ISSBs also wish to note that ISSBs have developed standards, guidelines and 
recommendations which are freely available on the internet.  Information is available on the ISSBs ' 
websites:  
− OIE for animal health: http://www.oie.int  
− IPPC for plant health: https://www.ippc.int  
− Codex for food safety: http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius  
6.  Members are encouraged to develop their understanding of the various standards adopted by 
Codex, IPPC and OIE in order to facilitate their implementation.  
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