SPS transparency group holds first meeting; members review record number of trade concerns

Working group on transparency

Fernando Catalán (Chile) and Sally Griffin (New Zealand), acting as stewards of the new Transparency Working Group (TWG), reported on the preliminary work they conducted with the aim of identifying members' priorities and gathering ideas on addressing SPS issues. These include improving members' SPS notifications, tracking how comments on notifications are taken into account, and examining possible enhancements to the ePing SPS&TBT Platform.  Representatives from SPS national notification authorities and enquiry points attended the meeting.

Based on the results of a survey completed by members in advance of the meeting, the stewards presented a proposed two-year work plan for feedback.  They said they would circulate a revised work plan by early December, taking into account the feedback received. Members were also invited to submit written proposals on the priority themes identified in the survey.

Also relevant to the TWG is a project being funded by the Standards and Trade Development Facility and implemented by the WTO in five African countries. It aims to increase the uptake of ePing, improve transparency and regulatory coordination on SPS and technical barriers to trade (TBT) measures, and support technological improvements to the platform."

The next meeting of the TWG is scheduled for 3 February 2026.

Mentoring system

The Committee discussed the new SPS mentoring system established to assist developing and least developed country (LDC) members with respect to transparency and engagement on SPS matters.  A pilot phase was launched in June,  with five mentee/mentor relationships established for knowledge-sharing, peer learning and engagement on SPS-related issues, including in the context of South-South cooperation. 

Several of the members involved as mentee or mentor (Belize, Canada, the European Union, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan,  Tunisia and the United Kingdom) took the floor to express appreciation and support for the programme. Based on the results of this pilot phase, the Committee will consider whether to continue and possibly scale up the mentoring system after June 2026.  The programme implements a recommendation from the Sixth Review of the SPS Agreement.

Thematic sessions

On 3-4 November the Committee held a thematic session on science-based SPS import controls to facilitate safe trade moderated by Knut Berdal (Norway). The recordings of the session are available on the dedicated webpage for the event. The session was based on a proposal submitted by the European Union. 

The discussions focused on how to better understand import controls, including new tools and developments, and opportunities for trade and the economy. Discussions also covered how members may improve import controls in their own jurisdiction and how the SPS Committee could continue its work on import controls. The session was moderated by Norway, which provided an oral report on the outcome discussions at the subsequent formal Committee meeting.

On 30 September, the Committee held a thematic session on special and differential treatment (S&DT) moderated by Daniel Lim (Singapore).Recordings of the session are available on the event's dedicated webpage.  The session was based on a proposal submitted by the G90 group of developing and least-developed country members. The event provided an opportunity for members to share experiences on the operationalization of the S&DT and technical assistance provisions of the SPS Agreement and to enhance members' understanding on this matter.  The session was moderated by Singapore, which provided an oral report on the outcome discussions at the subsequent formal Committee meeting.

Specific trade concerns

Members raised 71 specific trade concerns (STCs) at the SPS Committee meeting, a record number.  Eleven of the STCs were raised for the first time.

The new STCs included concerns related to Ecuador's non-application of disease-free areas recognition for African swine fever to which different sanitary import conditions can apply, Australia's market opening delays for pork products and suspension of beef and beef offal imports in Thailand. Other concerns covered Saudi Arabia's delay in the listing of fishery establishments, Viet Nam's delay in the listing of establishments for the export of fishery products, Mexico's delay in reauthorizing shrimp imports, Indonesia's pathogen-free certificate and testing requirement for frozen shrimp and the relisting of delisted seafood processing units by the United Kingdom.

Concerns with limitations on authorization of inspection establishments by Panama, restrictions on egg products in Guatemala, and Mexico's exclusion from the European Union's list of countries free from foot and mouth disease were also raised as new STCs.

A list of the STCs discussed is available here.

Animal diseases

The European Union once again raised concerns with the application of restrictions in relation to African swine fever, avian influenza, and foot and mouth disease, which it said were inconsistent with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards.  The EU in particular called for more targeted and proportionate application of such restrictions. A WOAH official noted difficulties among national authorities in assessing conformity to WOAH standards. Improving data quality and transparency on SPS regulations would be beneficial to both WOAH and trading partners, she added.

Information from Codex, IPPC and WOAH on relevant activities

Representatives from the Codex Alimentarius, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the WOAH - the so-called "three sister organizations" - provided updates to the Committee on relevant activities in their relevant areas of expertise.  The respective reports of the three organizations are available here, here and here.

STDF update and Side Event on Innovations to Address Cadmium Challenges in Cocoa Trade

Several members welcomed an STDF event on 6 November, which shared results and lessons from an external evaluation of two regional STDF projects in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The projects piloted innovative approaches to tackle cadmium challenges affecting cocoa trade, such as difficulties with sampling and laboratory testing, and lack of regional coordination and aligned standard operating procedures, among other things, and helping producers comply with Codex standards and maintain market access. They demonstrated the importance of targeted investments to address trade challenges, protect public health and promote inclusive growth. They also highlighted how the innovations are being sustained and scaled up. See the STDF website for more information. 

The STDF Secretariat updated the Committee on the implementation of its 2025-2030 Strategy, including upcoming STDF events, a new Briefing on Remote Audit and Inspection, a Scaling Case Study, and ongoing work under close to 50 STDF projects and project preparation grants.    

Next meeting

The next regular meeting of the Committee is tentatively scheduled for 11-13 March 2026.