Introduction Introduction

Workshop on Workshop on TransparencyTransparency

18 October 201018 October 2010

Serra AyralCounsellor

Agriculture and Commodities Division

2

Why emphasis on Why emphasis on transparency?transparency?

• Affects market access• Enhanced clarity, predictability• Signal for a functioning system

3

SPS transparency SPS transparency provisionsprovisions

Article 7, Annex B, Article 7, Annex B, G/SPS/7/Rev.3G/SPS/7/Rev.3

• Notifications • Designation of notification

authority • Establishment of enquiry point• Publication of regulations

4

Notification authorityNotification authority

Central government authorityresponsible for the

implementation ofnotification procedures

- Only one!

5

Enquiry PointEnquiry Point

Provides answers/documentation to all reasonable questions from

interested Members

– Can be same as notification authority

– Can have more than one but clearly define responsibilities

6

Enquiry Point: Enquiry Point: Beyond ObligationsBeyond Obligations

• Collect/disseminate SPS documents and notifications

• Alert other government agencies, private sector

• Coordinate comments on other countries’ notifications

7

Publication of Publication of regulationsregulations

PromptlyPromptlyWhen?When?

allow reasonable interval between publ. and entry

into force - 6 months except in urgent circumstances

allow reasonable interval between publ. and entry

into force - 6 months except in urgent circumstances

8

Useful toolsUseful tools

• SPS IMS (http://spsims.wto.org)• Mentoring (G/SPS/W/217)• Distribution of SPS docs by e-mail• Procedural Step-by-Step Manual• WTO Secretariat

• New on-line notification submission system

9

Why SPS IMS?Why SPS IMS?

Since 1995 > 10,000 SPS notifications > 2,00 other SPS documents > 300 specific trade concerns

(STCs) Enquiry Point (EP)/Notification

Authority (NA) info changing frequently

10

SPS IMS – Examples of SPS IMS – Examples of FunctionsFunctions

- Notification summary sheets

– Product- or region-specific searches on notifications

– Theme-specific searches on Committee documents, e.g. on regionalization

– Queries on specific trade concerns related to specific Members, regions or products

Possible to export all results to Excel

11

MentoringMentoring

• 19 Members matched with 9 mentors• Questionnaire• Some difficulties to get started: technical,

procedural, staff turnover• Lessons learned, recommendations:

– objectives and timelines– proactivity in identifying needs– priorities, sensitization at national level– sharing of mentoring experience

12

Useful toolsUseful tools

• SPS IMS (http://spsims.wto.org)• Mentoring (G/SPS/W/217)• Distribution of SPS docs by e-mail• Procedural Step-by-Step Manual• WTO Secretariat

• New on-line notification submission system