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Introduction Introduction
Workshop on Workshop on TransparencyTransparency
18 October 201018 October 2010
Serra AyralCounsellor
Agriculture and Commodities Division
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Why emphasis on Why emphasis on transparency?transparency?
• Affects market access• Enhanced clarity, predictability• Signal for a functioning system
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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
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Notification authorityNotification authority
Central government authorityresponsible for the
implementation ofnotification procedures
- Only one!
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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