introduction workshop on transparency 18 october 2010 serra ayral counsellor agriculture and...
TRANSCRIPT
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