40 likes | 125 Vues
Explore concrete actions to improve the use of transparency provisions in trade agreements at national, regional, and international levels, focusing on implementing standards and enhancing communication. Discuss challenges, benefits, and strategies to enhance transparency effectively.
E N D
Concrete actions to enhance the use and usefulness of transparency provisions • Actions by the Committee • Revision of G/SPS/7/Rev.2 and G/SPS/33 • Caveats of some Members on agreeing changes at this meeting • Actions by the Secretariat • Semi-annual implementation overviews (as per G/SPS/GEN/804) • Consideration of additional factors: date of adoption, date of entry into force, deviation from international standard • On-line submission of notifications to WTO IMS • Secretariat background paper on benefits of transparency – and SPS as a whole.
Concrete actions to enhance the use and usefulness of transparency provisions • Actions at national level • Merits acknowledged of private sector consultation and national SPS Committee mechanisms • But, no “one size fits all” solution • Importance of using international standards as a point of departure for legislation and clear guidance on “significant impact on trade” • Difficulties in identification of deviation from international standards and provision of scientific justification • Suggestion to share Members’ experiences with systems to filter notifications e.g. e-mail alert systems etc • Possible role that systems like IPFSAPH can play to assist national authorities filter information
Concrete actions to enhance the use and usefulness of transparency provisions • Actions at bilateral/plurilateral level • Merits of a mentoring system recognized • How transparent should the offers of transparency assistance be? Is TBT questionnaire G/TBT/16 a model? • Actions at a regional level • Advantages of using regional bodies e.g. regional PPOs • Drawback: regional organizations not practitioners • Actions by international standard setting bodies • Noted the need for participation and mechanisms to facilitate e.g. Trust Funds • Possible involvement by private sector in regional meetings on standards development by ISSBs