Standards and Trade Development Facility Implementing SPS measures to facilitate safe trade Marlynne Hopper TF Agreement, Annex D+ event, 9 Nov. 2015, WTO

Research in Southeast Asia and Southern Africa: How are SPS measures implemented in practice? Focus on SPS controls for specific products (Article 8 / Annex C of SPS Agreement) Are there transaction costs that can be reduced without compromising health objectives? What are good practices to ensure health protection, while minimizing transaction costs? No direct link to WTO TFA – opportunity to enhance dialogue and leverage additional funds to improve SPS border management

SPS-related procedural obstacles to trade Challenges Complex and lengthy procedures Excessive document requirements Limited information Multiple inspections Little coordination between border agencies No complaints / appeal procedures Arbitrariness, unpredictability Consequences More controls than justifiable Longer than necessary waiting times Uncertainty Increased costs for traders, sometimes also for government

Facilitating Safe Trade: Feedback from some of the countries involved Lao PDR “very practical information to support implementation of the SPS Legal Reform Project and NTM Project under Multi-Donor Trust Fund managed by World Bank” In Zambia, the Plant Quarantine & Phytosanitary Service is: Strengthening collaboration with Customs Publishing procedures, application forms, fees, etc. online Considering how to implement risk-based inspections

Safe Trade Solutions* How are Chile, Peru and Colombia improving the implementation of SPS measures to enhance health protection and speed up trade? Better coordination between different SPS agencies and with Customs Streamlining measures Joint inspections More transparency Including SPS controls in national single windows * See: and