1. Workshop on Transparency - afternoon session English Group 1

2. Actions by the Committee
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.

3. Actions at national level
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. alert systems etc
Possible role that systems like IPFSAPH can play to assist national authorities filter information

4. Actions at bilateral/plurilateral level
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