1. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Andrea Spencer Coordinator, WTO/NAFTA Enquiry Point (Canada) SPS Workshop on Transparency, Geneva October 18, 2010 Practices to Facilitate and Regularize the Preparation of Notifications

2. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Outline Presentation Context/Objective Notification Practices used to regularize the preparation of notifications Preparation and Submission of Notifications in Canada Best practices to facilitate and regularize the preparation of notifications

3. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Notification Practices... What to Notify? -Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) -Mandatory labelling requirements (TBT) How to find about new or amended measures? -Review government official publications (e.g. gazette) or departmental web sites for proposed measures -Advised by regulator of proposed measures Determine which Agreement the measure falls under -SPS -TBT -Both (SPS & TBT)

4. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Notification Practices Necessary to Notify? Consider:  Whether international standard, guideline, recommendation exists or whether the content of the proposed measure is substantially the same  Effect on trade  Interest of transparency When to notify?  At an early stage when a DRAFT with the complete text of a proposed SPS measure is available, and when amendments can still be introduced and taken into account.  Well before the entry into force of the relevant measure.  In the case of an SPS measure adopted for urgent reasons, the notification must be immediately upon adoption.

5. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Preparation and Submission of Notifications in Canada… Draft regulatory proposals are published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, with Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS). Online departmental/agency proposals also capture RIAS elements. RIAS provides a clear, non-technical synthesis of information that allows the various stakeholders to understand the issue being regulated. Enables assessment of criteria for notification: –Existence of international standard / difference of content from international standard –impact of regulation on trade –countries affected by regulation –whether regulation deals with SPS measures or labelling requirements for a product/group of products (relevance under the SPS and/or TBT Agreements) Various sources can be consulted: –SPS Agreement, and relevant Committee recommendations and decisions –regulatory agency responsible for the regulation

6. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Preparation and Submission of Notifications in Canada PREPARATION: Complete notification format pursuant to recommendations cited in G/SPS/7/Rev.3 Use appropriate format: Routine, Emergency, Addendum, Revision, Corrigendum Provide clear and descriptive outline of the regulatory proposal Include URL of full text in notification format –significant reduction in requests for full text Prepare English and French notification formats SUBMISSION: Prepared notifications are sent to WTO Central Registry of Notifications (CRN) and stakeholders in one electronic transmission

7. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. Best Practices to Facilitate and Regularize the Preparation of Notifications Consistent mechanisms to learn of new or amended measures Systematic procedures to screen/assess regulatory measures Adherence to recommendations regarding use and completion of SPS formats Established service standards

8. Standards experts. Accreditation solutions. CONTACT: Andrea Spencer Coordinator, WTO/NAFTA Enquiry Point Standards Council of Canada 200-270 Albert Street Ottawa, ON K1P 6N7 Canada E-mail: aspencer@scc.ca Tel: (613) 238-3222, ext. 479 Canadian Enquiry Point: http://www.scc.ca/en/programs-services/information-resources/enquiry-point