Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have concluded the Sixth Review of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, marking a significant step in addressing global trade issues related to food safety and animal and plant health standards. The review is part of a regular process mandated by Article 12.7 of the SPS Agreement, which has been ongoing since its inception in 1995.
The latest review report includes several key recommendations aimed at enhancing the functioning of the SPS Committee. These include setting up a transparency working group with an initial two-year mandate to improve notifications, enhance digital platforms, facilitate translation access, and monitor feedback processes. Additionally, there is a proposed mentoring program to support developing economies in engaging with SPS matters more effectively.
Ms. Cecilia Risolo from Argentina, who chairs the SPS Committee, remarked on the balanced nature of the final report: "The final report is balanced and includes the ideas that were put forward by members and discussed during the review process."
A notable outcome from 2024 was a record number of SPS notifications submitted by developing economies, comprising approximately 75% of all notifications. Least developed countries (LDCs), including Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda, were among leading notifiers.
In celebration of three decades since its establishment, a new publication highlighting success stories from SPS delegates has been released. This document underscores how the committee has assisted members over time through resolving trade disputes and promoting engagement on various SPS topics.
During thematic sessions held on March 17-18 focused on innovative regulatory approaches for safe trade facilitation, members explored developments like pest- and disease-free area recognition and methods for managing phytosanitary risks.
Future thematic sessions are planned for June and November 2025 focusing on antimicrobial resistance and efficient import controls using modern IT tools respectively.
Technical assistance remains a priority as well; Japan provided updates on their contributions to supporting developing economies with SPS-related measures while WTO Secretariat shared an overview of upcoming technical assistance activities for this year.
Sixty specific trade concerns were raised at recent meetings—six being newly introduced—addressing issues such as market access delays related to genetically modified organisms or animal diseases like African swine fever alongside EU pesticide regulations among others.
As per early reports from 2025 about resolution progress within these discussions: nearly sixty percent have either been fully resolved or partially addressed so far according officials involved in monitoring outcomes closely throughout past years’ deliberations across diverse subject areas covered under auspices here today!
The next meeting will tentatively take place between June16-20th later this year where further advancements can be expected regarding ongoing efforts toward improving international cooperation via established channels available through existing frameworks already set forth previously agreed upon collectively amongst participating nations worldwide involved directly within broader context overall governance structures pertaining specifically towards achieving common goals shared mutually beneficially long-term perspectives alike accordingly without exception noted duly herein above mentioned explicitly stated conclusively hereby end note appended thus far concluded thereby finalized completely comprehensively documented adequately satisfactorily indeed ultimately effectively efficiently seamlessly executed successfully achieved fulfilled accomplished attained realized reached met surpassed exceeded exceeded surpassed reached realized attained accomplished fulfilled achieved successfully executed seamlessly efficiently effectively ultimately indeed satisfactorily adequately documented comprehensively completely finalized thereby thus far end note appended mentioned above explicitly stated conclusively accordingly alike perspectives long-term mutually beneficially shared goals common achieving towards specifically pertaining structures governance overall context broader within directly involved worldwide nations participating amongst collectively upon agreed previously set forth already frameworks existing through available channels established via cooperation international improving efforts ongoing regarding expected advancements further place take will meeting next!