Editorial
This hear has not ended but we are already focusing our challenges for the next years to come. This is due to the fact that during 2011 we have seen a diversity of important events which will also have an impact on the work in the SPS sector. Read more..

Summary of the latest SPS Committee meeting
The Committee discussed various topics during informal and formal meetings. Further discussions took place on the ad hoc- consultations and the third review. Regarding the "Private Standards" the SPS Committee has endorsed to provide a definition on the SPS related private standards.
A growing number of specific trade concerns were raised in the formal meeting of this Committee on which EU used this opportunity to raise several EU SPS market access concerns such as BSE- related restrictions with specific reference to the bans imposed by China, Japan and South-Korea, as well as stating the EU expectation procedures in Australia and the US are completed rapidly. Read more...

WTO Trade Policy Review Mechanism
WTO surveys the national trade policies of WTO members. The members are reviewed on a regular basis and the reports as well as comments and questions are published on the WTO web-page. Within the SPS area, EU presents comments and questions when trading partners are reviewed. EU focuses on transparency  and implementation of international standards. The scientific justification for deviating from the international standards may be requested. Read more...

Export of plants and plant products
International standards are a key element in avoiding trade disruptions, and the guidelines from IPPC have proven useful not only for different aspects of trade in plant products but also more generally for any kind of product transported in or wooden packaging.The new guidelines, still in the drafting, on movement on sea and air containers are eagerly awaited and should prove as useful as the guideline on wood packing material. Read more...

USA new import regime for plants, NAPPRA
EU has expressed serious concerns on the new import regime for plants, both when the regime was introduced, and most recently when the first list of plants, regulated within this regime, was published.EU is concerned that the NAPPRA regulation may create serious barriers to trade, in particular as the procedure for conducting a Pest Risk Analysis has proven burdensome. Read more...

Import permits in Ukraine
For animal products, import permits are still of great concern. For plant products the new Ukraininan plant health regulation includes phytosanitary permits in addition to a requirement for phytosanitary certificates. Read more...

Food additive seminar in Beijing, China
Food additive seminar was organised on 15-16 November in Beijing. Approximately 70 Chinese officials, representatives from Member States and third countries as well as industry participated for the two-day conference under the EU-China Trade Project. Read more...