The 2012 Wrap-up Meeting on the Official Review of Trade-related Technical Measures on Pesticides was held in Beijing from December 6th to 8th, 2012. The Meeting summarized the review comments notified by WTO-TBT/SPS in 2012, analyzed latest developments and emerging issues, and planned the work priorities for 2013.
In his speech, Ye Jiming, Deputy Director-General of
ICAMA, highly appreciated the hard work of Chinese experts participated in the review, and approved all the work done in the past eight years. He also called for greater attention to the significance of official review, timely wrap-up of experience, and greater influence of review results. It is essential to pool the technical capacity in addressing foreign trade-related technical measures, have more communication with trade chambers, establish effective early-warning mechanisms, and reinforce training and exchanges for a multi-player platform.
It was reported that by the end of November 2012, China reviewed 182 notifications out of the 256 notifications of trade-related technical measures on pesticides from 18 countries (or territories), and put forward review comments to 16 SPS and 64 pesticide MRLs. China also notified 2 batches of MRLs, and revised 11 MRLs of 9 pesticides based on the 65 review comments received from the United States and other countries.
Experts were invited to present on how to review WTO-TBT/SPS measures and the notifications on MRL-related SPS measures. The Meeting also reported the latest developments in review work on trade-related technical measures of all agricultural fields.
Xue Zhihong, Consultant of Standards Division of Bureau of Quality and Safety Supervision for Agro-products of MOA, and nearly 30 experts from Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China Agriculture University, Shenzhen CIQ, China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce, Plant Protection Institute of CAAS, Shandong ICA, Hebei ICA, Guangdong ICA, AQSIQ, WTO-TBT/SPS focal point at MOA and ICAMA also attended the Meeting.(Source: Residue Control Division, ICAMA)