Current and future SPS measures are potentially a constraint to the development of export markets by producers of forest products. Concerns that developing countries have about SPS measures are closely related to the way in which SPS measures are developed and implemented by importing countries (Henson and Loader, 2000: 27). There is a requirement in the SPS Agreement for all Members to take account of the special circumstances of developing countries when developing SPS measures and to permit time-limited exemptions where necessary. However, this is not always adhered to and some countries have not been permitted additional time for compliance or to make transitional arrangements.
It is therefore in the interests of developing countries to push the issue that the SPS Agreement requires consideration of the special and differential needs of developing countries in both the design and implementation of SPS measures. Some steps have been made to increase recognition of this principle, but there is some way to go in term of facilitating increased and more effective participation of developing countries in the WTO.
However, whether or not SPS regulations are adapted to respond to needs of developing country producers, there are three main areas of action that can be undertaken to improve access to markets that have been hitherto restricted on the basis of stringent SPS measures.
a) Developing skills and capacity to comply with systems and procedures
to comply with standards;
b) Improving production and marketing systems to limit risk of infestation
or infection (e.g. through implementation of HACCP systems and testing
facilities); and
c) Improving access to information on importer standards.
Thus there is a need for technical assistance that is capacity building rather than reactive, i.e. building up the ability of producers to anticipate and adapt to new standards rather than rushing to ensure compliance once standards are set.
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