All SPS measures that have been adopted have to be published promptly, so that interested Members can become acquainted with them. Except in urgent situations, Members have to allow a reasonable period of time between the publication of a measure and its entry into force. This is to allow exporters, particularly developing countries, to adapt their products and methods of production to the new requirements.
At the Doha Ministerial Conference in 2001, Members decided that normally Members shall allow 6 months between the publication of a regulation and its entry into force. However, the entry into force of measures which liberalize trade should not be unnecessarily delayed (WT/MIN(01)/17).
To find out how this article has been applied in dispute settlement see relevant findings in the
Variety Testing case.
