Transcript SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY AGREEMENT OF WTO

SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY
AGREEMENT OF WTO
by
AMBROSE CHINEKE
(DIRECTOR PLANT QUARANTINE)
NIGERIA AGRICULTURAL QUARAMTINE SERVICE
Sanitary (Human and Animal Health) and Phytosanitary
(Plant Health) Agreement of the WTO
It is the international agreement on
standards and regulations governing the
movement and trade in agriculture
commodities aimed at applying food safety
and protecting the health of humans, animal
and plant without unduly restricting trade in
food, feeds, plants and animals and their
products. The agreement is domiciled with
the World Trade Organisation.
Basic Rules of SPS
The agreement on the application of SPS measures in
setting out the basic rules for food safety, animal and
plant health allows the following:Allows countries to set their own standards.
That the regulations must be based on science or
scientific justification.
Be applied only to the extent necessary to protect
human, animal or plant life or health.
The standards of member countries should not arbitrarily
or unjustifiably discriminate between countries where
identified or similar condition prevail.
Member countries are encouraged to use international
standards, guidelines and recommendations where they
exist.
SPS Triangle
Food Safety (Codex = CAC)
Trade
(SPS/WTO)
Plant Health
(IPPC)
Animal Health
(OIE)
International Standards Setting Bodies
IPPC – International Plant Protection Organisation
CAC – Codex Alimentarius Commission
OIE – Office International des Epizooties also known as World Animal Health
Organisation
SPS/WTO – Sanitary and PhytosanitaryAgreement of the World Trade
Organisation
Key Features of SPS
All countries are expected to apply measures that ensure
that –
• Food is safe for consumers
• Prevent the spread of pests and diseases of animals and
plants across international boundaries.
SPS Measures ensure that • Products come or sourced from disease-free areas
• Inspection of agricultural products
• Specific treatments or processing of products are applied
• Setting of allowable maximum levels of pesticides residues
or permitted use of food additives or preservatives
• Same measures or standards or rules for domestic
products coming from other countries.
Cardinal Principles of SPS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Protection not protectionism
Justification of measures
International standards
Adapting to conditions
Alternative measures
Risk assessment
Transparency
Protection not Protectionism
SPS Measures may result in restrictions on trade to ensure food
safety, animal and plant health protection.
However, SPS restrictions must not be applied to shield domestic
producers from economic competition
International Standards
SPS agreement encourages governments to national SPS measures
consistent
with
international
standards,
guidelines
and
recommendation. This process is often referred to as “harmonization.”
WTO does not develop standards. But most members participate in
the development of these standards in other international bodies (e.g.
IPPC, Codex, OIE).
Justification of Measures
SPS Agreement, while permitting governments to maintain appropriate
SPS protection, requires that measure be applied to ensure food
safety and animal and plant health.
Adapting to Conditions
Due to difference in climate, existing pests and diseases
or food safety conditions, it is not always appropriate to
impose the same SPS requirement on food, animal and
plant products coming from different countries. Therefore,
SPS measure, vary depending on the country of origin.
Government must also recognise disease-free areas
which may not correspond with political boundaries.
Alternative Measures
An acceptable level of risk can often be achieved in alternative ways.
Among the alternative government should select those which are not
more trade restrictive than required to meet their health objective.
Furthermore, if another country can show that the measures it applies
provide the same level of health protection, these should be accepted
as equivalent.
Risk Assessment
Countries must establish SPS measures on the basis of an
appropriate assessment of the actual risks involved. Government are
encouraged to use systematic risk assessment.
Transparency
Governments are required to notify other countries of any new or
changed SPS requirement which affect trade, and set up offices
(called Enquiry Points) to respond to requests for more information or
new existing measure.