Agriculture food and safety
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement
A new booklet launched on 27 July highlights strong engagement from WTO members at all levels of development in transparency and prevention of trade disputes. The information contained in the booklet is based on the 2020 review of members’ implementation of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the “SPS Agreement”).
The WTO Agreements Series: Agriculture, 3nd Edition (2016)
This new edition provides an introduction to the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture outlining its key principles the work of the Agriculture Committee and how disputes have interpreted WTO law on agriculture. The publication includes the full text of the Agriculture Agreement as well as the decisions taken on agriculture at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference. A frequently asked questions section provides a handy overview of the Agriculture Agreement and the issues covered by it. The publication also provides an update on agriculture negotiations at the WTO. This publication forms part of the WTO Agreements Series a set of compact booklets on selected WTO agreements. Other publications in the series include Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade.
Trade and Food Standards
Co-published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
The WTO Secretariat has prepared this booklet to assist public understanding of the SPS Agreement it concerns the application of food safety and animal and plant health regulations. The first section of the booklet presents the basic structure of WTO agreements; the second looks at the key features of the SPS Agreement; the third addresses a number of frequently-asked questions; and the fourth is the legal text of the agreement.
Acuerdo sobre la aplicación de medidas sanitarias y fitosanitarias
En un nuevo folleto presentado el 27 de julio se destaca el firme compromiso de los Miembros de la OMC en todos los niveles de desarrollo con la transparencia y la prevención de diferencias comerciales. La información contenida en el folleto se basa en el examen de 2020 de la aplicación por los Miembros del Acuerdo sobre la Aplicación de Medidas Sanitarias y Fitosanitarias (el “Acuerdo MSF”).
Accord sur les mesures sanitaires et phytosanitaires
Une nouvelle brochure présentée le 27 juillet souligne le ferme engagement des Membres de l’OMC quel que soit leur niveau de développement en faveur de la transparence et de la prévention des différends commerciaux. Les renseignements contenus dans cette brochure sont fondés sur l’examen de la mise en œuvre par les Membres de l’Accord sur l’application des mesures sanitaires et phytosanitaires (Accord SPS) réalisé en 2020.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Agricultural products worth over US$ 1765 billion were traded in 2013. WTO rules help to ensure that these products are traded safely and that health protection measures are not used as an excuse for protecting domestic producers. This brochure produced to mark the WTO’s 20th anniversary looks into the key provisions of the Agreement and the work of the SPS Committee.
Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement
Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement The Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement aims to ensure that regulations standards testing and certification procedures followed by WTO members do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. Annual Review of TBT Agreement The WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade collects data on an annual basis on the implementation of the TBT Agreement. The information in this brochure is based on the 2022 review.
Accord sur les obstacles techniques au commerce
Accord sur les obstacles techniques au commerce L’Accord sur les obstacles techniques au commerce (OTC) vise à faire en sorte que les règlements les normes et les procédures d’essai et de certification appliqués par les Membres de l’OMC ne créent pas d’obstacles non nécessaires au commerce. Examen annuel de l’Accord OTC Le Comité des obstacles techniques au commerce de l’OMC recueille chaque année des données sur la mise en oeuvre de l’Accord OTC. Les renseignements contenus dans la présente brochure sont basés sur l’examen de 2022.
Implementing the WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference marks a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies which are a key factor in the widespread depredation of the world’s fish stocks. Implementing the new disciplines will present challenges for many developing country members especially least-developed countries. The objective of this report is to examine existing bilateral and multilateral assistance in support of sustainable fisheries including how this may help countries meet obligations under the new Agreement.
Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio
Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio El Acuerdo sobre Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio tiene por objeto velar por que los reglamentos las normas y los procedimientos de prueba y certificación aplicados por los Miembros de la OMC no creen obstáculos innecesarios al comercio. Examen anual del Acuerdo OTC El Comité de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio de la OMC recopila anualmente datos sobre la aplicación del Acuerdo OTC. La información que figura en este folleto se basa en el examen de 2022.
Illicit trade in food and food fraud
International trade in food has helped to reduce global poverty and hunger. However illicit trade in food and food fraud undermine the global food system and endanger public health. This publication looks into the challenges of combating illicit practices such as smuggling and counterfeiting. Contributors examine the topic from a variety of perspectives discussing how best to address illegal food trade and the role the WTO could play.
Leveraging Global Partnerships to Implement the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies aims to enhance the sustainability of fisheries resources by prohibiting some of the most harmful types of fisheries subsidies. Implementation of the Agreement will enhance fisheries sustainability which in turn will make an important contribution to strengthening global food security. This report highlights the importance of international collaboration in assisting developing and least developed country (LDC) members in overcoming the challenges associated with implementing the Agreement.
The Benefits Of Taking Part
Part I described the system of food standards and trade rules created by members for members. With such a system in place what is then required to keep it working and fit for purpose? And how can members take advantage of the benefits it has to offer?
A Dynamic System
Methods of production and processing as well as the paths that food travels along from farm to fork are continuously evolving. The standards world must be ready to adjust to ensure that food trade can continue to flow smoothly. Stakeholders will need to be prepared able to pick up the signals that change is taking place and to steer their national frameworks accordingly.
Executive summary
This publication explains how international food safety standards are set through the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) Food Standards Programme – the Codex Alimentarius Commission – and how these standards are applied in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).
Introduction
The annual value of trade in agricultural products has grown almost three-fold over the past decade largely in emerging economies and developing countries reaching USD 1.7 trillion. Over the past two decades the reduction in tariffs through global and regional trade agreements has provided greater opportunities for the expansion of global food trade. However in order to trade internationally and access markets for high-value products producers must be able to meet food standards. Governments apply food standards to ensure that food is safe and meets quality and labelling requirements. The use of international food standards worldwide helps reduce trade costs by making trade more transparent and efficient allowing food to move more smoothly between markets.
The Institutional Framework
Trade can be more complicated than we think. What happens when two countries define the same product differently or if they set out different criteria to check that a product is safe? Let us think for example of the inconvenience as a traveller in havin 15 different types of electrical outlet plugs in the world or the enormous infrastructure investment required for train cargo and passengers to travel across the border between two countries that have different track gauge. Then consider the benefits of being able to plug in and use a USB key with any computer worldwide or the advantages of standard cables standard operating systems or the standard size of a credit card.
Acknowledgements
This publication Trade and Food Standards has been jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).