ABSTRACT
Two related agreements, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS), together cover the issues relating to standards in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The TBT Agreement aims to ensure that regulations, standards, testing and certification procedures, which vary from country to country, do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. The SPS Agreement aims to prevent domestic sanitary and phytosanitary standards from being trade restrictive and protectionist. It focuses on protecting human, animal and plant life and the importing country from risks arising from the entry of pests, toxins, diseases and additives (box 17.1). Under the TBT and SPS Agreements, countries are encouraged to adopt international standards, though they are given flexibility in introducing more rigid or more lax regulations. Scientific justification is required for more rigid regulations.
