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 pro-
cedures, 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.
