Understanding the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Author: Ge Zhirong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is an important agreement of the World Trade Organization concerning trade in goods among its members. The negotiations on the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures began alongside the negotiations on the Agreement on Agriculture, with the initial goal of "reducing the negative impact of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations on agricultural trade." It can be said that the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is a derivative of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. Its creation was due to the difficulty of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in adapting to the technical complexity, regional differences, and national-specific characteristics of sanitary and phytosanitary measures. Its purpose is to prevent the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of member countries from creating unnecessary barriers to international trade, facilitating and liberalizing international trade, and conducting international coordination in the formulation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures based on the standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the International Plant Protection Convention. It aims to curb trade protectionism primarily manifested in discriminatory sanitary and phytosanitary measures, maximally reducing and eliminating technical barriers to trade in international trade, and serving the globalization of the world economy. Our country has completed all legal procedures for joining the World Trade Organization. A correct understanding of the relevant agreements is the prerequisite for fulfilling member obligations and enjoying member rights. Therefore, we have compiled relevant materials of the World Trade Organization, hoping to help all sectors of society understand, master, and apply the relevant agreements.