The WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)

World Trade Organization (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Das SPS Agreement der WTO setzt die Guidelines des Codex Alimentarius (Liste von freiwilligen Richtlinien zur Lebensmittelsicherheit) als Referenzmasßstab im internationalen Lebensmittelhandel fest.

Dies soll bezwecken, dass die Richtlinien des Codexes durch Handelssanktionen besser eingehalten werden.

“Any non Codex-compliant nation would face huge economic punishment since they would automatically lose in any food-trade dispute with a Codex compliant country” (Natural Solution Foundation)

Article 1
General Provisions

1. This Agreement applies to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures which may, directly or indirectly, affect international trade. Such measures shall be developed and applied in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the definitions provided in Annex A shall apply.

Article 3
Harmonization

1. To harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures on as wide a basis as possible, Members shall base their sanitary or phytosanitary measures on international standards, guidelines or recommendations, where they exist, except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement, and in particular in paragraph 3 [allows exceptions for even higher food safety standards].

ANNEX A
DEFINITIONS (4)

 

3. International standards, guidelines and recommendations

 

(a) for food safety, the standards, guidelines and recommendations established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission relating to food additives, veterinary drug and pesticide residues, contaminants, methods of analysis and sampling, and codes and guidelines of hygienic practice;