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The WTO's SPS Agreement states that “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”. The
Agreement names the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius as the relevant
standard-setting organization for food and IPPC for plant health.
> See SPS Agreement
Introduction,
Article 12.3 and
Annex A paragraph 3(a)
FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission
The Codex
Alimentarius is a collection of international food standards that have
been adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (the “Codex”). The
Codex is based in Rome and funded jointly by the FAO and the WHO.
>
See more details in the
WTO's page about the Codex
> Codex website:
http://www.codexalimentarius.net
FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
The International Plant Protection
Convention (IPPC) is a multilateral treaty for international
cooperation in plant protection. The Convention
makes
provision for the application of measures by governments to protect
their plant resources from harmful pests (phytosanitary measures)
which may be introduced through international trade. The IPPC is
deposited with the Director-General of the FAO and is administered
through the IPPC Secretariat located in FAO’s Plant Protection
Service.
> See more details in the
WTO's page about IPPC
> IPPC website:
http://www.ippc.int
Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) The Standards and Trade Development Facility
(STDF), is a joint initiative of the WTO, World Bank, FAO, World Health
Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health. It aims to assist
developing countries establish and implement SPS standards to ensure
health protection and facilitate trade expansion. It also aims to act
as a forum for coordination and information sharing on SPS-related
technical assistance.
> See more details on the
STDF website |
