WTO’s SPS Agreement
11.06.2024
WTO’s SPS Agreement
|
For Prelims: About SPS Agreement, Key Provisions |
Why in the news?
India and the US informed the World Trade Organization (WTO) that they have reached a mutually agreed solution on the outstanding dispute on poultry imports from Washington, thereby resolving all of their seven disputes at the global trade watchdog.
About SPS Agreement
- The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) is a treaty of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that came into force with the establishment of the WTO on January 1, 1995.
- It sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards.
Key Provisions
- Scientific basis: SPS measures must be based on scientific principles and sufficient evidence, except for provisional measures.
- Harmonization: Members are encouraged to align SPS measures with international standards set by bodies like Codex Alimentarius, OIE, and IPPC.
- Equivalence: SPS measures of other countries should be accepted as equivalent if they achieve the same level of protection.
- Risk assessment: Countries must conduct risk assessments to determine the appropriate level of protection, considering the impacts of pests or diseases.
- Regionalization: Members should recognize pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low prevalence, even if within a single country or group of countries.
- Transparency: Countries must notify changes in SPS measures and provide regulatory information through the WTO’s SPS notification system.
- Dispute Resolution: These disputes can be taken to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) if consultations fail.
Source: The Hindu
Ques :- With reference to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, consider the following statements:
Statement-I
It is a treaty of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Statement-II
It sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
- Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.
- Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
- Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
Answer D