Which World Trade Organization agreement covers technical regulations, standards and testing procedures?

The World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade covers technical regulations, standards and testing procedures.

The TBT Agreement is one of the WTO agreements resulting from the Uruguay Round. It seeks to ensure that technical requirements for products do not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade, while recognizing each government’s right to pursue legitimate goals such as health, safety and environmental protection.

The agreement distinguishes among mandatory technical regulations, generally voluntary standards and procedures used to assess whether products meet requirements. It encourages members to use relevant international standards where appropriate and to make proposed measures transparent.

The TBT Agreement is often confused with the SPS Agreement. SPS rules concern food safety and animal and plant health measures, while TBT rules address a broader range of product characteristics, labeling requirements and conformity-assessment procedures.