Which WTO agreement governs sanitary and phytosanitary measures for food, animals and plants?

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures governs food-safety and animal- and plant-health measures in WTO trade.

The SPS Agreement entered into force on 1 January 1995. It recognizes that governments may protect human, animal and plant life or health, while requiring such measures to be based on scientific principles and not used as disguised restrictions on trade.

The agreement encourages members to base measures on international standards developed by bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the International Plant Protection Convention. Members may adopt stricter protection, but they must meet the agreement’s conditions.

SPS rules are often confused with the TBT Agreement. SPS concerns health and biological risks, while TBT generally covers other technical regulations, standards and labeling requirements.