The WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures sets international rules for food safety and animal and plant health measures.
Usually called the SPS Agreement, it took effect when the World Trade Organization was established on 1 January 1995. It recognizes that governments may protect human, animal, and plant life, while requiring health measures to be based on scientific principles and evidence.
The agreement applies to measures such as limits on pesticide residues, controls for animal diseases, and inspections intended to prevent pests from entering a country. It encourages members to use international standards, including those developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the International Plant Protection Convention.
A common mix-up is the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The TBT Agreement covers many product regulations and labeling rules, while the SPS Agreement specifically concerns food safety and animal or plant health.