Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) is a crucial treaty that has been put in place to ensure that international trade in goods is not disrupted due to the imposition of unnecessary and non-scientific barriers to trade. The agreement addresses the possibility of trade barriers that may arise from differences in the food safety and animal health regulations between different countries.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) oversees the implementation of the SPS agreement globally. The agreement provides a framework for countries to harmonize their food safety standards and animal health regulations to facilitate smooth trade exchanges.

The SPS agreement is a legally binding treaty that was signed by all WTO member countries. It lays down the rules and procedures that countries must follow when imposing and implementing sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The agreement recognizes the rights of the member countries to safeguard the health of their citizens and the environment.

The primary objective of the SPS agreement is to ensure that international trade in agricultural products is based on scientific evidence and is guided by internationally recognized standards. The agreement requires member countries to base their sanitary and phytosanitary measures on scientific principles and risk assessment.

The SPS agreement also requires member countries to use international standards and guidelines established by international organizations such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Plant Protection Convention. Additionally, the agreement requires member countries to inform other WTO members about any new or revised sanitary and phytosanitary measures they plan to adopt and provide them with the opportunity to comment.

The agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures pdf is available for download on the WTO website. The pdf contains the full text of the agreement, including the annexes and appendices.

In conclusion, the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is an essential instrument that facilitates international trade in agricultural products while ensuring the protection of human, animal and plant health. The agreement promotes transparency, scientific evidence, and the use of internationally recognized standards and guidelines to address the challenges of food safety and animal health regulations. The availability of the agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary measures pdf makes it convenient for stakeholders to access it easily.