Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) (農業部動植物防疫檢疫署)

::: 首頁 > English > Info & Services > Links > Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)

展開選單

Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)

Introduction of Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
The measures of food safety inspection and sanitation and phytosanitary, one of the international major criteria, aims at avoiding or reducing the pest invasion and overspreading caused by plant and animal circulation of international trade in primary products. This is to keep domestic citizens as well as plants and animals healthy and to maintain ecological equilibrium.
Since the purpose of SPS measures is to keep domestic citizens as well as plants and animals healthy, all governments attach importance to SPS and constitute respective protective methods according to SPS requirements. While there were a number of relative trade barriers in primary products caused by the overly high level of SPS protective measures. Especially in the 1980’s, SPS measures were misapplied by many nations and a large quantity of disadvantageous effects were produced accordingly. In order to correct the above misapplication, SPS methods were listed in the discussing topics in the Uruguay Round. Ultimately the members came to an agreement through bouts of negotiations. Moreover, SPS measures were listed in one of the conventions signed by WTO with January 1st, 1995 as the effective date. This is the so-called SPS Agreement.

Our Basic Standpoint towards SPS
Our basic standpoint towards Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) are as follows:

“We support to adopt all necessary measures of inspection and quarantine to safeguard our citizens as well as animals and plants to be healthy.” However, we must avoid trade barriers caused by misapplication. At present, the mutual authentication of inspection and quarantine among all nations will be helpful to reduce such trade barriers. As far as we are concerned, we agree on the coherency of procedures and measures in animal and plant inspection and quarantine. Whereas different nations have their own procedures and measures, we should respect their differences on the basis of scientific reasoning. It is particularly important for international organizations to execute SPS Agreement, such as THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX), THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX), INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONVENTION (IPPC), etc. The WTO should provide more technological assistance to promote international coherency of procedures and measures in animal and plant inspection and quarantine.