SPS Online
Basic Definition
SPS Agreement Background
- WTO: An Historical Perspective
- Emergence of an SPS Regime
SPS Agreement Principles
- Basic Rights
- Harmonization
- Risk Assessment
- Setting the Appropriate Level of Protection
- Regionalization
- Equivalence
- Transparency
- Dispute Settlement
Conclusions
International Standards
Standards Development
International Standard Setting Organizations
Desk Reference
Glossary
Related Organziations

Basic Definition:

Sanitary and Phyto Sanitary Measures are maintained by countries to ensure that food is safe for consumers, and to prevent the spread of pests and diseases among animals and plants.

SPS measures can take many forms:
· Requiring products to come from a disease-free area
· Inspection of products
· Specific treatment or processing of products
· Setting of allowable maximum levels of pesticide residues
· Permitted use of only certain additives in food

SPS measures apply to food, feed, animals and plants coming from other countries.