Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
The GATT (1994) is WTO's core agreement with respect to trade in com-
modities, and its objective is to limit tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. Its two
main requirements are that (1) imported commodities should not be treated less
favourably than equivalent domestic commodities (the “national treatment” obli-
gation), (2) there should not be discrimination for imported commodities
between countries where the same conditions prevail. Nevertheless, article XX
of the GATT states that “nothing in the Agreement shall prevent the adoption or
enforcement by any contracting party of measures necessary to protect human,
animal or plant life or health, provided that measures are not applied in a manner
which would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination
between countries where the same conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction
on international trade”.
The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
(SPS Agreement) (WTO 1994) elaborates rules for the application of the provision
of GATT related to the use of sanitary or phytosanitary measures, in particular arti-
cle XX. It defines the basic rights and obligations of members to protect animal and
plant life or health from risks arising from the entry, establishment or spread of
pests, where such measures may directly or indirectly affect international trade.
Consequently this agreement covers phytosanitary regulations established to pre-
vent the introduction of invasive alien plants. Preventive measures have to comply
with a set of principles such as “harmonization”, “equivalence”, “assessment of
risk”, “transparency”, etc. The agreement also provides for a dispute settlement
mechanism so that in case of dispute between countries, the two contracting parties
should consult bilaterally with the aim of resolving the problem. In the SPS agree-
ment, the IPPC is recognized as the relevant international standard-setting organi-
zation for the elaboration of international standards ensuring that phytosanitary
measures are not used as unjustified barriers to trade.
16.2.2 IPPC
The IPPC is an international treaty to which 165 governments currently adhere (as of
September 2007). Its objectives are to secure action to prevent the spread and intro-
duction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures
for their control. It came into force in 1952. It is governed by the Commission on
Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which adopts International Standards on Phytosanitary
Measures (ISPMs). The IPPC Secretariat coordinates the activities of the Convention
and is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
See IPPC website at https://www.ippc.int/IPP/En/default.jsp.
The IPPC is implemented at a national level by phytosanitary authorities called
National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), usually within the Ministry of
Agriculture. NPPOs carry out the important task of preventing the introduction and
spread of quarantine pests. An efficient infrastructure (such as border controls,
national surveillance programmes, technical and scientific institutions, as well as
