Technical barriers to trade
The purpose of the Agreement on technical barriers to trade is to ensure that technical standards and regulations, as well as conformity assessment procedures, do not create additional barriers to trade. The agreement recognizes that member countries have the right to introduce such measures in order to protect human health and safety or protect the environment. The application of technical regulations and standards should not lead to discrimination of foreign goods in favor of domestic products. Procedures for assessing the conformity of products with national standards should also not serve as a tool for discriminating against imported products. The agreement encourages members to use international standards and to harmonize and mutually recognize technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures.
In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement on technical barriers to trade, each WTO member country should establish special information offices to facilitate access to information on technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures existing in each country.
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures
The agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures covers all relevant measures that may directly or indirectly have a negative impact on international trade. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures are defined as measures that are applied to protect human and animal life or to protect plants from the risks associated with various additives, toxins or diseases that may be present in food, as well as to protect a country in the event of entry into its territory and the spread of insect pests.
The agreement allows members to introduce sanitary and phytosanitary measures that have a scientific basis, but such measures should not serve as a tool for discrimination against imported goods. In addition, sanitary and phytosanitary measures should not be used for protectionist purposes. When developing new sanitary and phytosanitary measures, members of the Agreement are encouraged to use existing international standards, guidelines and recommendations. The application of such measures by a country may be challenged by other countries through the WTO dispute resolution procedure.