What is the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures?
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) is an international agreement that sets out the rules and regulations for food safety, animal and plant health, and plant and animal products. The Agreement is designed to ensure that countries can trade in safe and healthy foods and products while protecting human, animal, and plant life. In North Carolina, the Agreement is implemented through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The department works to ensure that all agricultural, animal, and plant products entering North Carolina from another country meet the North Carolina Food Safety and Animal Health standards, as well as the SPS Agreement. The Agreement sets out specific requirements for food safety, animal health, and plant health, as well as inspection and certification procedures. It also sets out specific requirements for laboratory testing, good agricultural practices, product labeling, and packaging. The Agreement creates a number of trade rules, such as the general principle of non-discrimination, meaning that countries cannot be discriminatory when setting standards. It also establishes a dispute settlement mechanism to resolve any trade disputes. The WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures is an important agreement for international trade, as it allows countries to trade safely and ensure that food and products are safe for people, animals, and plants. In North Carolina, it helps ensure that all products entering the state meet the necessary standards and regulations.
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