RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/REG/W/8
28August 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3384)
Committee onRegional Trade Agreements
SYSTEMIC IMPLICATIONS OFREGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND REGIONAL
INITIATIVES FOR THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM
Note bytheSecretariat
1. According totheterms ofreference established bytheGeneral Council, theCommittee on
Regional Trade Agreements isto"consider thesystemic implications ofregional tradeagreements and
regional initiatives forthemultilateral trading system andtherelationship between them, andmake
appropriate recommendations totheGeneral Council". With aviewtoenhancing itsunderstanding
ofsuchimplications, theCommittee, atitssecond session, agreed toinitiate areview ofcertain
disciplines which cutacross regional trade agreements, regional trade initiatives andthemultilateral
trading system asembodied intheWTO Agreement. Tothatend,theCommittee adopted aChairman 's
proposal tofocus work initially ontechnical barriers totradeandsanitary andphytosanitary measures,
andtorequest theSecretariat toprepare astudy onthatbasis. Based ontheoutcome ofthisstudy,
theCommittee would consider reviewing other provisions. Inthiscontext, theCommittee invited
Members tosubmit anyrelevant information which mayassist theCommittee initswork .
2. ThisNotesetsoutthemostrelevant provisions intheWTO Agreement onTechnical Barriers
toTrade andtheWTO Agreement onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures, andliststhecomparable
provisions inthose regional trade agreements which havebeennotified, andarecurrently subject to
examinationbytheCommittee.Wherearegionaltradeagreementdoesnothavecomparableprovisions,
itisexpressly stated. Theaimofthisstudy istoassist theCommittee initsassessment ofwhether
thedifferences, ifany,intheprovisions ofregional trade agreements andinitiatives andtheWTO
Agreement haveanysignificant implications forthemultilateral trading system.
3. Inlinewiththerequest bytheCommittee, thestudy should beviewed asapilotstudy only,
andisnotintended tobecomprehensive. Inorder tokeepthestudy relatively short, anattempt has
beenmade toquote onlythose provisions which wereconsidered tobemost relevant fortrade with
thirdparties.
4. Thenotecomprises twosections; onerelating toprovisions ontechnical barriers totradeand
onetothose relating tosanitary andphytosanitary measures. Eachsection isdivided intothree parts:
onesetting outtherelevant provisions oftheWTO Agreements, followed byalistofregional agreements
which contain noexplicit provisions onthesubject. These, inturn, arefollowed byalistofthose
which contain relevant provisions andtherelevant language oftheAgreements isreproduced.WT/REG/W/8
Page2
PILOT STUDY
PROVISIONS ONTECHNICAL BARRIERS TOTRADE
WTO Agreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade
Apart from theobligation nottodiscriminate infavour ofnational products, Members
areobliged under Article 2:2oftheAgreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade to"ensure that
technical regulations arenotprepared, adopted orapplied withaview toorwiththeeffect of
creating unnecessary obstacles tointernational trade. Forthispurpose, technical regulations
shall notbemore trade-restrictive thannecessary tofulfil alegitimate objective, taking account
oftherisksnon-fulfilment would create. Suchlegitimate objectives are,interalia:national security
requirements; theprevention ofdeceptive practices; protection ofhuman health orsafety, animal
orplant lifeorhealth, ortheenvironment. Inassessing such risks, relevant elements of
consideration areinter alia: available scientific andtechnical information, related processing
technology orintended end-uses ofproducts".
Article 1.3oftheAgreement provides that"Allproducts, including industrial and
agricultural products, shall besubject totheprovisions ofthisAgreement".
Article 2.9.1 provides that"Members shall publish anotice inapublication atanearly
appropriate stage, insuchamanner astoenable interested parties inother Members tobecome
acquainted withit..."incasearelevant international standard doesnotexistorthetechnical content
ofaproposed technical regulation isnotinaccordance with thetechnical content ofrelevant
international standards.
A. Regional Trade Agreements Without Provisions onTechnical Barriers toTrade
EC-Bulgaria Interim Europe Agreement (L/7617/Add.1)
EC-Romania Interim Europe Agreement (L/7618/Add.1)
Switzerland-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Switzerland-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Switzerland-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Agreement (L/7370/Add.1)
Interim Europe Agreement-Hungary (L/6992/Add.1)1
1Theinterim Agreement hasbeensuperseded bytheprovisions oftheEurope Agreement between theEEC
andHungary. Theprovisions ontechnical standards andsanitary andphytosanitary measures aresimilar tothose
intheagreements between theEEC andCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic andtheEEC.WT/REG/W/8
Page3
Interim Europe Agreement-Poland (L/6992/Add.1)2
EC-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG21/1)
Iceland-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG23/1)
Switzerland-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG24/1)
Norway-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG25/1)
B. Regional Trade Agreements With Provisions onTechnical Barriers toTrade
EC-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG7/1)
Article 36oftheAgreement provides thatLatvia "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade and
trade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible with thatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
EC-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG8/1)
Article 36oftheAgreement provides thatEstonia "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade
andtrade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible withthatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
EC-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG9/1)
Article 37oftheAgreement provides thatLithuania "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade
andtrade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible withthatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
Central European FreeTrade Area (CEFTA) (L/7495/Add.1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex Vofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue".
EFTA-Bulgaria FreeTrade Agreement (L/7257/Add.1)
Article 12oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex IX,ofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto which theyintend toissue". Itappears Article 12isapplicable
tobothindustrial andagricultural products.
2Theinterim Agreement hasbeensuperseded bytheprovisions oftheEurope Agreement between theEEC
andPoland. Theprovisions ontechnical standards andsanitary andphytosanitary measures aresimilar tothose
intheagreements between theEEC andCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic andtheEEC.WT/REG/W/8
Page4
EFTA-Hungary FreeTrade Agreement (L/7360/Add.1)
Article 13oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicablestage,inaccordancewiththeprovisionslaiddowninAnnexXIIIofdrafttechnicalregulations
anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue". Itappears Article 13isapplicable toboth
industrial andagricultural products.
EFTA-Israel FreeTrade Agreement (L/7129/Add.1)
Article 10oftheAgreement reconfirms theadherence oftheparties "totheGATT Agreement
onTechnical Barriers toTrade andtoitsprocedures". Theparties areobliged nottoadopt "measures
which arelikely tocreate, orhavecreated, anobstacle totrade".
EFTA-Poland FreeTrade Agreement L/7372/Add.1)
Article 12oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex IX,ofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto which theyintend toissue". Itappears Article 12isapplicable
tobothindustrial andagricultural products.
EFTA-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (L/7215/Add.1)
Article 12oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex X,ofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue." Itappears Article 12isapplicable
tobothindustrial andagricultural goods.
Czech Republic-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7447/Add.1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex IV,ofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue". Itappears thatArticle 10is
applicable toonlyindustrial products.
Slovak Republic-Slovenia FreeTrade (L/7448/Add.1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother, attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex IV,ofdraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue". Itappears thatArticle 10is
applicable toonlyindustrial products.
Europe Agreement-Czech Republic (WT/REG18/6), seealsoL/6992/Add.1
Article 75oftheAgreement provides thattheParties "shall cooperate withtheaimtoachieve
theCzechRepublic'sfullconformitywithCommunitytechnicalregulationsandEuropeanstandardization
andconformity assessment procedures...".WT/REG/W/8
Page5
Europe Agreement-Slovak Republic (WT/REG18/7), seealsoL/6992/Add.1
Article 75oftheAgreement provides thattheParties "shall cooperate withtheaimtoachieve
theSlovakRepublic'sfullconformitywithCommunitytechnicalregulationsandEuropeanstandardization
andconformity assessment procedures...".
Hungary-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG19/1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother inaccordance
withtheprovisions laiddown inAnnex IVofdrafttechnical regulations anddraftamendments thereto,
which theyintend toissue". Itappears Article 10isapplicable toonlyindustrial products.
EFTA-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG20/1)
Article 11oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall... holdimmediate consultations
incaseaStateParty considers thatanother StateParty hastaken measures which arelikely tocreate,
orhavecreated, anobstacle totrade;...to discuss possibilities toco-operate more closely onmatters
related toremoving obstacles. Thisco-operation maytakeplaceinfields related totechnical regulations
andstandardization aswellastesting andcertification".
EC-Turkey Customs Union (WT/REG22/1)
Article 8(1)oftheAgreement provides that"within fiveyears fromthedateofentry intoforce
ofthisDecision,TurkeyshallincorporateintoitsinternallegalordertheCommunityinstrumentsrelating
totheremoval oftechnical barriers totrade...The Parties stress theimportance ofeffective cooperation
between theminthefields ofstandardization, metrology andcalibration, quality, accreditation, testing
andcertification".
Czech Republic-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG26/1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions assetoutinAnnex VIondraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue".
Slovak Republic-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG27/1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notify eachother attheearliest
practicable stage andinaccordance withtheprovisions assetoutinAnnex VIondraft technical
regulations anddraftamendments thereto, which theyintend toissue".
EFTA-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG28/1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall... holdimmediate consultations
intheframework oftheJointCommittee incaseaState Party considers thatanother State Party has
taken measures which arelikely tocreate, orhavecreated, anobstacle totrade, inorder tofindan
appropriatesolution...todiscussintheJointCommitteepossibilitiestoco-operatemorecloselyonmatters
related toremoving obstacles. Thisco-operation maytakeplaceinfields related totechnical regulations
andstandardization aswellastesting andcertification...the States Parties tothisAgreement commit
themselves tonotify thetechnical regulations inaccordance withtheprovisions oftheWTO Agreement
onTechnical Barriers toTrade".WT/REG/W/8
Page6
EFTA-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG/29/1)
Article 10oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall... holdimmediate consultations
intheframework oftheJointCommittee incaseaStateParty considers thatanother State Party has
taken measures which arelikely tocreate, orhavecreated, anobstacle totrade, inorder tofindan
appropriatesolution...todiscussintheJointCommitteepossibilitiestoco-operatemorecloselyonmatters
related toremoving obstacles. Thisco-operation maytakeplaceinfields related totechnical regulations
andstandardization aswellastesting andcertification...the States Parties tothisAgreement commit
themselves tonotify thetechnical regulations inaccordance withtheprovisions oftheWTO Agreement
onTechnical Barriers toTrade".
EFTA-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG30/1)
Article 11oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall... holdimmediate consultations
intheframework oftheJointCommittee incaseaState Party considers thatanother State Party has
taken measures which arelikely tocreate, orhavecreated, anobstacle totrade, inorder tofindan
appropriatesolution...todiscussintheJointCommitteepossibilitiestoco-operatemorecloselyonmatters
related toremoving obstacles. Thisco-operation maytakeplaceinfields related totechnical regulations
andstandardization aswellastesting andcertification...the States Parties tothisAgreement commit
themselves tonotify thetechnical regulations inaccordance withtheprovisions oftheWTO Agreement
onTechnical Barriers toTrade".
North American Freetrade Agreement (L/7176/Add.1)
Article 903ofChapter Nineprovides that"theParties affirm withrespect toeachother their
existing rights andobligations relating tostandards-related measures under theGATT Agreement on
Technical Barriers toTrade andallother international agreements, including environmental and
conversation agreements, towhich those Parties areparty".
Article 904(1)ofChapter Nine provides that"Each Party may, inaccordance withthis
Agreement,adopt,maintainorapplyanystandards-relatedmeasure,includinganysuchmeasurerelating
tosafety, theprotection ofhuman, animal orplant lifeorhealth, theenvironment orconsumers, and
anymeasure toensure itsenforcement orimplementation. Such measures include those toprohibit
theimportation ofagoodofanother Party ortheprovision ofaservice byaservice provider ofanother
Party thatfailstocomply withtheapplicable requirements ofthose measures ortocomplete theParty's
approval procedures".
Article 904(4)ofChapter Nineprovides that"NoParty mayprepare, adopt, maintain orapply
anystandards-related measure withaviewtoorwiththeeffect ofcreating anunnecessary obstacle
totradebetween theParties. Anunnecessary obstacle totradeshallnotbedeemed tobecreated where:
(a)thedemonstrable purpose ofthemeasure istoachieve alegitimate objective; and(b)themeasure
doesnotoperate toexclude goods ofanother Party thatmeetthelegitimate objective.WT/REG/W/8
Page7
Enlargement oftheEuropean Communities--Accession ofAustria, Finland andSweden
(L/7614/Add.1)
Noexplicit provisions onTBTintheECEnlargement Agreement. However, Article 36of
theTreaty ofRome, which isapplicable byvirtue ofArticle 2oftheAgreement, provides that:
"Theprovisions on[freemovement ofgoods]... shallnotpreclude prohibitions orrestrictions
onimports, exports orgoods intransit justified ongrounds ofpublic morality, public policy
orpublic security; theprotection ofhealth andlifeofhumans, animals orplants; theprotection
ofnational treasures possessing artistic, historic orarchaeological value; ortheprotection of
industrial andcommercial property. Such prohibitions orrestrictions shall not,however,
constituteameansofarbitrarydiscriminationoradisguisedrestrictionontradebetweenMember
States".WT/REG/W/8
Page8
PROVISIONS ONSANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY
WTO Agreement ontheApplication ofSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Article 2oftheAgreement ontheApplication ofSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
provides that:
"(1) Members have theright totakesanitary andphytosanitary measures necessary forthe
protection ofhuman, animal orplant lifeorhealth, provided thatsuchmeasures arenot
inconsistent withtheprovisions ofthisAgreement.
(2) Members shall ensure thatanysanitary orphytosanitary measure isapplied onlytothe
extent necessary toprotect human, animal orplant lifeorhealth, isbased onscientific
principles andisnotmaintained without sufficient evidence, except asprovided forin
paragraph 7ofArticle 5.
(3) Members shall ensure thattheir sanitary andphytosanitary measures donotarbitrarily
orunjustifiablydiscriminatebetweenMemberswhereidenticalorsimilarconditionsprevail,
including between their own territory andthatofother Members. Sanitary and
phytosanitary measures shallnotbeapplied inamanner which would constitute adisguised
restriction oninternational trade."
A. Regional Trade Agreements Without Provisions onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
EC-Bulgaria Interim Europe Agreement (L/7617/Add.1)
EC-Romania Interim Europe Agreement (L/7618/Add.1)
Interim Europe Agreement-Hungary (L/6992/Add.1)3
Interim Europe Agreement-Poland (L/6992/Add.1)4
Switzerland-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG24/1)
Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Agreement (L/7370/Add.1)
3Op.cit., page 2.
4Op.cit., page 3.WT/REG/W/8
Page9
B. Regional Trade Agreements With Provisions onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Switzerland-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Article 11(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheParties tothisAgreement "shall apply their
regulations inveterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnot
introduce anynewmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
Switzerland-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Article 11(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheParties tothisAgreement "shall apply their
regulations inveterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnot
introduce anynewmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
Switzerland-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (L/7223/Add.1)
Article 11(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheParties tothisAgreement "shall apply their
regulations inveterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnot
introduce anynewmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EC-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG7/1)
Article 36oftheAgreement provides thatLatvia "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade and
trade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible with thatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
EC-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG8/1)
Article 36oftheAgreement provides thatEstonia "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade
andtrade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible withthatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
EC-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG9/1)
Article 37oftheAgreement provides thatLithuania "shall endeavour toensure thatitstrade
andtrade-related legislation willbegradually made compatible withthatoftheCommunity...The
approximationoflawsshallextendtotrade-relatedmatters,inparticular...technicalrulesandstandards".
Central European FreeTrade Area (CEFTA) (L/7495/Add.1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations inveterinary,
planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Bulgaria FreeTrade Agreement (L/7257/Add.1)
Article 13(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply their regulations in
veterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce any
newmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".WT/REG/W/8
Page10
EFTA-Hungary FreeTrade Agreement (L/7360/Add.1)
Article 14(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall notapply theirregulations in
veterinary, plant health andhealth matters asanarbitrary orunjustifiable discrimination between the
States Parties where thesame conditions prevail, orasadisguised restriction ontradebetween them".
EFTA-Israel FreeTrade Agreement (L/7129/Add.1)
Article 11(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheParties "shall apply their regulations in
veterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce any
newmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Poland FreeTrade Agreement (L/7372/Add.1)
Article 13(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply their regulations in
veterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce any
newmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (L/7215/Add.1)
Article 13(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply their regulations in
veterinary, planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce any
newmeasures thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
Czech Republic-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (L/7447/Add.1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides that"measures concerning phytosanitary control ofplants
andphytopharmaceutical preparations willbeharmonized withEuropean Community legislation and
between theContracting Parties ofthisAgreement ...The veterino-sanitary measures andthework
oftheveterinary services willbeinaccordance withtheOffice International desEpizoodies codex
andother international conventions inthisfield...The services commit themselves thattheywillnot
introduce discriminatory orotherunusual measures which would limittheflowofinformation, animals,
plants orproducts". Itappears Article 10isapplicable toonlyindustrial products.
Slovak Republic-Slovenia FreeTrade (L/7448/Add.1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides that"measures concerning phytosanitary control ofplants
andphytopharmaceutical preparations willbeharmonized withEuropean Community legislation and
between theContracting Parties ofthisAgreement ...The veterino-sanitary measures andthework
oftheveterinary services willbeinaccordance withtheOffice International desEpizoodies codex
andother international conventions inthisfield...The services commit themselves thattheywillnot
introduce discriminatory orotherunusual measures which would limittheflowofinformation, animals,
plants orproducts". Itappears Article 10isapplicable toonlyindustrial products.
Europe Agreement-Czech Republic (WT/REG18/6), seealsoL/6992/Add.1
Article 78oftheAgreement provides thattheparties shall cooperate with theview to
"[modernizing] agriculture andtheagro-industrial sector. Itshallendeavour inparticular to...develop
cooperation onanimal health andplant health withtheaimofbringing about gradual harmonization
withCommunity standards through assistance fortraining andtheorganization ofchecks".WT/REG/W/8
Page11
Europe Agreement-Slovak Republic (WT/REG18/7), seealsoL/6992/Add.1
Article 78oftheAgreement provides thattheparties shall cooperate with theview to
"[modernizing] agriculture andtheagro-industrial sector. Itshallendeavour inparticular to...develop
cooperation onanimal health andplant health withtheaimofbringing about gradual harmonization
withCommunity standards through assistance fortraining andtheorganization ofchecks".
Hungary-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG19/1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations inveterinary,
planthealth andhealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Slovenia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG20/1)
Article 12(3) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations insanitary
andphytosanitary matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EC-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG21/1)
Article 15(2) oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirrulesinveterinary,
health andplanthealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EC-Turkey Customs Union (WT/REG22/1)
There arenoexplicit provisions onSPS, butArticles 24-27 oftheAgreement envisages the
adoption oftheCommon Agricultural Policy byTurkey. Ineffect, Turkey might endupadopting
theSPSprovisions applicable under thatPolicy.
Iceland-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG23/1)
Article7(3)oftheAgreementprovidesthattheparties"shallapplytheirregulationsinveterinary,
health andplanthealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
Norway-Faroe Islands FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG25/1)
Article7(3)oftheAgreementprovidesthattheparties"shallapplytheirregulationsinveterinary,
health andplanthealth matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
Czech Republic-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG26/1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides that"measures concerning phytosanitary control ofplants
andphytopharmaceutical preparations willbeharmonized withEuropean Union legislation andbetween
theParties...the Parties commit themselves nottointroduce discriminatory orother unusual measures
which would limittheflowofinformation, animals, plants orproducts".WT/REG/W/8
Page12
Slovak Republic-Romania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG27/1)
Article 15oftheAgreement provides that"measures concerning phytosanitary control ofplants
andphytopharmaceutical preparations willbeharmonized withEuropean Union legislation andbetween
theParties...the Parties commit themselves nottointroduce discriminatory orother unusual measures
which would limittheflowofinformation, animals, plants orproducts".
EFTA-Estonia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG28/1)
Article 11oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations insanitary
andphytosanitary matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Latvia FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG/29/1)
Article 11oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations insanitary
andphytosanitary matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
EFTA-Lithuania FreeTrade Agreement (WT/REG30/1)
Article 12oftheAgreement provides thattheparties "shall apply theirregulations insanitary
andphytosanitary matters inanon-discriminatory fashion andshallnotintroduce anynewmeasures
thathavetheeffect ofunduly obstructing trade".
North American FreeTrade Agreement (L/7176/Add.1)
Article 712(1) ofChapter Seven provides that"Each Party mayinaccordance withthisSection,
adopt, maintain orapply anysanitary orphytosanitary measure necessary fortheprotection ofhuman,
animal orplantlifeorhealth initsterritory, including ameasure more stringent thananinternational
standard, guideline orrecommendation".
Article 712(3) ofChapter Seven provides that"Each Party shallensure thatanysanitary or
phytosanitary measure thatitadopts, maintains orapplies is:(a)based onscientific principles, taking
intoaccount relevant factors including, where appropriate, different geographic conditions; (b)not
maintained where there isnolonger ascientific basis forit;and(c)based onariskassessment, as
appropriate tothecircumstances".
Article 712(4) ofChapter Seven provides that"Each Party shall ensure thatasanitary or
phytosanitarymeasurethatitadopts,maintainsorappliesdoesnotarbitrarilyorunjustifiablydiscriminate
between itsgoods andlikegoods ofanother Party, orbetween goods ofanother Party andlikegoods
ofanyother country, where identical orsimilar conditions prevail".
Article 712(5) ofChapter Seven provides that"Each Party shallensure thatanysanitary or
phytosanitary measure thatitadopts, maintains orapplies isapplied onlytotheextent necessary to
achieve itsappropriate levelofprotection, taking intoaccount technical andeconomic feasibility".
Article 712(6) ofChapter Seven provides that"NoParty mayadopt, maintain orapply any
sanitary orphytosanitary measure withaviewto,orwiththeeffect of,creating adisguised restriction
ontrade between theParties".WT/REG/W/8
Page13
Enlargement oftheEuropean Communities--Accession ofAustria, Finland andSweden
(L/7614/Add.1)
Noexplicit provisions onSPSintheECEnlargement Agreement. However, Article 36of
theTreaty ofRome, which isapplicable byvirtue ofArticle 2oftheAgreement, provides that:
"Theprovisions on[freemovement ofgoods]... shallnotpreclude prohibitions orrestrictions
onimports, exports orgoods intransit justified ongrounds ofpublic morality, public policy
orpublic security; theprotection ofhealth andlifeofhumans, animals orplants; theprotection
ofnational treasures possessing artistic, historic orarchaeological value; ortheprotection of
industrial andcommercial property. Such prohibitions orrestrictions shall not,however,
constituteameansofarbitrarydiscriminationoradisguisedrestrictionontradebetweenMember
States".