WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/151
6 December 1999
(99-5353)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPS AND TBT MEASURES
Presentation made by the Secretariat at the Special Meeting
of the SPS Committee on Transparency Provisions
held on 9 November 1999G/SPS/GEN/151
Page 2
The difference
between
SPS and TBT measures
Article 1.4 of the SPS Agreement:
“Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the rights of
Members under the Agreement on Technical
Barriers to Trade with respect to measures not
within the scope of this Agreement. ”(Article 1 - General Provisions)G/SPS/GEN/151
Page 3
Article 1.5 of the TBT Agreement:
“The provisions of this Agreement do not apply to
sanitary and phytosanitary measures as defined in
Annex A of the Agreement on the Application of
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.”(Article 1 - General Provisions)
Technical Barriers to TradeTBT
SPSJanuary 1995
WTO SPS and TBT AgreementsG/SPS/GEN/151
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The definition of an
SPS measure
Article 1, General Provisions:
Paragraph 2
“For the purposes of this Agreement,
the definitions provided in Annex A shall apply.”
Paragraph 3
“The annexes are an integral part of this
Agreement.”G/SPS/GEN/151
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risks arising from additives,
contaminants, toxins or disease-
causing organisms in their food,beverages, feedstuffs;
damage caused by the entry,
establishment or spread of pestsa countryhuman life plant- or animal-carried
diseases (zoonoses);human or animal
life
pests, diseases, or disease-
causing organisms;animal or plant lifeto protect
: from:
risks arising from additives,
contaminants, toxins or disease-causing organisms in their food,beverages, feedstuffs;human or animal
lifeto protect
: from:Definition of an SPS measure (1:4)G/SPS/GEN/151
Page 6
WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/KOR/64
22 October 1999
(99-4597)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying :  REPUBLIC OF KOREA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Korea Food and Drug Administration
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ).  Re gions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Apple, cabba ge, Chinese cabba ge, Chwinamul , Chamnamul , Chicor y
leaves , citron , cucumber , grapes, garlic , lettuce , mandarin , mushroom , Perilla leaves ,
pepper, pepper leaves, persimmon, potato, pear, rice, strawberry, tea, watermelon and
Welsh onion
•“Apple, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, ...
cucumber, grapes, garlic, lettuce,...
tea, watermelon ... ”
•“Amendment of the Maximum Residue
Limits for pesticides ...”FOOD SAFETYG/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE G/SPS/N/COL/1
21 April 1997
ORGANIZATION
(97-1707)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COLOMBIA
   If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   National Council for Standards and Quality
3. Products covered (tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules de posited with the
WTO.  ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where a pplicable ):  Utensils with a
non-stick coating
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Draft Re quest to Give Mandator y Force
to Colombian Technical Standard 2169 (Articles for Domestic Use.  Utensils with a Non-
Stick Coatin g for Cookin g, Frying and Bakin g) (Fourth U pdate) in Res pect of Re quirements
Concernin g Coatin g and Base Materials ;  Lead and Cadmium Content ;  Adhesion of the
Paint and Non-Stick Surface to the Base Material ;  S t r e n gth of Handles , Holders an d
Fastenings;  Nominal Capacity;  Temperature of Handles, Holders and Knobs (31 pages)
•“Utensils with a non-stick coating ”
•“... lead and cadmium content ...
adhesion of the paint ... temperature
...”FOOD SAFETYG/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/LVA/28
19 August 1999
(99-3495)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ).  Re gions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Raw milk
•“Raw milk ”
•“Regulation contains quality
requirements of raw milk intended for
processing (10 pages)”FOOD SAFETYG/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/49
6 October 1999
(99-4171)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible:  Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ).  Re gions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Vitamins and minerals in general purpose foods
•“Vitamins and minerals in general foods”
•“A proposal to harmonize the
permissions between Australia and New
Zealand for voluntary addition of
vitamins and minerals”FOOD SAFETYG/SPS/GEN/151
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pant- or animal-carried diseases
(zoonoses);human lifeto protect : from:Definition of an SPS measure (2:4)G/SPS/GEN/151
Page 11
WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/JPN/46
30 July 1999
(99-3225)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  JAPAN  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. A gency responsible:  Ministr y of Health and Welfare ;  M i n i s t r y of A griculture ,
Forestry and Fishery
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ).  Re gions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Non-human primates.  All countries ex portin g non-human primates to
Japan
•“Non-human primates.  All countries
exporting non-human primates to
Japan”
•“... prevent invasion .... Ebola or
Marbug virus into Japan”PROTECT HUMAN LIFE
FROM PLANT OR ANIMAL
CARRIED DISEASESG/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/EEC/72
16 April 1999
(99-1523)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES  
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. A gency responsible:  European Commission – Directorate General for A griculture an d
Rural Development
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ;  ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where a pplicable ).
Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:
1. Live bovine (0102), ovine and caprine (0104) animals
2. Bovine embryos and ova
3. Ovine and caprine semen, embryos and ova4. Products of bovine, ovine and caprine origin5. Fishery products which are destined for human consumption and contain gelatine or
rendered animal fat
6. Egg products which are destined for human consumption and contain gelatine or
rendered animal fat
7. Snails or frogs' legs which are destined for human consumption and contain gelative
or rendered animal fat
8. Pet food
•“Live bovine .., ovine and caprine
animals..., ....
•“... rules for the prevention and control
of certain transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies (TSEs)”PROTECT HUMAN LIFE
FROM PLANT OR ANIMAL
CARRIED DISEASESG/SPS/GEN/151
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pests, diseases, or disease-causing
organisms;animal or plant
lifeto protect : from:Definition of an SPS measure (3:4)G/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/SGP/5
4 June 1999
(99-2257)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SINGAPORE  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. A gency res ponsible:  Primar y Production De partment , Ministr y of Nationa l
Development
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ). Regions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Horses for racing, polo and equestrian
•“Horses for racing, polo and equestrian”
•“... each horse imported [has to have] a
equine passport or equivalent, ...freedom from Hendra, Hendra-like
(Nipah) virus infection, African Horse
Sickness, and ....”PROTECT
... ANIMAL HEALTHG/SPS/GEN/151
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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CHL/36
29 June 1999
(99-2693)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  CHILE  
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible :  Agriculture and Livestock Service           
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number (s) as s pecified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO ; ICS numbers ma y be provided in addition , where
applicable ).  Re gions or countries likel y to be affected , to the extent relevant or
practicable:  Plants and cuttin gs of the s pecies Dracaena , Yucca and Strelitzia.  All
countries which export these species to Chile .          
•“Plant and cuttings of the species
Dracaena , Yucca  and Strelitzia  ...”
•“Opongona sacchari  has been detected
in imported goods and is a quarantine
disease in Chile.”PROTECT
... PLANT HEALTHG/SPS/GEN/151
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damage caused by the entry,
establishment or spread of pestsa countryto protect : from:Definition of an SPS measure (4:4)
risks arising from additives,
contaminants, toxins or disease-
causing organisms in their food,
beverages, feedstuffs;
damage caused by the entry,
establishment or spread of pestsa countryhuman life plant- or animal-carried
diseases (zoonoses);human or animal
life
pests, diseases, or disease-
causing organisms;animal or plant lifeto protect : from:G/SPS/GEN/151
Page 17
__________quality / composition / nutrition
protection of the environment
animal welfare
labelling
GMO