Chapter 12. International trade, standards and regulations Learning objective

8. Which requirements the TBT Agreement imposes on conformity assessment 
procedures? 
The TBT Agreement formulates a set of clear requirements that must be met by the 
WTO members while defining conformity assessment procedures (certification, declaration, 

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control and surveillance, testing) to met requirements of regulations or standards that are 
given below. The main requirements of the TBT Agreement to the conformity assessment 
procedures: 

Equitable access to the procedures for all WTO member countries. 

The procedures should not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. 

Payment for services should be the same both for import and for domestic products. 

Founded on requirements of international standards, guidelines and recommendations. 

WTO assistance in preparation of international documents. 
All accepted conformity assessment procedures should be immediately released to 
allow other WTO members to get acquainted with it, and should be given sufficient time for 
the implementation of new or revised conformity assessment procedures to give a chance for 
both domestic producers and exporting countries to adapt to it . 
9. For what purposes and how to apply the SPS Agreement? 
 
The SPS Agreement applies to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, which can directly 
or indirectly influence international trade. Sanitary measures deal with human and animal 
health (including the veterinary measures also) and phytosanitary measures are related to 
plant health. The agreement includes the protection of fish and wild fauna, forests and wild 
flora, but excludes the protection of the environment. 
The most important provisions of the SPS Agreement: 

discrimination between members of WTO isn't allowed 

Members are encouraged to create SPS that are harmonized with international 
standards, guidelines and recommendations 

Members must in the course of negotiations reach the equivalence in using SPS 

Members should create their SPS based on the assessment of the actually existing 
risks using international risk assessment techniques. 

Members are required to notify other members about the changes in their SPS, as 
well as to ensure transparency should establish appropriate public information centers. 

Members should recognize the territories, which are declared free from pests and 
diseases by other Member States, and to observe the status of these territories and the 
conditions of inspections. 
Procedures for monitoring, inspection and approval shall be based on the 
requirements set out in Annex C of the SPS Agreement.