Sanitary and phytosanitary measures  WTO – SPS measures is about ensuring safe trade without unnecessary restrictions. Making sure that food is traded safely and that animal and plant pests or diseases are not spread through trade means that import restrictions are sometimes required. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)...

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to...

Convention of Biological Diversity The Earth’s biological resources are vital to humanity’s economic and social development. As a result, there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations. At the same time, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so great as...

International Food Standards C O D E X  A L I M E N T A R I U S  is about safe, good food for everyone – everywhere. International food trade has existed for thousands of years but until not too long ago food was mainly produced, sold and consumed locally. Over the last...

World Organization for Animal Health – OIE Human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist. This concept is envisaged and implemented by the OIE as a collaborative global approach to understanding risks for human and animal health (including both domestic animals and wildlife) and...

The International Plant Protection Convention   International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) are standards adopted by the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), which is the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The IPPC is the only standard setting organization for plant health. In addition, these standards are recognized as the basis for...