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29-764: NAPPO has a global and a regional mandate. The global mandate comes from Article IX of the New Revised Text (1997) of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The main activity under this mandate is to cooperate with the IPPC Secretary in achieving the objectives of the Convention and, where appropriate, cooperating with

58-804: A National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO). Under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and ISPM , a certificate for export or for re-export can be issued only by a public officer who is technically qualified and duly authorized by an NPPO. A phytosanitary certificate for export is usually issued by the NPPO of the country where the plants, plant products, or regulated articles were grown or processed. Phytosanitary certificates are issued to indicate that consignments of plants, plant products or other regulated articles meet specified phytosanitary import requirements and are in conformity with

87-579: A certain product. It is important that the views of developing countries are incorporated into the standard-setting process as the effect of exporting countries enacting SPS measures can be damaging to developing economies. This is partly due to these states not possessing the technology and resources needed to readily comply with certain SPS requirements. Some commentators pose that the WTO's assumption that trade liberalisation enhances consumer welfare , has resulted in

116-593: A global level NAPPO supports the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention by assisting in the development of international standards for phytosanitary measures and monitoring their application in the NAPPO region. It works with other Regional Plant Protection Organizations by exchanging information on current phytosanitary issues at their Annual Technical Consultation and to support

145-473: A phytosanitary certificate for Wood Packaging Material (WPM) such as pallets or crates used in the transport of commodities. If the WPM is the cargo, only then can a phytosanitary certificate be issued. After assessing the phytosanitary condition of the commodities intended for export, an Authorized Certification Official (ACO) issues these internationally recognized phytosanitary certificates: A public officer who

174-475: A service to United States exporters. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and its Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) are responsible for safeguarding agriculture and natural resources from the risks associated with the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests and noxious weeds. Phytosanitary certification is provided as a service to U.S. applicants based on the phytosanitary requirements of foreign countries. The APHIS will not issue

203-727: Is a member of the Interamerican Coordinating Group in Plant Protection which brings together the regional plant protection organizations of the Americas to coordinate their efforts in protecting the hemisphere from the entry, establishment and spread of regulated pests. This group provides the opportunity to discuss emerging pest situations, to coordinate our control efforts and to provide technical assistance. NAPPO also works with other hemispheric organizations such as OIRSA and COSAVE on topics of mutual interest. Global : On

232-497: Is authorized by the National Plant Protection organization (NPPO) and accredited for the signing of phytosanitary certificates, who 1) possesses the required education, experience, and training; and 2) has written confirmation of having passed an approved examination. (RSPM No. 8, Accreditation) [NAPPO, 2004]. The USDA APHIS PPQ Export Certification Specialists are responsible for maintaining the quality and credibility of

261-562: The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex), World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The SPS agreement is closely linked to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade , which was signed in the same year and has similar goals. The TBT Emerged from the Tokyo Round of WTO negotiations and was negotiated with the aim of ensuring non-discrimination in

290-750: The United States Department of Agriculture . Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures , also known as the SPS Agreement or just SPS , is an international treaty of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and entered into force with

319-546: The precautionary principle  – a principle which allows them to act on the side of caution if there is no scientific certainty about potential threats to human health and the environment. Under Article 5.7 Members who enact provisional measures are obligated to seek further information on possible risks and review the measure 'within a reasonable period of time'. The Appellate Body in Japan– Measures Affecting Agricultural Products, stated that

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348-570: The EU directives violated, among other things, several provisions of the SPS Agreement. The EU contended that the presence of the banned hormones in food may present a risk to consumers' health and that, as a consequence, the directives were justified under several WTO provisions authorizing the adoption of trade-restrictive measures that are necessary to protect human health. In 1997 and 1998, the WTO adjudicating bodies admitted USA and Canada claims and invited

377-492: The EU initiated before the DSB new proceedings seeking the lifting of the countermeasures applied by the US and Canada. EU alleged that it had collected new scientific data evidencing that the banned hormones may cause harm to consumers. According to the EU, the new scientific data provides sufficient ground for the ban on hormones, which may no more be sanctioned by the countermeasures imposed by

406-411: The EU to bring the directives into conformity with WTO law before the end of May 1999. EU did not comply and the DSB authorized the US and Canada to take countermeasures against the EU. The countermeasures took the form of increased custom duties applied by the US and Canada on certain EU products, including the notorious Roquefort cheese. In 2004, while the ban on hormone-treated meat was still in place,

435-619: The EU's regulation of GMOs, but dismissed many of the claims made by the USA. A summary of the decision can be found here . Another prominent SPS case is the hormone-treated beef case. In 1996, the United States and Canada challenged before the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) a number of EU directives prohibiting the importation and sale of meat and meat products treated with certain growth hormones . The complainants alleged that

464-692: The Minister/Secretary of Agriculture level. The NAPPO Constitution and Bylaws confirm that NAPPO is accountable to the Minister/Secretary of Agriculture in NAPPO member countries. NAPPO’s mission is to: - Provide a forum for public and private sectors in Canada, the United States and Mexico to collaborate in the development of science-based standards intended to protect agricultural, forest and other plant resources against regulated plant pests, while facilitating trade. - Participate in related international cooperative efforts. In order to accomplish this mission,

493-440: The SPS Agreement, it is assumed that the measure falls within the scope of GATT, Article XX(b). Trade in the products subject to SPS-type measures have the potential to result in significant economic gains for national economies. Favouring economic concerns over other important public health policy issues, however, is something that requires close scrutiny by governments and the international community. The SPS Agreement reflects

522-575: The Secretary and the Commission in developing international standards. The goal of the IPPC is to protect the world's cultivated and natural plant resources from the spread and introduction of plant pests while minimizing interference with the international movement of goods and people. The regional mandate for NAPPO was formalized by Canada, the United States and Mexico in a Cooperative Agreement signed in 1976 at

551-566: The U.S. Export Program. The USDA APHIS PPQ issues Phytosanitary Certificates for export via the PCIT system. PCIT tracks the inspection of products and certifies compliance with plant health standards of importing countries. This capability provides the USDA/APHIS/PPQ with greater fraud prevention, reporting functions, and monitoring capabilities. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

580-537: The US and Canada. As of January 2007, the proceedings initiated by the EU were still pending. While Article 1.5 of the TBT precludes the inclusion of SPS measures from its ambit, in EC-Biotech, the panel recognised that situations could arise where a measure is only partly an SPS measure, and in those cases, the SPS part of the measure will be considered under the SPS Agreement. If a measure conforms with SPS, under Article 2.4 of

609-587: The adoption and implementation of technical regulations and standards. As GATT 's preliminary focus had been lowering tariffs , the framework that preceded the SPS Agreement was not adequately equipped to deal with the problems of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade and the need for an independent agreement addressing this became critical. The SPS Agreement is an ambitious attempt to deal with NTBs arising from cross-national differences in technical standards without diminishing governments prerogative to implement measures to guard against diseases and pests. Some of

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638-445: The certifying statement of the appropriate model certificate. Phytosanitary certificates should only be issued for this purpose. The US designated NPPO – Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) – maintains the export program for the United States exporters of United States-origin and foreign-origin agricultural commodities. The export program does not require certification of any exports, but does provide certification of commodities as

667-708: The establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995. Broadly, the sanitary and phytosanitary ("SPS") measures covered by the agreement are those aimed at the protection of human, animal or plant life or health from certain risks. Under the SPS agreement, the WTO sets constraints on member-states' policies relating to food safety (bacterial contaminants, pesticides , inspection and labelling ) as well as animal and plant health (phytosanitation) with respect to imported pests and diseases. There are 3 standards organizations who set standards that WTO members should base their SPS methodologies on. As provided for in Article 3, they are

696-467: The following strategic goals have been established: • Protecting plant resources and the environment • Capacity building • Communicating results • Building partnerships • Offering an effective dispute settlement mechanism • Working with sound management practices • Working with a stable funding base NAPPO has responsibilities at the regional, hemispheric and global level. Regional : Developing regional phytosanitary standards which facilitate

725-404: The length of a 'reasonable period of time' is to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Under SPS rules, the burden of proof is on the complainant country to demonstrate that a measure violates Article 2.2 and Articles 5.1-5.8 before it can be regulated even though scientific evidence can never be conclusive and it is not possible to test for all health risks that could arise from the importation of

754-428: The most important WTO 'cases' regarding the implementation of SPS measures include: In 2003, the United States challenged a number of EU laws restricting the importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in a dispute known as EC-Biotech, arguing they are "unjustifiable" and illegal under SPS agreement. In May 2006, the WTO's dispute resolution panel issued a complex ruling which took issue with some aspects of

783-559: The regulation of biocontrol agents, products of biotechnology and non- Apis pollinating insects; standards for other regulated articles such as wood packing materials and other generic standards such as accreditation of officials to issue phytosanitary certificates . In addition, NAPPO provides technical support to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Committee of the North American Free Trade Agreement . Hemispheric : NAPPO

812-561: The safe movement of plants, plant products and other regulated articles into and within the NAPPO region is a key responsibility. Once a subject has been identified, experts representing the member countries meet in order to develop s draft standard which is submitted to a wider country consultation before final approval. Industry participation in the entire process is encouraged. Examples of standards developed so far include standards for commodities such as potatoes, stone and pome fruit trees, grapevines, citrus and plants for planting; standards for

841-445: The work program of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures of the IPPC. [REDACTED]   Canada [REDACTED]   United States [REDACTED]   Mexico General references: Phytosanitary certificate Phytosanitary certification verifies phytosanitary worthiness ( plant health ). These certificates are used to attest that consignments meet phytosanitary import requirements and are undertaken by

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