AMI Offers Recommendations for TPP Negotiations Regarding Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

(American Meat Institute)

AMI joined other industry associations in voicing its support of the Dallas round of Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations (TPP) regarding disciplines on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and offering a number of recommendations.

“We believe that an ambitious, high-standard agreement can benefit agricultural producers and processors, as well as consumers, in all TPP partner countries.  However, in order for a TPP agreement to be commercially meaningful it must include effective disciplines on the application of SPS measures that underscore the importance of science-based regulation,” stated the organizations in a new white paper.

In order to improve disciplines on SPS measures, the white paper stated that TPP agreement should include provisions that do the following:

• strengthen and elaborate requirements regarding risk assessment and risk management;
• reinforce the World Trade Organization (WTO) rule that requires regulators to select the least-trade-restrictive of available risk management options;
•  promote trade-facilitating measures such as equivalence, recognition of inspection systems and harmonization of export certificates;
•  require parties to provide an adequate grace period before implementing new, non-emergency measures;
• enhance transparency;
• strengthen the role of science-based international standards and promote the harmonization of standards;
• grant importers the automatic right, in the case of an adverse test result, to a confirmatory test in a competent laboratory that uses validated testing methods; and
• establish a pro-active committee agenda that encourages partners to collaborate on specific issues in order to facilitate trade.

 “Most importantly, these WTO-plus provisions must be fully enforceable under the agreement.  Rules that are not subject to effective dispute settlement procedures will have little beneficial effect,” the paper stated.

“The WTO SPS Agreement provides valuable protection to agricultural exporters.  But after more than 15 years, we are increasingly aware of provisions that need strengthening.  The TPP is an excellent forum for negotiating such stronger disciplines.  A TPP SPS text that reinforces and strengthens WTO obligations would be counted as an important ‘win’ for TPP participants,” the paper concluded.

To view the paper, click here: http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/78494.

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