JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 1 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) & The role of food irradiation The WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) & The role of food irradiation Josef Brodesser Food and Environmental Protection Section Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture A-1400 Vienna, Austria

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 2 World trade of agricultural products 91% 9% ( 560 US$ Billions) Agricultural products Other products

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 3 World trade & production by main product groups Manufactures Agricultural products Industry products Total merchandise Export rate Production rate Percentage increase per year

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 4

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 5 The World Trade Organization (WTO) F Is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. F At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their Parliaments.

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 6 1. Administering WTO trade agreements 2. Forum for trade negotiations 3. Handling trade disputes 4. Monitoring national trade policies 5. Technical assistance and training for developing countries 6. Cooperation with other international organizations Functions of the WTO

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 7 WTO Agreements F Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) F Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 8 Sanitary and Phyto- sanitary Measures are to protect against pests and diseases and to provide safe food

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 9 F Acknowledges that governments have the right to take sanitary and phytosanitary measures necessary for the protection of human health. F It does not permit Member Governments to discriminate by applying different requirements to different countries where the same or similar conditions prevail, unless there is sufficient scientific justification for doing so. SPS

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 10 TBT F Aims to ensure that technical regulations and standards, including packaging, marking and labeling requirements, and analytical procedures for assessing conformity with technical regulations and standards do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 11 The SPS Agreement Recognizes relevant international standards, guidelines and recommendations of competent international organizations: F Codex Alimentarius Commission (for food safety and human health) F International Plant Protection Convention (for plant health) F International Office of Epizootics (for animal health)

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 12 Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Intergovernmental Body members, Objectives: F Ensure food is safe to eat F Facilitate international trade

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 13 Codex Alimmentarius Commission (CAC) Codex Alimentarius = Food Law F Food standards F Codes of practices F Recommendations

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 14 Food Hygiene and Safety Mayor activity of CAC Committees on: F Food Hygiene F Food Additives and Contaminants F Pesticides Residues F Residues of Veterinary Drugs

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 15 CODEX GENERAL STANDARD FOR IRRADIATED FOOD 1. Scope 2. General requirements for the process 3. Hygiene of irradiated foods 4. Technological requirements 5. Re-irradiation 6. Labelling

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 16 RECOMMENDED INTERNATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE OPERATION OF IRRADIATION FACILITIES USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF FOOD F Introduction F Irradiation plants F Good radiation processing plants F Product and inventory control F Appendix A (dosimetry) F Appendix B (EXAMPLES of technological conditions for the irradiation of SOME individual food items.)

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 17 IPPC Guidelines for the Use of Irradiation as a Phytosanitary Treatment PLAN  Review by ICPM Standard Committee (May 2002)  Comments by member countries (June-September 2002)  New document revised by ICPM Standard Committee end year 2002)  Review and approval by the Plenary Session IPPC (April 2003)

JOINT FAO/IAEA PROGRAMME of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture 18 Conclusion WTO and its Agreements on SPS and TBT are part of international efforts to liberalise the world trade in food and agricultural products.