The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that oversees trade agreements between participating countries. One of the key agreements that the WTO oversees is the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement), which governs food safety and animal and plant health standards in international trade.
Under the SPS Agreement, participating countries are required to ensure that their food safety and animal and plant health measures do not unnecessarily restrict international trade. However, they are also required to take measures to protect human, animal, and plant health, which can involve restricting imports of certain products that may pose a health risk.
The SPS Agreement has been the subject of controversy in recent years, particularly with regard to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some countries have banned or restricted imports of GMOs on health or environmental grounds, while others have argued that such restrictions are unnecessary and unfairly limit trade.
Other issues addressed under the SPS Agreement include the use of pesticides and other chemicals in food production, as well as the safety of meat and dairy products. The WTO also oversees other trade agreements related to food, including the Agreement on Agriculture, which governs agricultural subsidies and trade in agricultural products.
As with any international agreement, the WTO`s food-related agreements are subject to ongoing debate and negotiation. However, they provide a framework for ensuring that international trade in food and agricultural products is managed in a way that balances the needs of producers, consumers, and the environment.