GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are the conditions an importing country places on shipments of live animals, plants, food, and feed to guard against pests, diseases, and contaminants.
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Source: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/sps_e.htm
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Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures are the conditions an importing country places on shipments of live animals, plants, food, and feed to guard against pests, diseases, and contaminants. The WTO SPS Agreement obliges member states to ground such requirements in scientific evidence, publish them transparently, and apply them without unjustified discrimination between trading partners. In practice, many countries set domestic safety thresholds well above internationally agreed minimums. For importers and freight forwarders, this means mandatory phytosanitary certificates, laboratory test reports, and potentially lengthy border holds. SPS measures are a recognised policy tool, but are frequently challenged in WTO dispute settlement as disguised barriers to trade.
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