Matrix Chile - U.S. FTA and DR - CAFTA - Chapter 6: Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures

A Comparative Guide to the Chile-United States Free Trade Agreement and the
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement

A STUDY BY THE TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE


Chapter Six: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Comparative Study

Table of Contents

CHILE - U.S.
Date of Signature: June 6, 2003
Chapter Six
:
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
DR - CAFTA
Date of Signature: August 5, 2004
Chapter Six:

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter are to protect human, animal, and plant health conditions in the Parties’ territories, enhance the Parties’ implementation of the SPS Agreement, provide a forum for addressing bilateral sanitary and phytosanitary matters, resolve trade issues, and thereby expand trade opportunities. 

Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter are to protect human, animal, or plant life or health in the Parties’ territories, enhance the Parties’ implementation of the SPS Agreement, provide a forum for addressing sanitary and phytosanitary matters, resolve trade issues, and thereby expand trade opportunitie 

 

Article 6.1: Affirmation of the SPS Agreement

See Article 6.2.1. below Further to Article 1.3 (Relation to Other Agreements), the Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the SPS Agreement.

Article 6.1: Scope and Coverage

Article 6.2: Scope and Coverage
This Chapter applies to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade between the Parties.

See Article 6.2.2. below

1. This Chapter applies to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade between the Parties.

2. No Party may have recourse to dispute settlement under this Agreement for any matter arising under this Chapter.

Article 6.2: General Provisions

 
1. Further to Article 1.3 (Relation to Other Agreements), the Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the SPS Agreement. see Article 6.1: Affirmation of the SPS Agreement above
2. Neither Party may have recourse to dispute settlement under this Agreement for any matter arising under this Chapter. See Article 6.2.2. above
Article 6.3: Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters Article 6.3: Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters
1. The Parties hereby agree to establish a Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters comprising representatives of each Party who have responsibility for sanitary and phytosanitary matters. 1. Not later than 30 days after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters, comprising representatives of each Party who have responsibility for sanitary and phytosanitary matters, as set out in Annex 6.3.
2. The Parties shall establish the Committee not later than 30 days after the date of entry into force of this Agreement through an exchange of letters identifying the primary representative of each Party to the Committee and establishing the Committee’s terms of reference. 2. The Parties shall establish the Committee through an exchange of letters identifying the primary representative of each Party to the Committee and establishing the Committee’s terms of reference.
3. The objectives of the Committee shall be to enhance the implementation by each Party of the SPS Agreement, protect human, animal, and plant life and health, enhance consultation and cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary matters, and facilitate trade between the Parties. 3. The objectives of the Committee shall be to help each Party implement the SPS Agreement, assist each Party to protect human, animal, or plant life or health, enhance consultation and cooperation between the Parties on sanitary and phytosanitary matters, and facilitate trade between the Parties.
4. The Committee shall seek to enhance any present or future relationships between the Parties’ agencies with responsibility for sanitary and phytosanitary matters. 4. The Committee shall seek to promote communication and otherwise enhance present or future relationships between the Parties’ agencies and ministries with responsibility for sanitary and phytosanitary matters.
NO CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPH 5. To the extent possible, the Committee shall seek to facilitate a Party’s response to a written request for information from another Party with minimal delay. The Committee shall endeavor to ensure that at the earliest opportunity the responding Party communicates to the requesting Party the steps involved in responding to the request.
5. The Committee shall provide a forum for: 6. The Committee shall provide a forum for:
(a) enhancing mutual understanding of each Party’s sanitary and phytosanitary measures and the regulatory processes that relate to those measures;
(a) enhancing mutual understanding of each Party’s sanitary and phytosanitary measures and the regulatory processes that relate to those measures;
(b) consulting on matters related to the development or application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures that affect, or may affect, trade between the Parties;

(b) consulting on matters related to the development or application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures that affect, or may affect, trade between the Parties;

NO CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPH
(c) addressing bilateral or plurilateral sanitary and phytosanitary matters with a view to facilitating trade between the Parties;
(c) consulting on issues, positions, and agendas for meetings of the WTO SPS Committee, the various Codex committees (including the Codex Alimentarius Commission), the International Plant Protection Convention, the International Office of Epizootics, and other international and regional fora on food safety and human, animal, and plant health;

(d) consulting on issues, positions, and agendas for meetings of the WTO SPS Committee, the various Codex committees (including the Codex Alimentarius Commission), the International Plant Protection Convention, the International Office of Epizootics, and other international and regional fora on food safety and human, animal, and plant health;

(d) coordinating technical cooperation programs on sanitary and phytosanitary matters;
(e) making recommendations on technical cooperation programs on sanitary and phytosanitary matters to the Committee on Trade Capacity Building;
(e) improving bilateral understanding related to specific implementation issues concerning the SPS Agreement; and
(f) improving the Parties’ understanding of specific issues relating to the implementation of the SPS Agreement; and
(f) reviewing progress on addressing sanitary and phytosanitary matters that may arise between the Parties’ agencies with responsibility for such matters.
(g) reviewing progress in addressing sanitary and phytosanitary matters that may arise between the Parties’ agencies and ministries with responsibility for such matters.
6. The Committee shall meet at least once a year unless the Parties otherwise agree. 8. The Committee shall meet at least once a year unless the Parties otherwise agree.
7. The Committee shall perform its work in accordance with the terms of reference referenced in paragraph 2. The Committee may revise the terms of reference and may develop procedures to guide its operation. 9. The Committee shall perform its work in accordance with its terms of reference. The Committee may revise its terms of reference and may establish procedures to guide its operation.
8. Each Party shall ensure that appropriate representatives with responsibility for the development, implementation, and enforcement of sanitary and phytosanitary measures from its relevant trade and regulatory agencies or ministries participate in meetings of the Committee. The official agencies and ministries of each Party responsible for such measures shall be set out in the Committee’s terms of reference. 7. Each Party shall ensure that appropriate representatives with responsibility for the development, implementation, and enforcement of sanitary and phytosanitary measures from its relevant trade and regulatory agencies or ministries participate in meetings of the Committee.
9. The Committee may agree to establish ad hoc working groups in accordance with the Committee’s terms of reference. 10. The Committee may establish ad hoc working groups in accordance with its terms of reference.
NO CORRESPONDING PARAGRAPH 11. All decisions of the Committee shall be taken by consensus, unless the Committee otherwise decides.
 

Annex 6.3
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters

NO CORRESPONDING ANNEX The Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters shall comprise representatives of the following agencies and ministries:

(a) in the case of Costa Rica, the Dirección de Aplicación de Acuerdos Comerciales Internacionales del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior, the Dirección de Salud Animal y el Servicio de Protección Fitosanitaria del Estado del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, and the Ministerio de Salud;

(b) in the case of the Dominican Republic, the Dirección de Sanidad Vegetal de la Secretaría de Estado de Agricultura, the Dirección de Sanidad Animal de la Dirección General de Ganadería, the Departamento de Control de Riesgo de Alimentos y Bebidas de la Secretaría de Estado de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, the Dirección de Comercio Exterior y Administración de Tratados Comerciales Internacionales de la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio, the Dirección General de Normas y Sistemas de Calidad de la Secretaría de Estado de Industria y Comercio, the Secretaría de Estado de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, and the Secretaría de Estado de Relaciones Exteriores;

(c) in the case of El Salvador, the Ministerio de Economía, the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería, and the Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social;

(d) in the case of Guatemala, the Unidad de Normas y Regulaciónes del Ministerio de Agricultura Ganadería y Alimentación, the Departamento de Regulación y Control de Alimentos del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, and the Ministerio de Economía;

(e) in the case of Honduras, the Dirección General de Integración Económica y Política Comercial de la Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Industria y Comercio and the Dirección General del Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria de la Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Agricultura y Ganadería;

(f) in the case of Nicaragua, the Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio, the Ministerio Agropecuario y Forestal, and the Ministerio de Salud; and (g) in the case of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Foreign Agricultural Service of the USDA, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services,

or their successors.

Article 6.4: Definitions

 
For purposes of this Chapter, sanitary or phytosanitary measure means any measure referred to in Annex A, paragraph 1, of the SPS Agreement. see definition under Chapter Two: General Definitions. Also included is a definition for the SPS Agreement.

 

 


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