In article it is reported about the measures defined by the Agreement of the WTO About technical barriers in trade (TBT) and requirements Agreements on sanitary and fytosanitory actions.
Among the main objectives within the accession of Ukraine to the WTO in the field of standardization are:
The agreement on technical barriers in trade. Agreement on sanitary and fytosanitory actions.
The WTO – the unique organization in the world, regulating the rules of trade based on guaranteeing quality and trust of the consumer.
Quality of the goods – one of the most important factors of its competitiveness.
Indicators of quality enter into the sphere of national system of technical regulation. Reforming of this system began with adoption of Laws of Ukraine About standardization and About compliance confirmation. Both laws correspond to principles of technical regulation in EU.
Standard – the technical language used by business around the world by production of the goods and services. The main essence in that by establishment of concrete parameters everywhere to provide a uniform technological basis for production of the goods, services and systems.
In development of standards are engaged a set of the various organizations: international, national, regional. At the international level process is coordinated by 3 largest organizations:
§ International Organization for Standardization (ISO),
§ International electrotechnical commission (IEC),
§ International union of communication (IMV).
The global system of standardization (standardization at the international, regional and national levels) represents the cooperation agreement between ISO, IEC, IMV.
In global system of standardization national members of three highest organizations assume responsibility for ensuring coordination in the country.
The system of the notice of developed technical regulations, standards, procedures of an assessment of compliance allows the countries – to participants of the WTO to exchange opinions and to give comments according to draft documents before their acceptance.
The most important function of the international standards is assistance to international trade. As it was already reported before, at the heart of activity of the WTO the Agreements signed between the participating countries lie.
One of them – the Agreement on technical barriers in trade (TBT) provides harmonization of national standards with the international.
To the measures defined by the Agreement on technical barriers in trade, concerning food production, belong: requirements to quality and packing of foodstuff; marking of foodstuff and drinks; requirements for safety (mechanical, fire, thermal, industrial and biological).
The agreement on technical barriers demands from members of the WTO of use of the international standards as a basis for development of national standards, except cases when the international standards would be insufficient according to the country – participants.
In case of disagreement with the international requirements the country – the participant represents in the WTO secretariat an explanation according to those technical regulations on which there are divergences.
The agreement establishes the obligation of each member of the WTO to organize in the territory information center through which any interested parties could receive information on national standards; about the requirements put in them, and system of certification of production operating in the state. The help international information service is called "ISONET", is established in 61 – oh to the country, its center is in Geneva, has 5 branches.
For production which can pose hazard to life and human health, animals, plants, and also surrounding environment, implementation of requirements of the Agreement on sanitary and fytosanitory actions is provided. These actions are urged to assist on ensuring protection of health of the person, animals, plants, and thus they shouldn’t lead to unjustified discrimination and the hidden restriction of international trade.
The agreement provides harmonization by member countries of the WTO of national sanitary and fytosanitory actions on the basis of the international standards, instructions and the recommendations developed by the international organizations: The commission the Code Alimentarius, the International convention on protection of plants, the International epizootichny bureaus.
The agreement allows establishment by the country – the member of the WTO of appropriate level of protection of the country by an advancing of the established international norms under condition of the reasoned justification and if they don’t limit essentially international trade.
L.Kan, leading expert KGAUKC.