A great deal of discussion is taking place within the natural products industry on this subject. Arguably, there appears to be no single and categorical obligation for governments to adopt Codex standards and guidelines.
However, the preamble to the SPS Agreement (to which all WTO Members are signatories) specifically mentions Codex and states that WTO Members (and hence all SPS signatories) desire:
"To further the use of harmonized sanitary and phytosanitary measures between Members on the basis of international standards, guidelines and recommendations developed by the relevant international organizations, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission."
A great deal of discussion is taking place within the natural products industry on this subject. Arguably, there appears to be no single and categorical obligation for governments to adopt Codex standards and guidelines.
However, the preamble to the SPS Agreement (to which all WTO Members are signatories) specifically mentions Codex and states that WTO Members (and hence all SPS signatories) desire:
"To further the use of harmonized sanitary and phytosanitary measures between Members on the basis of international standards, guidelines and recommendations developed by the relevant international organizations, including the Codex Alimentarius Commission."
In fact, Article 3.1 of the Agreement goes even further than this to state:
"To harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures on as wide a basis as possible, Members shall base their sanitary or phytosanitary measures on international standards, guidelines or recommendations, where they exist."
The key word here, from a legal...
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