Transparency and WTO SPS Notifications: A Case Study of India

Abstract

WTO members over the years have adopted various sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in order to protect the human, animal, and plant life. As tariff measures at the border have reduced, the trend for non-tariff measures (NTMs), including SPS and technical barriers to trade (TBT), has significantly increased. These NTMs are important as they also affect trade in agricultural goods. With respect to agriculture, the SPS measures applied need to be transparent and complete in order to assist exporters and importers with information. As a result, there is the need for enhanced transparency provisions to ensure more detailed and complete SPS notifications. Members of the WTO, therefore, will benefit from the examination of the completeness and quality-related test for SPS notifications to ensure smooth trade flow of agricultural products among countries. It is in this context that this study will examine the quality and related issues for SPS notifications for India. The findings of the study show that there have been considerable improvements in India’s quality of SPS notifications over the years, however, some areas need addressing to enhance quality even further.