The agreement is overseen by the Committee on Agriculture which reviews
progress in the implementation of commitments, and is required to monitor the
follow-up on the Ministerial decision relating to the least-developed countries
and net-food importing developing countries. "Peace" provisions within the
agreement aim to reduce the likelihood of serious disputes or challenges on
agricultural subsidies over a period of nine years. 57. The
agreement was conceived as part of a continuing process with the long-term
objective of securing substantial progressive reductions in support and
protection in agriculture. It calls for further negotiations to be initiated
before the end of the fifth year of implementation. 58. The
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (植物检疫的) Measures
concerns the application of food safety and animal and plant health
regulations. It recognizes governments’ rights to take
sanitary and phytosanitary measures but stipulates that they must be based on
science, should be applied only to the extent necessary to protect human, animal
or plant life or health and should not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate
between members where identical or similar conditions prevail.
Members are encouraged to base their measures on international standards,
guidelines and recommendations where they exist, 59. However, members may
maintain or introduce measures which result in higher standards if there is
scientific justification or as a consequence of consistent risk decisions based
on an appropriate risk assessment. 60. It is expected
that members will accept the sanitary and phytosanitary measures of others as
equivalent if the exporting Country demonstrates to the importing country that
its measures achieve the importing country’s appropriate level of health
protection.