Governments Impose SPS Measures

Text 1

Reading and Speaking

Word Study

Starting Up

UNIT 3.3 Veterinary and Phytosanitary control

For more information turn to Grammar reference section.

Exercise 1. Ask your partner the questions.

1. What does abbreviation SPS stand for?

2. What are the requirements for bringing cats and dogs into Russia/the United States?

3. What kind of food products can travellers bring to Russia/the U.S.?

4. Why do the countries introduce SPS standards?

5. How do you know that your country’s consumers are being supplied with food that is safe to eat – ‘safe’ by the standards you consider appropriate?

Exercise 2. Choose the definitions of the following words.

1. government 2. livestock 3. crops 4. pesticide 5. ban 6. disease 7. quarantine 8. virus

a) a plant or plant product such as grain, fruit, or vegetables grown by a farmer; b) farm animals, such as cattle, sheep, and chickens; c) a system of political and social representation and control; d) to block, to forbid; e) sickness or serious disorder that is inherited or caused by infection or bad living conditions; g) to keep a person or animal away from everyone else because that person or animal has a dangerous disease; h) any microorganism smaller than bacteria that causes such diseases as the common cold, influenza, measles, and HIV; i) a chemical used to kill pests.

Exercise 3. Match left and right.

1) подвергать ветеринарному контролю или карантину	a) to be transmitted by food
2) принимать меры	b) domestic livestock
3) ввозить сельскохозяйственную продукцию	c) pork products
4) домашний скот	d) plant pests
5) безопасность пищевых продуктов	e) to be subject to veterinary check-ups or quarantine
6) сельскохозяйственные культуры	f) “mad cow disease”
7) следы пестицидов	g) to apply measures
8) торговые барьеры	h) poultry and beef exports
9) вредители растений	i) domestic crops
10) вирус гриппа	j) to import farm products
11) ‘коровье бешенство’	k) food safety
12) продукты свиноводства	l) pesticide residues
13) экспорт домашней птицы и говядины	m) barriers to trade
14) передаваться через пищу (о вирусе)	n) the influenza virus

Exercise 4. Read Text 1 to answer the questions below.

1. What is the role of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures?

2. What products are routinely restricted for importation?

3. What are the consequences of these restrictions?

4. Is there any evidence that the virus is transmitted by food?

SPS measures are measures that governments apply to protect human, animal, or plant life or health from risks arising from the entry. For example, the United States and other governments routinely apply measures at the border to protect domestic crops or livestock from imported farm products or animals that may introduce a plant pest or animal disease into the country.

Many countries have established maximum limits for pesticide residues in food to promote food safety. In addition, governments often require live animals to be subject to veterinary check-ups or quarantine before entering the country.

At times, however, some governments impose SPS measures that are big barriers to trade. For example, in 2009 a number of countries banned imports of U.S. pork and pork products, citing threats (угрозы) of the H1N1 influenza virus, despite the fact that there is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by food. Similarly, many countries have used the threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (губчатая энцефалопатия у крупного рогатого скота) (otherwise known as BSE or “mad cow disease”) as a reason to block U.S. poultry and beef exports.

Exercise 5. Agree or disagree with the following:

1. The United States and other governments have a legitimate right to adopt and enforce measures to protect their people, animals, and plants from SPS-related risks.

2. The governments try to prevent the entry, establishment, or spread of animal and plant pests.

3. Governments impose SPS measures that promote trade.

4. Live animals are not subject to veterinary check-ups.

5. The countries don’t introduce maximum limits for pesticide residues.

Exercise 6. Read Text 2 and speak on the role of WTO in protecting the countries from risks of diseases.

Text 2*

The World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)

The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the “SPS Agreement”) entered into force with the establishment of the World Trade Organization on 1 January, 1995. It concerns the application of food safety and animal and plant health regulations.

The SPS Agreement, to which all WTO Members are parties, recognizes that countries have the right to adopt regulations to protect human, animal, or plant life or health - including food safety regulations and measures to protect domestic crops, livestock, and poultry.

The SPS Agreement establishes a number of general requirements and procedures to ensure that governments adopt and apply SPS measures to protect against real risks. The SPS Agreement also encourages harmonization of SPS measures among WTO Members.

The SPS Agreement applies only to those governmental measures that may directly or indirectly affect international trade. The Agreement defines SPS measures as any measure that a WTO Member applies:

· to protect animal or plant life or health within the territory of the Member from risks arising from the entry, spread of pests, diseases or disease-carrying organisms;

· to protect human or animal life or health within the territory of the Member from risks arising from additives, contaminants, toxins, or disease-causing organisms in foods, beverages or feedstuffs;

· to prevent or limit other damage within the territory of the Member from the introduction or spread of pests.

Exercise 7. Find the English equivalents for:

соглашение ВТО по применению санитарных и фитосанитарных мер; применение мер для защиты людей, животных или растений; принять соглашение; торговая ассоциация; влиять на международную торговлю; частная компания; распространение болезней; напитки; продукты питания; пищевые добавки; вредители; поощрять; общие требования; вступать в силу.

Exercise 8. Translate into Russian.

Endangered species of wildlife and products made from them such as tortoise, shell jewellery, leather goods, articles made from whalebone, ivory, skins, or furs, are prohibited from being imported or exported.

Exercise 9. Translate into English.

1. Применение санитарных и фитосанитарных норм не должно оказывать негативного воздействия на торговлю.

2. Санитарные и фитосанитарные меры применяются на основе двусторонних соглашений.

3. Санитарные и фитосанитарные меры необходимы для защиты жизни или здоровья людей, животных или растений.

4. Санитарные или фитосанитарные меры согласуются с международными стандартами.

5. Комитет по санитарным и фитосанитарным мерам разрабатывает процедуру наблюдения за процессом международной гармонизации.

Exercise 10. Read Text 3 and write an essay on phytosanitary requirements specific to Russia.

Text 3*

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