Brazil advances WTO talks on sanitary market access

Brazil reported progress in sanitary and phytosanitary negotiations during the 95th meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held 17 bilateral meetings with strategic trade partners. The talks focused on pending sanitary negotiations, market access, updates to international certificates and technical rules affecting agricultural trade.

For fruit, vegetable and nut exporters, these talks are important because SPS rules define how countries manage plant health, food safety and certification requirements. Clearer rules and updated certificates can help reduce delays and support new export opportunities, especially when market access depends on technical approval.

Brazil also took part in discussions on 13 Specific Trade Concerns. These are used by WTO members to question sanitary or phytosanitary measures that may affect trade. According to the Brazilian ministry, about half of these concerns are solved within two years.

The SPS Committee is the WTO’s main forum for sanitary and phytosanitary trade issues. Its role is to ensure that health and plant protection measures are based on science and are not used as unjustified trade barriers.

Brazil said its active work in the committee helps improve transparency, predictability and legal security for agricultural exports. The country is currently the second-largest notifier to the SPS Committee, after the United States.

source and photo: gov.br