of APHIS to work 
with our trading 
partners to develop 
internationally 
acceptable 
standards. We've 
already made 
great progress 
in this area with 
some nations, 
especially Canada 
and Mexico. 
4 APHIS in 
It is a top priority 
International Standards 
The WTO and NAFTA encourage countries to 
base their SPS regulations on international 
standards. Countries are required to publish 
proposed regulations in order to give other 
nations a chance to comment before the 
regulations go into effect. This process is 
intended to reduce unnecessary variance 
between countries’ technical health stan- 
dards—differences that are often the cause 
of trade disputes. It is a top priority of APHIS 
to work with our trading partners to develop 
internationally acceptable standards. We’ve 
already made great progress in this area with 
some nations, especially Canada and Mexico. 
APHIS works with and recognizes a number 
of standards-setting organizations that help 
determine the rules for international trade. 
L’Office International des Epizooties 
(OIE) and Animal Health 
One of the most important standards-setting 
organizations, Paris-based OIE has more 
than 150 member countries. It was started in 
the 1920’s in response to the appearance of 
rinderpest in Europe from Pakistan. Each 
member country has one vote and one dele- 
gate. Its major functions are to collect and 
disseminate information on the distribution 
and control of animal diseases, coordinate 
research on contagious animal diseases, and 
standardize rules for international trade in 
animals and animal products. 
OIE aims to ensure that scientifically justi- 
fied measures are used to govern interna- 
tional trade in animals and animal products. 
The WTO has designated the OIE as the 
international forum for setting animal 
health standards, reporting global animal 
health situations and status, and presenting 
guidelines and recommendations on animal 
health issues. 
the Global Trade Arena 
International and North American 
Organizations for Plant Health 
The WTO recognizes the International Plant 
Protection Convention (IPPC) when it comes 
to setting plant health standards. In effect 
since 1952, the IPPC is a multilateral treaty 
that promotes “. .. common and effective 
action to prevent the spread and introduc- 
tion of pests of plants and plant products 
and to promote measures for their control.” 
The treaty is administered by the Food and 
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United 
Nations. Currently, more than 100 countries 
adhere to the IPPC. 
In 1989, an IPPC Secretariat was created to 
coordinate activities for the IPPC and to sup- 
port the development and administration of 
international phytosanitary standards. Given 
the importance of international standards to 
future agricultural trade, the technical and 
regulatory nature of plant health issues 
covered by the IPPC, and APHIS’ scientific 
expertise in this area, APHIS has assumed 
the role of lead U.S. agency participating in 
activities of the IPPC. 
The IPPC objectives are to develop interna- 
tional plant health standards, promote the 
harmonization of plant quarantine activities 
with emerging standards, facilitate the dis- 
semination of phytosanitary information, 
support plant health assistance to developing 
countries, and resolve disputes. 
The North American Plant Protection 
Organization (NAPPO)—a regional plant 
protection organization of the IPPC created 
in 1976— coordinates the efforts among 
Canada, the United States, and Mexico to 
protect their plant resources from the entry, 
establishment, and spread of plant pests 
while ensuring the free flow of trade between 
the three nations. APHIS employees are fre- 
quently assigned to NAPPO committees 
charged with reviewing technical standards 
or reviewing new methods for pest control. 
