Article 5 - Assessment of Risk and Determination of Level of Protection

Article 5 of the WTO SPS Agreement requires each member to assess the risks associated with pests, diseases, or contaminants before imposing sanitary or phytosanitary measures, and to base any restrictions on scientific evidence and the level of protection deemed appropriate for human, animal or plant health. The provision also obliges members to consider international standards where they exist and to ensure that measures are not more trade-restrictive than necessary.