SPS Definition
   • Risk assessment -- the evaluation of the 
    likelihood of the entry, establishment, or 
    spread of a pest or disease … and the 
    associated potential biological and 
    economic consequences ...  (SPS Annex A)
        IPPC Definition
   • The process of evaluating biological or 
    other scientific and economic evidence to 
    determine whether a pest should be 
    regulated and the strength of any 
    phytosanitary measures to be taken against 
    it -- (1997 IPPC)
       PRA Obligations
   • SPS Article 5.1 -- Members shall ensure 
    that … phytosanitary measures are based on 
    an assessment … of the risks …
   • IPPC Article II -- technically justified 
    (phytosanitary measures) justified on the 
    basis of conclusions reached by using an 
    appropriate pest risk analysis ...
     Standards and PRA 
   • Phytosanitary measures must be based on 
    international standards or justified on the 
    basis of PRA (SPS Articles 3 & 5) 
   • Deviations from standards must be justified 
    by PRA (SPS Article 5)
   • Provisional (emergency) measures must be 
    reviewed using PRA (SPS Article 5)
       PRA and Trade
   • Few specific phytosanitary standards have 
    been done, therefore most phytosanitary 
    measures must be justified by PRA
   • PRA is used to:
    – justify protection measures affecting trade
    – evaluate or challenge other’s measures
    – encourage technical dialogue/info sharing
    – prioritize risk management and research