WTO协定在食品安全争端中的适用及最新发展

Applications and Recent Developments of WTO Agreements in Food Security Dispute Resolutions

WTO体制中的食品安全争端可能适用的法律规则包括GATT、《TBT协定》和《SPS协定》。虽然上述协定都可能适用于食品安全争端,但在具体案件中,则适用特别法优于普通法的法律选择规则,但也并非没有例外。在最近的澳大利亚苹果案和美国禽肉措施案中,由于系争措施的技术性质,专家组和上诉机构适用了《SPS协定》予以规范。从长期来看,《SPS协定》适用于食品安全争端会成为趋势。

GA3T, TBT Agreements and SPS Agreements may all apply to food security dispute resolutions in WTO system. Despite of this, the rule of Lex Speeialis derogat generali may work in tackling a specific case, though not without exceptions. SPS Agreements is adopted by the Panel and the Appellate Body in dissolving the Australia - Apples and US - Poultry Disputes, due to the technical nature of the measures. In the long run, it is liable to become a trend to adopt SPS Agreements to regulate food security dispute resolutions.