Climate Change and Trade: The Link to Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards

This technical document stresses that while the effects of climate change on food safety, animal and plant health is a relatively new area of study, and information and data gaps persist, available evidence indicates that the effects are real and likely to increase in the future. In particular the document considers how climate change will affect sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) risks in the future. It highlights the need to effectively regulate the interface between trade and SPS risks, as trade is crucial to ensure continued access to food as part of the response to climate change but improperly regulated trade may contribute towards the spread of SPS risks to new regions.