Phyto Rules Must Not Impede Trade

BRUSSELS - May 27/05 - SNS -- Sanitary and phytosanitary rules should not be used to impede trade, argued EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson at a conference on those rules.

International export and import standards need to be based on sound scientific evidence and the option "that restricts trade the least," Commissioner Mandelson told an audience of MEPs, industry and Member State representatives.

He said this meant the European Union needs to act more coherently to ensure market access for EU exports in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary products.

The Commissioner argued that the EU needs to ensure that European and international standards are scientifically justified and that trade development assistance needs to be better used to help developing countries to meet those standards so they continue to benefit from access to the EU market.

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