Strengthening the Compliance of the OIC Member States
to International Standards
22
Another point that emerges from the figure is the rapid rise in new SPS measures over time, from a low
level compared with TBTs in 1995 to a higher number in 2015. This dynamic surely reflects rising
concerns with food safety around the world, but particularly in the large developed markets. This point
is of particular concern to OIC members that export, or could potentially export, agricultural products,
i.e. primarily the African and to a lesser extent the Asian groups. Exporters in these countries need to
comply with a thicket of regulations in import markets that may or may not be reflected in domestic
rules. Most notably in small, low income countries, the capacity to do so may be limited, with
corresponding negative effects on exports.
By contrast with SPS measures, TBTs are notified at a fairly constant rate except for a bump in 2010. It is
important to stress that the numbers in the figure represent growth in TBTs in a given year, and must be
related to the stock of TBTs at the starting point, in 1995. With this perspective in mind, it can be seen
that companies need to be aware of many thousands of TBTs that potentially impact their ability to
export. Navigating this environment is costly and time consuming, and again may pose particular
problems for small, low income countries where human, technical, and financial capacity is limited.
Figure 4: SPS and TBT notifications, by year, all WTO members.
Source: Indian Institute for International Trade, based on WTO data.
Although the SPS and TBT notification data speak volumes as to the current dynamics of standardization
activities around the world, it cannot be over-emphasized that greater use of standards does not
necessarily equate to protectionism. Indeed, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the intent behind
the new standards captured in SPS and TBT notifications is not protectionist, but instead dealing with
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
TBT Notifications SPS Notifications