論WTO《SPS協定》與Codex瘦肉精安全標準之適當性 On the Food Safety Standard and Its Adequacy in WTO/SPS Agreement and Codex/Ractopamine

Abstract

「貿易障礙」自GATT 到WTO 時期均一直被視為是對貿易自由化此一價值的減損或否定，故應予設法消除或管制。然而，任何「自由化」的追求均不宜是毫無限制的。基於此一思考，本文檢視目前WTO 中涉及維護人體健康及相關食品安全標準的法律文件—《SPS 協定》及其附件A，並以該協定所肯認之一項國際組織的安全標準—瘦肉精（Ractopamine）的殘留值為例，討論維護消費者食品安全法益的貿易障礙是否在追求自由化的國際貿易法律規範中受到過度與不當之限制。經由追溯《SPS 協定》設立的歷史背 景以及Codex 在制定瘦肉精安全標準上之實踐，本文不但發現《SPS 協定》在規範層面上存有缺失，並對新自由制度主義（Neoliberal Institutionalism）的基本理論假設提出質疑與修正。 Trade barriers should be eliminated or managed because they contradict or weaken the value of trade liberalization. However, any promotions of liberalization without limitations or restraints are doubtful. Considering a matter in this aspect, this essay reviews the SPS Agreement and its Annex A which are both legal documents regarding human health protection and food safety standards under the WTO system. Meanwhile, this essay also inspects maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the amount of the drug—Ractopamine—allowed in the tissues of animal, an international standard made by the Codex, delegated by the SPS Agreement. By reviewing the two documents above, this essay examines whether or not the WTO is excessive or unjust to block trade barriers regarding human health protection and food safety standards. Based on the historical background about the formation pro- cess of SPS Agreement and the practice of the Codex’s safety standards mentioned in the SPS Agreement’s Annex A, this essay does not only point out the flaws in the SPS Agreement, but also rebuts some hypotheses being a part of foundations of international organizations from the Neoliberal Institutionalism perspective.

Keywords

• 食品安全法典委員會
• 國際食品安全標準
• 非關稅貿易障礙
• 瘦肉精
• SPS 協定
• Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex)
• International Food Safety Standard
• Non-Tariff Barriers
• Ratopamine
• SPS Agreemen