The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on 1 January 1995.

A substantial degree of coordination and cooperation between the Secretariats and members of both organizations is needed, and takes place regularly.

The WTO's Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) came into force on 1 January 1995, the same day the WTO was established. In regards to plant health, the SPS Agreement recognizes Standards, Guidelines and Recommendations developed under the auspices of the IPPC Secretariat to help ensure that phytosanitary measures are not used as unjustified barriers to trade.

More recently, the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement came into force on 22 February 2017.  In this regard, the two Secretariats cooperate to help ensure the facilitation of safe trade.  Ongoing workshops are focusing on enhancing cooperation at border points.

 The IPPC Secretariat focal point for this organization is Brent LARSON ([email protected]).  This page was last reviewed 2020-01-05.