I RECOGNIZE YOU, I RECOGNIZE YOU NOT: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement Disputes and the Application of the Precautionary Principle in WTO Decisions by Vital Michel Trudeau A thesis submitted to The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts- Legal Studies Department of Law Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario July 20, 2006 © 2006, Vital Michel Trudeau Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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ABSTRACT The late twentieth century has witnessed a rapid rise in the exchange of goods, and a particularly large increase in trade relations involving consumable goods, for humans and animals. This increase in trade, coupled with the speed with which products move around the globe, has raised the importance of the Precautionary Principle. This thesis looks at the evolution of the Principle through four decisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) involving theSanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS). Having rendered some controversial rulings, the W TO has not demonstrated in its decisions, exhaustive and robust deliberations, but has instead relied on doctrinaire textualism by basing the resolution of complex issues on a single document, namely th e SPS Agreement. Furthermore, the Precautionary Principle may have reached its apogee, as it appears destined to be replaced by the more normative constructs of risk assessment and risk management. 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Having reached another milestone in my education, I owe this achievement to many people who have assisted me in completing this long sought personal goal. I wish to thank Dr. Diana Majury for her assistance toward my admission to the program. I convey my gratitude to Dr. Barry W right for his encouragement and guidance throughout both, my undergraduate and graduate studies at Carleton University, as a student and as a Teaching Assistant with the Law Department. His dedication to law and to the teaching profession was an ever present inspiration. I am very grateful to Dr. Charles Barrett for his constructive comments, and for his acceptance to act as the External Examiner for my defense. I express my deep gratitude to Dr. Alan H unt, m y Thesis Advisor, and his encouragement towards my pursuit of further education, and to Andrew Squires of the Law Department for his encouragement and patience, and also for his quick responses to my numerous questions during the completion of this degree. Although mentioned last, it is by no means indicative of a lesser influence during my stay at Carleton University. I have greatly appreciated and I take the opportunity to express my deepest appreciation to Dr. Paul Davidson, m y thesis Supervisor, for his advice and his patient guidance and recommendations that w ill forever assist me in my work and in my future educational initiatives. Finally, I owe a great deal to Lysa, who patiently encouraged and supported me during relentless hours of studies and writing over the last five years. It is the support and encouragement of these individuals and others, too many to mentioned, that has given me the energy and strength to achieve this phase of a life long objective. Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body; but rather of skidding in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: "WOW!! What a ride!" Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................v I THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE................................................................17 A The Precautionary Principle: Ex Ante or Ex Post?.......................................... 19 B The Precautionary Principle - Definition.............................................................. 31 C The Precautionary Principle and International Law......................................... 34 D The Precautionary Principle: History and Development..................................44 II THE SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY (SPS) AGREEMENT DISPUTES..............................................................................................................................54 A The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS) — An Overview................ 55 B EC Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones)......................58 C Australia — Measures Affecting Importation of Salm on................................... 69 D Japan - Measures Affecting Agricultural Products............................................ 75 E Japan - Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples....................................85 III TO BE RECOGNIZED, OR NOT TO BE RECOGNIZED? THAT IS THE QUESTION..................................................................................................................93 1 - The Precautionary Principle in theHormones Case............................................ 99 2 - The Precautionary Principle in theSalmon Case..............................................103 3 - The Precautionary Principle inAgricultural Products Case............................. 106 4 - The Precautionary Principle in theApples Case.................................................108 5 - The Application of the Precautionary Principle..................................................111 Table - 1 Appellate Body - Occupation and Educational Profile................ 123 IV CONCLUSION......................................................................................................133 BIBLIOGRAPHY...............................................................................................................139 Books and Articles............................................................................................................139 WTO Panel Reports........................................................................................................ 142 WTO Appellate Body Reports....................................................................................... 142 Case Law............................................................................................................................. 143 Domestic Case Law......................................................:............................................... 143 International Case Law.................................................................................................143 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INTRODUCTION (Now, however,) after eleven years on the Bench following eighteen at the Bar, I being well advised by observation and experience of what I am about to set down, have thought it both wise and decorous to now boldly affirm that “ having well and exactly seen, surveyed, overlooked, reviewed, recognized, read and read over again, turned and tossed about, seriously perused and examined the preparitories ... and other such like confects and spiceries, both at the one and the other side, as a good judge ought to do, I posit on the end of the table in my closet all the pokes and bags of the defendants — that being done I thereafter lay down upon the other end of the same table the bags and satchels of