TRADE LAWS Article 16 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 1. Member States shall base their sanitary and phytosanitary measures on international standards, guidelines and recommendations, so as to harmonize sanitary and phytosanitary measures for agricultural and livestock production. 2. Member States shall, upon request, enter into consultation with the aim of achieving agreements on recognition of the equivalence of specific sanitary and phytosanitary measures, in accordance with the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. Article 17 STANDARDS AND TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ON TRADE 1. Each Member State shall use relevant international standards as a basis for its standards-related measures, except where such standards would be an ineffective or inappropriate means to fulfil its legitimate objectives. 2. A Member State’s standards-related measures that conform to an international standard shall be presumed not to create an unnecessary obstacle to trade. 3. Without reducing the level of safety, or of protection of human, animal or plant life or health, of the environment or of consumers, without prejudice to the rights of any Member State and taking into account international standardization activities, Member States shall, to the greatest extent practicable, make compatible their respective standards- related measures, so as to facilitate trade in goods and services within the Community.