Korea Trade Review (무역학회지)

Korea Trade Research Association (한국무역학회)
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A study for the possibility of international harmonization on alcohol labelling under WTO/TBT

WTO/TBT협정하에서 알코올 라벨링에 대한 국제적 조화 가능성에 관한 연구

  • Yang, Jung-Mi (Department of International Trade, Changwon National University)
  • 양정미 (창원대학교 국제무역학과)
  • Received : 2019.04.19
  • Accepted : 2019.04.29
  • Published : 2019.04.30
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Abstract

This paper determines if mandated alcohol health information labelling could be an obstacle to international trade by discussing international trade rules affecting member nations. WTO members could use alcohol labelling rules to protect human health, reduce the consumption of alcohol and provide product information. When a member uses alcohol labelling as a technical regulation or standard, it should comply with TBT Articles 2.2 and 2.4. If a member uses some specific warning messages for their objectives, it should be considered the contribution of the measure, trade restrictiveness, and alternatives. If WTO members want to employ their own alcohol labelling schemes for addressing carcinogenicity, intoxicating effects, dependence potential, effects on children, adolescents and pregnancy, it could be a technical barrier and also create adverse effects on international trade. Therefore, the harms of alcohol are supported by scientific evidence, and for this reason, the international harmonization for alcohol labelling should be discussed openly to prevent negative effects on trade.

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References

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