Transparency is one of the basic principles of the Agreement. The goal of transparency is to achieve a greater degree of clarity, predictability and information regarding trade policy, rules and procedures of WTO member countries.

The transparency provisions of the SPS Agreement are designed to ensure that measures taken to protect human, animal and plant health are made known to the interested public and to the trading partners. The agreement requires governments to promptly publish all sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and, upon request from another government, to provide an explanation for the reasons for any particular food safety or animal or plant health requirement.