This article discusses the health-related agreements that are part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Marrakech, 1994, as well as other international processes in the harmonization of technical regulations. It is based on a literature review aimed at a theorical basis for identifying principles and arguments, in the wording of the agreements and regulations. A special focus is placed on the impacts for Brazilian institutions in terms of internal democracy and national sovereignty. The article concludes that despite the "globalist" arguments according to which these agreements and processes define certain procedures and rules for all states and thus mean a step forward in relation to the previous situation, the international system is still essentially anarchic, with national states motivated exclusively according to their own interests. The super-powers enjoy the prerogative of interpreting their duties and obligations with no fear of contradiction or retaliation, despite institutionalization at the international level.
Sanitary agreements; Technical barriers; Sanitary regulation; Globalization