The World Trade Organization (WTO) is often criticized for its disregard for environmental values and social standards, thus being seen as a driving force behind globalization and its feared negative effects. This paper addresses the compatibility of free trade and the environment based on the legal framework of the WTO and the principles of international environmental law. It specifically examines the extent to which the WTO's treaty texts allow trade-restrictive precautionary measures for environmental protection at the national level and how the dispute resolution bodies consider the sovereign right of member states to establish their own national protection levels. To answer this question, the WTO law is related to the principles of international environmental law, and their relationship is investigated. Special attention is given to technical advancements and innovative products, particularly in the food sector, whose handling is sometimes associated with risks and whose exact impacts cannot yet be assessed according to the current state of science.