Food trade
 Exports of food and agricultural products (crops, livestock and
livestock products) total over US$288 billion each year (average 2000-2002, FAOSTAT),
of which about 45% originates in developing countries. The food trade is both
an important source of foreign exchange earnings and a crucial component of
food security.
Food safety and quality have become increasingly important in
international trade over the last few years. Agreements reached during the
Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade negotiations and the establishment of the
World Trade Organization (WTO) brought agriculture and food products under
global trading rules for the first time. The inclusion of international food
standards in the WTO's Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) provided a level playing
field for countries involved in food and agricultural trade. The SPS and TBT
Agreements have also created new opportunities for developing and transition
countries to stimulate economic development through increased food and agricultural
exports.
However, weak capacity seriously limits many countries from taking
advantage of these opportunities. Responsibility for food safety is sometimes
divided among several agencies with overlapping authority, which can lead to
disjointed food safety strategies. In the most extreme cases, exports from
developing country have been banned because they fail to meet food safety standards.
However, even when exporters can meet the requirements of export markets and
the SPS Agreement, compliance costs can be prohibitively high.
FAO's Food Quality and Standards Service is involved in a wide
range of activities and programmes to meet these challenges. We support governments
and food enterprises to become more competitive in international trading markets,
and promote economic development through increased food and agricultural exports
through:
- Policy advice on specific issues related to food safety and
trade;
- Harmonization
of food regulations and standards with Codex and other international and
regional regulatory instruments;
- Seminars and workshops to raise awareness
and knowledge among officials in government agencies and the private
sector about the importance of food quality and safety for food trade and
economic development;
- Support to upgrade the capacity of food analysis
laboratories and inspection services so that they meet Codex standards,
conform to accreditation requirements, and/or comply with other relevant
international and regional trade agreements;
- Assistance to food enterprises
and exporters to obtain accreditation of their quality assurance
and HACCP systems;
- Studies and applied research on specific subjects related
to food safety and trade.
See also
Integrated food control systems > Managing food control systems
Integrated food control systems > Good practices and quality
assurance |
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