Improving food safety to foster trade

Lipp, M.; Fattori, V.; Avesani, C.;

Improving food safety to foster trade

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 2p.

Author Lipp, M.; Fattori, V.; Avesani, C.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Policy brief

Category Policy brief

Series title Trade policy briefs

Series number No. 51

Full item page

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8406en

Synopsis (short abstract) Food safety measures are essential to protect the health of consumers and to promote confidence in international markets. It is therefore crucial to ensure that food safety measures and controls are in place to protect public health while avoiding unnecessary costs and barriers to trade. To ensure that food reaches consumers safely while trade is facilitated, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have adopted the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). In particular, the SPS Agreement strongly encourages WTO members to use international standards, guidelines and recommendations, and identifies the joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission as the relevant international standard-setting body for food safety. With this in mind, this policy brief discusses the links between trade and food safety, explores ideas for improving food safety while promoting trade, suggests ways forward, and highlights the critical role that FAO can play. More specifically, the brief suggests that in order to facilitate trade and ensure safe food for all at all times, countries need to take further steps to further improve food safety at the national, regional and international levels, and to ensure the proper application and harmonization of food standards. In this regard, investment in food safety is essential, and capacity-building support from FAO and other international organisations is key.

Cite this content as:

Lipp, M., Fattori, V. and Avesani, C. 2023. Improving food safety to foster trade. Trade policy briefs, No. 51. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc8406en

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

Meeting

Meeting document

TRADE, MARKET ACCESS AND FOOD SAFETY IN THE NEAR EAST REGION - Jeddah, 8-9 October 2003 2003

Also available in:

No results found.
Book (stand-alone)

Technical book

Safety nets to protect consumers from possible adverse effects 1997

Also available in:

No results found.
Project

Factsheet

Strengthening National Control System in Liberia to Ensure Safety of Foods and Improve Trade - TCP/LIR/3702 2023

Also available in:

No results found.

Food security and food safety are major challenges for consumers and producers in Liberia, as productivity continues to fall below regional levels, while handling and safety measures are not in place Microbiological and chemical contamination in food is a major cause of illnesses Food borne diseases not only pose significant threats to consumer health, they can also cause serious human suffering and economic damage In this regard, risk analysis has become an integral part in ensuring food safety.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

Meeting

Meeting document
C 2025/INF/1 - Provisional Timetable 2025

Also available in:

Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
Spanish
From Shelf to Screen: Digitizing the FAO Library for Future Generations 2025

Also available in:

No results found.
Meeting

Meeting document
C 2025/DJ/2 - Monday, 30 June 2025 2025

Also available in:

Arabic
Chinese
French
Russian
Spanish