International Forum on Food Safety and Trade [1]
Monday, April 29, 2019 - 20:13. Updated on Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 13:01.
Using new technology to facilitate trade and address food safety was discussed at the International Forum on Food Safety and Trade held on 23-24 April, by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Adis Ababa.
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo said in his opening speech that technological advances are revolutionizing the way we trade.
“And this has an impact on the way that food safety measures are designed and enforced.” He then proposed that all organizations collaborate to help build the necessary capacity and skills.
Azevedo said the contributions made by the multilateral trading system to ensure the supply of safe food are covered in WTO agreements and programs such as the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and the Standards and Trade Development Facility.
However, he requested that officials and experts further look at digitalization and its impact on food safety and trade, ensuring synergies between the two, and promoting harmonized food safety regulations in a period of change and innovation.
Azevedo was also joined at the forum by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Director-General Monique Eloit.
Graziano da Silva pointed out the central role that trade rules and regulations are playing along the food supply chain, especially when new health issues such as obesity becomes a global challenge.
“The international trade and the high consumption of ultra-processed food is a great concern that must be addressed properly, based on the fact that obesity is a public health issue and not merely a consequence of individual choices.”
He said the international community must progress the establishment of rules and regulations that encourage consumers to eat healthy and nutritious foods.
Ghebreyesus, on the other hand, emphasized the need for harmonization of food safety policy and regulations across sectors and borders in order to protect consumers' health and facilitate fair practices in food trade.
“Food safety crosses national borders. Food produced in one country today can, within 24 hours, be on the other side of the planet and on its way to shops, restaurants and homes. There should be no such thing as food safety for the rich and another for the poor.”
He said the health of all people, no matter where they live and what they eat, must be protected equally.
Animal health and food safety link was highlighted by OIE Director-General, Monique Eloit.
She stressed the importance of international standards as a common language for various actors involved in trade and the food chain.
She said OIE is committed to implementing standards, such as OIE's IPPC standards and Codex Alimentarius which are recognized by the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
"These standards, while contributing to the health of our animals, plants or food safety also ensure fair, safe and equitable trade."
The International Forum on Food Safety and Trade follows on from a previous event held in Addis Ababa [2] in February 2019 by the FAO, the WHO and the African Union.