Food safety issues in international trade

"While not trade measures per se, food safety regulations and standards can impede trade and significantly affect the ability of developing countries to access markets, particularly in industrialized countries. In part, this reflects the growing use of these measures globally in response to the rapid increase in scientific and technical understanding of food-borne hazards to human health." from TextFood safety ,food security ,Public health ,

ESTIMATING THE INCIDENCE OF FOODBORNE SALMONELLA AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE CONTROL MEASURES

Foodborne illness incidence, Salmonella, Delphi method, United Kingdom, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Kenyan exports of Nile perch : the impact of food safety standards on an export-oriented supply chain

Over the past decade, exports of fish and fishery products from developing countries have increased rapidly. However, one of the major challenges facing developing countries in seeking to maintain and expand their share of global markets is stricter food safety requirements in industrialized countries. Kenyan exports of Nile perch to the European Union provide a notable example of efforts to comply with such requirements, overlaid with the necessity to overcome restrictions on trade relating to immediate food safety concerns. Although food safety requirements were evolving in their major markets, most notably the European Union, most Kenyan exporters had made little attempts to upgrade their hygiene standards. Likewise, the legislative framework of food safety controls and facilities at landing sites remained largely unchanged. Both exporters and the Kenyan government were forced to take action when a series of restrictions were applied to exports by the European Union over the period 1997 to 2000. Processors responded by upgrading their hygiene controls, although a number of facilities closed, reflecting significant costs of compliance within the context of excess capacity in the sector. Remaining facilities upgraded their hygiene controls and made efforts to diversify their export base away from the European. Legislation and control mechanisms were also enhanced. Hygiene facilities at landing beaches were improved, but remain the major area of weakness. The Kenyan case illustrates the significant impact that stricter food safety requirements can have on export-oriented supply chains. It also demonstrates how such requirements can exacerbate existing pressures for restructuring and reform, while prevailing supply and capacity issues constrain the manner in which the supply chain is able to respond. In Kenya most of the concerted effort to comply with these requirementswas stimulated by the sudden loss of market access in very much a crisis management mode of operation, illustrating the importance of responding to emerging food safety requirements in a proactive and effective manner.Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Environmental Economics&Policies,Coastal and Marine Resources,Fishing Industry,Fisheries&Aquaculture,Environmental Economics&Policies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Coastal and Marine Resources,Fishing Industry,Agribusiness&Markets

Standards and agro-food exports from developing countries: rebalancing the debate

The proliferation and increased stringency of food safety and agricultural health standards is a source of concern among many developing countries. These standards are perceived as a barrier to the continued success of their exports of high-value agro-food products (including fish, horticultural, and other products), either because these countries lack the technical and administrative capacities needed for compliance or because these standards can be applied in a discriminatory or protectionist manner. The authors draw on available literature and work in progress to examine the underlying evidence related to the changing standards environment and its impact on existing and potential developing country exporters of high-value agricultural and food products. The evidence the authors present, while only partial, suggests that the picture for developing countries as a whole is not necessarily problematic and certainly less pessimistic than the mainstream"standards-as-barriers"perspective. Indeed, rising standards serve to accentuate underlying supply chain strengths and weaknesses and thus impact differently on the competitive position of individual countries and distinct market participants. Some countries and industries are even using high quality and safety standards to successfully (re-)position themselves in competitive global markets. This emphasizes the importance of considering the effects of food safety and agricultural health measures within the context of wider capacity constraints and underlying supply chain trends and drivers. The key question for developing countries is how to exploit their strengths and overcome their weaknesses such that they are gainers rather than losers in the emerging commercial and regulatory context.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Public Health Promotion,Environmental Economics&Policies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Labor Policies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Livestock&Animal Husbandry,Food&Beverage Industry

A Strategic Perspective on the Impact of Food Safety Standards on Developing Countries

This paper explores the competing concepts of 'standards as barriers' and standards as catalysts' in the context of food safety standards in international trade in agricultural and food products. It is suggested that food safety standards can act as both a barrier to trade and the basis of competitive positioning for developing countries in international markets. This suggests that the application of a strategic framework to analyze and assess alternative responses to evolving food safety standards can throw some light on the circumstances under which standards act to prohibit trade or, alternatively, create competitive trade opportunities. The use of such a framework is illustrated through a brief case study of fish and fishery product exports from Kenya and India.Agriculture, Food, Trade, Food Safety, Standards, Technical barriers to Trade, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Q18, K32, F13,

India Public Opinion Monitor: Causes of Poverty Survey Results

The India Public Opinion Monitor (IPOM) is a longitudinal panel of 3,022 opinion leaders from across India that aims to provide an ongoing monitor of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of India, and on India’s place in the wider world. A particular sub-theme is India’s relations with other emerging and developing economies in South Asia and globally. The current survey was undertaken in December 2013. Of the 3,022 members of the panel, 1,543 returned the fully completed questionnaire. A summary of the results is provided in the report. The focus of the current survey was poverty in India. Panel members were asked about current levels of poverty in India, how they expected the level of poverty to change looking to the future, and what factors they considered to be the major determinants of poverty in the country. The same questions were put to panels in Brazil and South Africa, enabling comparisons to be made with other BRICS countries.UK Department for International Developmen

Indian Public Opinion Monitor: Baseline Survey Results

The Indian Public Opinion Monitor (IPOM) is a longitudinal panel of 3,022 opinion leaders from across India that aims to provide an ongoing monitor of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of India, and on India’s place in the wider world. A particular sub-theme is India’s relations with other emerging and developing economies in South Asia and globally. The current survey was undertaken in July 2013. Of the 3,022 members of the panel, 2,789 returned the fully completed questionnaire.DFI

South Africa Public Opinion Monitor: Causes of Poverty Survey Results

The South Africa Public Opinion Monitor (SAPOM) is a longitudinal panel of 2,526 opinion leaders from across South Africa that aims to provide an ongoing monitor of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of South Africa, and on South Africa’s place in the wider world. A particular sub-theme is South Africa’s relations with other emerging and developing economies in sub-Saharan Africa and globally. The current survey was undertaken in December 2013. Of the 2,526 members of the panel, 1,876 returned the fully completed questionnaire. A summary of the results is provided in the report. The focus of the current survey was poverty in South Africa. Panel members were asked about current levels of poverty in South Africa, how they expected the level of poverty to change looking to the future, and what factors they considered to be the major determinants of poverty in the country. The same questions were put to panels in Brazil and India, enabling comparisons to be made with other BRICS countries.UK Department for International Developmen

South Africa Public Opinion Monitor: Baseline Survey Results

The South African Public Opinion Monitor (SAPOM) is a longitudinal panel of 2,526 opinion leaders from across South Africa that aims to provide an ongoing monitor of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of South Africa and its place in the wider world. A particular sub-theme is South Africa’s relations with other emerging and developing economies in South Asia and globally. The current survey was undertaken in July 2013. Of the 2,526 members of the panel, 2,439 returned fully completed questionnaires.DFI

Brazil Public Opinion Monitor: Baseline Survey Results

The Brazil Public Opinion Monitor (BPOM) is a longitudinal panel of 2,672 opinion leaders from across Brazil that aims to provide an on-going monitor of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of Brazil, and on Brazil’s place in the wider world. A particular sub-theme is Brazil’s relations with other emerging and developing economies in South America and globally. These results, and those of the surveys through the remainder of 2013, aim to provide a baseline of opinions and perspectives on the economic and social development of Brazil, and on Brazil’s place in the wider world. The current survey was undertaken over the period August to September 2013. Of the 2,672 members of the panel, 2,189 returned the fully-completed questionnaire.DFI