Agriculture food and safety
Introduction
The WTO Agreement on Agriculture entered into force when the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into being on 1 January 1995. Its main objective is to reform agricultural trade to bring it closer to competitive market conditions, but it also serves other objectives.
The WTO Agreements Series
Agriculture - Fourth edition
This new edition provides an introduction to the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture, outlining its key principles, the work of the Agriculture Committee, and how disputes have interpreted WTO law on agriculture. This publication forms part of the WTO Agreements Series, which aims to assist understanding of WTO agreements. Other publications in the series include Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade.
Leveraging Global Partnerships to Implement the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
For a Sustainable and Food-secure Future
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies aims to enhance the sustainability of fisheries resources by prohibiting some of the most harmful types of fisheries subsidies. Implementation of the Agreement will enhance fisheries sustainability, which in turn will make an important contribution to strengthening global food security. This report highlights the importance of international collaboration in assisting developing and least developed country (LDC) members in overcoming the challenges associated with implementing the Agreement.
Illicit trade in food and food fraud
International trade in food has helped to reduce global poverty and hunger. However, illicit trade in food and food fraud undermine the global food system and endanger public health. This publication looks into the challenges of combating illicit practices, such as smuggling and counterfeiting. Contributors examine the topic from a variety of perspectives, discussing how best to address illegal food trade and the role the WTO could play.
Acknowledgements
This publication is the first WTO publication on illicit trade in food and food fraud. It includes contributions from participants in the WTO’s Annual Agriculture Symposium, held on 11 and 12 December 2023, which explored this topic. The Symposium was organized by the Agriculture and Commodities Division with the cooperation of the Office of the Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam.
Protecting the international food supply chain from fraud
Global trade has both brought significant benefits to reducing hunger around the world, but it has also increased the complexity of the food supply chain. This complexity is a strong enabler for food fraud. The more links across the supply chain and the longer the distance between where food is originally grown or produced and finally consumed provides opportunities for fraudsters to act for their benefit. The role of the WTO is fundamental in helping to reduce fraud. The WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) sit at the heart of global trade in food and help, along with other international agreements, standards and enforcement bodies, strengthen our global food supply while reducing cross-border food fraud activity. This chapter argues that it is very important for all stakeholders of the food system to work together to keep the system resilient and safe from fraudulent activity, with the final responsibility for keeping consumers safe ultimately resting with the food producer.
A snapshot of illegal practices in the trade in seeds and associated challenges
Seed is the most important input in crop production. Reliable, high-quality seeds are vital to agriculture and the food supply chain. High-quality seeds enable farmers to boost crop productivity, improve livelihoods and feed a growing world population. In recent years, there has been an increase in illegal seed practices. Many of these practices constitute a violation of intellectual property rights, such as trademark infringements, including the production of counterfeit seeds, the illegal reproduction of seeds in violation of a plant breeder’s right (PBR) and the theft of proprietary material. This chapter demonstrates through three case studies the impact of illegal practices on breeders, farmers, consumers, the seed value chain and the entire agricultural production process. It highlights the need for cooperation among all actors involved in the global seed supply chain, emphasizing the crucial role that must be played by regulatory authorities at the national, regional and international levels and the actions required to better combat illegal seed practices in future.
Addressing illicit trade in food and food fraud
The WTO rulebook can be used by members in the fight against illicit trade in food and food fraud, in particular the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement). This chapter explores the various definitions of food fraud, providing an overview of the main food products that have been the target of fraud, and the most notable incidents that have arisen over the past two decades. Building on the outcomes of the WTO’s Annual Agriculture Symposium in December 2023 dedicated to this topic, the chapter asks whether it is time for a more explicit conversation at the WTO.
Mapping the negative impacts of illicit trade in agri-food and beverages against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed 4.3 per cent of global GDP in 2022 and account for large shares of the GDP for developing economies. A healthy agricultural sector is vital to eradicating hunger and poverty. Illicit trade in agri-food and beverages, in its various manifestations, undermines sustainable farming, limits crop yields and jeopardizes the delivery of fair, safe and sustainable food supplies. This chapter examines how this form of illicit activity threatens the achievement of 11 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Examples from illicit trade in food commodities, processed foods and pesticides demonstrate how fraud and failures in the food supply chain hinder progress on the vital goals to eradicate hunger and poverty, improve health and well-being, strengthen consumers’ ability to make educated and eco-friendly decisions, and generate sustainable economic growth.
Foreword
The WTO has long been committed to the fight against illicit trade, which undermines legitimate business activity, fosters corruption and denies governments potential tax revenue needed to improve socioeconomic conditions. Under the leadership of Director-General Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO Secretariat has been examining how WTO rules help members to resolve some of the challenges posed by such illicit trade.
Bringing criminal justice to illicit trade in food and food fraud
This chapter presents an overview of food fraud cases through a criminal justice lens, primarily focusing on the varied tactics employed by criminals to infiltrate the legitimate food supply chain and market fraudulent food products to unsuspecting consumers. These deceptive practices typically involve the manipulation of legal entities and operations. Our findings emphasize the need for a multifaceted criminal justice response, one that considers the complex operations of these criminals to devise effective countermeasures. The role of emerging technologies in facilitating law enforcement investigations is also highlighted, underscoring their potential to support successful criminal investigations and prosecutions.