Agriculture food and safety

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This 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 in Geneva, 11-12 December 2023, which explored this topic. At the Symposium, prominent experts discussed the various forms and definitions of illicit trade in food and food fraud, the links to international trade and ways to combat the phenomenon effectively.

All of the people and activities that play a part in growing, transporting, supplying and consuming food – known as the (agri-)food system – need to be involved in addressing the complexities of food fraud. Trade globalization, the lengthening of food supply chains, the fast growth of e-commerce of food and vast informal food economies all provide new possibilities for food fraud. This chapter presents different strategies for policymakers and regulators to counter food fraud – from regulatory strategies to intersectoral collaboration, private-sector engagement and consumer information. It addresses the status of food fraud discussions in various intergovernmental bodies and advocates for broad food systems thinking and strengthened cooperation at the global, regional and national levels.

The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference, marks a major step forward for ocean sustainability by prohibiting harmful fisheries subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depredation of the world’s fish stocks. Implementing the new disciplines will present challenges for many developing country members, especially least-developed countries. The objective of this report is to examine existing bilateral and multilateral assistance in support of sustainable fisheries, including how this may help countries meet obligations under the new Agreement.

On 25 May 2021 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Australia in “Canada — Measures Governing the Sale of Wine” (DS537).