Plenary Lecture 7: One World For All: International Harmonization of Food Regulations

ABSTRACT: Although the Codex Alimentarius Commission has functioned as part of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization since 1962, its activities have been of little more than occasional interest until recent years. However, with the advent of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trading blocs, the deliberations of Codex have become significantly more important to the international trade interests of government and industry groups alike. Increased interest in the elaboration of Codex standards, guidelines, and recommendations may be attributed to increased international awareness of 2 very practical functions of the Commission and its numerous committees. First, some countries have become aware that the guidance and information needed to fill in their own regulatory gaps are often made available in the Codex. Second, multinational corporations and trade associations have become aware of the role that Codex has been given in the WTO agreements as the means by which disputes over trade in food products may be resolved. Increased awareness of the practical functions of Codex activities in shaping national legislation and establishing international trade standards appears to have strengthened Codex's role as the focal point of efforts to achieve internationally harmonized food standards. However, many international regulatory gaps show signs of being filled by legislation that imposes burdens on industry without demonstrable benefits to public welfare. In their most troublesome manifestations, some of these measures, especially recent regulations concerning biotech food labeling, could be viewed as technical barriers to trade.