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Codex in Motion: Food Safety Standard Setting and Impacts on Developing Countries’ Agricultural Exports

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  • Christine Wieck
  • Jason H. Grant

Abstract

The Codex Alimentarius, or ‘food code’, was established to set international standards to ensure the safety and quality of food and agricultural products while at the same time creating a level playing field for international trade. However, less is known about the duration of the standards setting process in the Codex committees, and the extent to which trade is impacted when standards are delayed versus cases in which the adoption of standards was accelerated. This article reviews and evaluates three case studies in which Codex standards were rapidly adopted: Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) levels in cinnamon; melamine standards for milk and powder; and Codex guidance procedures in the case of melons. Two recent cases in which Codex standards have been held up are also considered: maximum levels of aflatoxins in ready‐to‐eat peanuts; and cadmium in chocolate. We find evidence that accelerated adoption of Codex standards is an important catalyst facilitating exports by some developing countries. Delays and non‐adoption of Codex standards, on the other hand, can lead to significant export underperformance in certain countries and regions. Thus, Codex members would do well to reflect on the positive trade flow benefits that can be realised among developing countries who depend on international standards for export earnings. Le Codex Alimentarius, ou « code alimentaire », a été établi pour établir des normes internationales visant à garantir la sécurité et la qualité des produits alimentaires et agricoles tout en créant des conditions équitables pour le commerce international. Cependant, on en sait moins sur la durée du processus d’élaboration des normes dans les comités du Codex et sur la mesure dans laquelle le commerce est affecté lorsque les normes sont retardées par rapport aux cas d'adoption accélérée. Cet article passe en revue et évalue trois études de cas dans lesquelles les normes Codex ont été adoptées rapidement : les niveaux de dioxyde de soufre (SO2) dans la cannelle; normes sur la mélamine dans le lait et la poudre; et les procédures d'orientation du Codex dans le cas des melons. Deux cas récents dans lesquels les normes Codex ont été bloquées sont également considérés : la teneur maximale en aflatoxines dans les arachides prêtes à consommer; et celle de cadmium dans le chocolat. Nous constatons que l'adoption accélérée des normes Codex est un catalyseur important facilitant les exportations de certains pays en développement. Les retards et la non‐adoption des normes Codex, par contre, peuvent conduire à une sous‐performance des exportations dans certains pays et régions. Ainsi, les membres du Codex feraient bien de réfléchir aux avantages positifs en termes de flux commerciaux qui peuvent être obtenus dans les pays en développement qui dépendent des normes internationales pour leurs recettes d'exportation. Der Codex Alimentarius, oder “Lebensmittelkodex” wurde ins Leben gerufen, um internationale Standards zur Gewährleistung der Sicherheit und Qualität von Lebensmitteln und landwirtschaftlichen Produkten festzulegen und um damit auch gleiche Wettbewerbsbedingungen für den internationalen Handel zu schaffen. Es ist jedoch wenig bekannt über die Dauer des Verfahrens zur Standardsetzung in den Codex‐Ausschüssen. Ebenso wenig bekannt ist das Ausmaß der Beeinträchtigung des Handels, wenn Standards sich verzögern oder in Fällen, in denen die Annahme von Standards beschleunigt wurde. In diesem Artikel werden drei Fallstudien untersucht und bewertet, in denen Codex‐Standards schnell angenommen wurden: Schwefeldioxid (SO2)‐Gehalte in Zimt, Melaminstandards für Milch und Milchpulver und Codex‐Richtlinienverfahren im Fall von Melonen. Zwei neuere Fälle, in denen Codex‐Standards sich verzögert haben, werden ebenfalls betrachtet: die Höchstgehalte von Aflatoxinen in verzehrfertigen Erdnüssen und Kadmium in Schokolade. Wir haben Hinweise darauf gefunden, dass die beschleunigte Annahme der Codex‐Standards ein wichtiger Katalysator ist, der die Exporte einiger Entwicklungsländer erleichtert. Verzögerungen und die Nichtannahme von Codex‐Standards hingegen können in bestimmten Ländern und Regionen zu einer erheblichen Beeinträchtigung der Exportleistung führen. Daher würden die Codex‐Mitglieder gut daran tun, diese Vorteile in Bezug auf die Handelsströme zu reflektieren. Die Vorteile könnten den Entwicklungsländern zugutekommen, die für ihre Exporteinnahmen von internationalen Standards abhängig sind.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Wieck & Jason H. Grant, 2021. "Codex in Motion: Food Safety Standard Setting and Impacts on Developing Countries’ Agricultural Exports," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 20(1), pages 37-47, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:eurcho:v:20:y:2021:i:1:p:37-47
    DOI: 10.1111/1746-692X.12293
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    8. Jose‐Maria Garcia‐Alvarez‐Coque & Ibtissem Taghouti & Victor Martinez‐Gomez, 2020. "Changes in Aflatoxin Standards: Implications for EU Border Controls of Nut Imports," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(3), pages 524-541, September.
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