FAO chief says trade has a key role to play in providing good quality, safe and healthy food

International trade is a very important tool for tackling hunger but countries must also guarantee that globally traded food is of good quality, safe and healthy, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said at the International Forum on Food Safety and Trade that took place at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva (23-24 April).

“Many countries depend heavily on food imports to guarantee the availability of food for their people,” Graziano da Silva said. “Unfortunately, unhealthy ultra-processed food fares better in international trade in terms of transportation and conservation than non-processed food”.

He noted that trade in such products has already contributed to a substantial increase in the proportion of obese people in countries that import most of their food, such as the Pacific and Caribbean Islands.

The FAO Director-General called on international community to advance the establishment of trade rules and regulations that encourage the consumption of healthy and nutritious foods.

“Food safety crosses across national borders. Food produced in one country today can, within 24 hours, be on the other side of the planet and on its way to shops, restaurants and homes,” said the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “There is no such thing as food safety for the rich and another for the poor. The health of all people, no matter where they live and what they eat, must be protected equally.”

“Access to safe food is crucial in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is therefore imperative to discuss how food, health and trade policies can align to help deliver these shared goals,” said WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo. 

Addressing the forum, the FAO Director-General said that food safety cannot be only about preventing people from getting food poisoning or falling sick due to food-borne illnesses, but must also address multiple health risks associated with poor diets.

In his remarks, Graziano da Silva also highlighted the role of unified food safety standards in ensuring fair trade practices.

“If every government applied different food standards, trade would be more costly, and it would be much more difficult to ensure that the traded food is safe,” he added.

He concluded by saying that FAO is highly committed to work with all countries and partners to promote sustainable food systems and to ensure that traded food is safe, healthy and nutritious.

Original source: FAO
Published on 23 April 2019