Illicit trade and food fraud can cause considerable damage to the international market and public health, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Contributors to a WTO report underlined the importance of focusing efforts on prevention, as it is a more cost-effective strategy for governments and the food industry. The recently published document includes input from participants of the WTO’s Annual Agriculture Symposium, held in December 2023, which covered the topic.
Adulterated or contaminated products can pose serious health risks to consumers. Counterfeit products, which fail to contain advertised ingredients, defraud customers and erode trust in the food supply chain. Illegal food trade also triggers trade barriers due to safety concerns.
WTO’s role Tools to help tackle the issue include the WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which allows members to regulate food imports based on science and risk assessment techniques, and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, which permits countries to address deceptive practices. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General, said the problem affects all continents and most agri-food sectors, such as olive oil, honey, essential oils, wines, and spirits. “We need to leverage these agreements and the whole WTO toolbox to fight illicit trade and food fraud.
The leveling of the playing field must extend to weeding out all forms of illegal trade and fraudulent activities,” she said. The global cost of f.