Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain Module

Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain Module 2. 2 The World Trade Organization

Objectives § Inform on the role and activities of the WTO § Create awareness of the international importance of WTO agreements § Create understanding of the mechanisms within the WTO for handling questions of food safety regulation within international trade 2 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Content § Introduction to the WTO § What is it? What are its objectives? How does it function? § The Uruguay Round Agreements § Establishment of the WTO § The SPS and TBT Agreements § WTO mechanisms and how they have been used in relation to OTA limits in coffee 3 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

The Uruguay Round § Multilateral trade negotiations that took place 1986 -1994 § For the first time included liberalisation of agricultural products § Resulted in the establishment of the WTO 4 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

WTO Agreements § The 13 WTO Agreements are binding to all members of WTO § The agreements governing regulation of safety and quality of food in international trade are: § Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) § Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) 5 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

The SPS Agreement § Recognises the rights of Members to establish appropriate measures to protect: § Human life and health § Animal life and health § Plant life and health On the condition that SPS Measures are: § Non-discriminatory and not unnecessarily trade restrictive § Based on sound science and internationally-agreed risk analysis procedures 6 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

The SPS Agreement Emphasises the following: Specifically recognises: § Harmonisation § Science base § Least trade restrictiveness § Recognition of equivalence § Transparency § Codex Alimentarius Food safety § OIE - Animal health § IPPC - Plant health 7 Stricter measures are allowed if justified by a risk assessment Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

What are the SPS ‘tools’? § SPS contains transparency provisions § Notification authorities § Enquiry points § SPS committee meets twice yearly § International forum for discussion § An effective dispute settlement mechanism exists within WTO § There are other relevant ‘tools’. . . 8 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Other relevant ‘tools’ § Membership and participation in international standardization bodies § Codex Alimentarius food safety standards § IPPC standards for phytosanitary standards § OIE for zoosanitary standards § Opportunities for capacity building in developing countries in the area of food safety § To promote effective participation of developing countries in the elaboration of international standards § To facilitate the development of a ‘whole chain’ approach to ensuring food safety 9 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

What are the SPS rules? § According to the WTO SPS Agreement, food safety measures should: § § Be based on science Not be unnecessarily trade-restrictive Not discriminate arbitrarily between Members Be based on Codex standards § NB – these apply to official measures 10 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

The TBT Agreement § Covers all technical regulations, voluntary standards and conformity assessment procedures except when these are covered by the SPS § Legitimate objectives include: § § § 11 National security Prevention of deceptive practices Human health Plant and animal health Environment Others Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

The TBT Agreement § Requires use of international standards (including Codex Alimentarius standards on food quality, labelling, etc. ) § Except when such standards would be an ineffective or inappropriate means for the fulfilment of the legitimate objectives pursued 12 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Summary § The WTO Agreements are binding to Member States § SPS and TBT Agreements cover animal, plant and human life and health § Requirement of the use of international standards, such as Codex 13 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Good Hygiene Practices along the coffee chain Module 2. 2 How have these ‘rules and tools’ of food safety regulation been used in the case of OTA contamination of foods?

Dealing with the OTA issue – the case of cereals § Within FAO/WHO food safety programme § Code of practice for the prevention of mycotoxin contamination in cereals (with annex on OTA reduction) adopted by Codex in July 2003 § Re-evaluation of OTA carried out by JECFA in 2001 at request of Codex § Maximum level for OTA in some cereals is being considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission § Discussions of need for a Codex Code of Practice for the reduction of OTA in coffee and cocoa initiated in April 2005 15 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Dealing with the OTA issue § Within the EU § Various task forces looking into levels of exposure to OTA from selected commodities, including coffee § Considering, on the basis of available data, risk management options – including establishment of limits 16 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

EC harmonized control for mycotoxins 1998 - Aflatoxins: nuts, cereals, milk, spices 2002 - Ochratoxin A: cereals, raisins 2003 – Patulin: apple products 2004 – Aflatoxins and ochratoxin: baby foods and foods for infants and young children § 2004 - Ochatoxin A: roasted coffee, soluble coffee, grape juice and wine § 2005 – Ochratoxin A: decisions on whether to proceed with maximum limits for green coffee, beer, cocoa and spices § § 17 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

OTA in coffee: involvement of WTO § 17/06/2003 - Notification by Germany to WTO on intention to set maximum limits for OTA in instant and roasted coffee and other products (wine not included) § 05/08/2003 - Addendum to Germany’s notification extending date for comments § 22/10/2003 - Questions posed by Colombia to the EC regarding Germany’s notification through SPS Committee § 12/02/2004 – EC Standing Committee on the Food Chain Toxicological Safety agrees to notify WTO of proposed maximum limits for OTA in roasted (5 g/kg) and soluble coffee (10 g/kg), grape juice and wine (2 g/kg) 18 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

OTA in coffee: involvement of WTO § 02/03/2004 – ‘Specific Trade Concerns’ reported over 2003 summarised by WTO Secretariat § 08/03/2004 - Submission by Papua New Guinea to SPS Committee on German notification § 15/03/2004 – Statement by Colombia regarding German notification at SPS Committee § 18/05/04 – Reply of the EC to Statement by Colombia and Comments of Papua New Guinea 19 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Existing national limits § § § EU Finland Germany Greece Italy Netherlands Portugal Spain Czech Rep. Hungary Switzerland Green Roasted Instant ? 5 5 5 3 4 10 4 4 10 10 5 6 4 10 4 4 10 10 5 20 8 8 (8) 10 15 5 All ppb 20 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization

Looking back…looking ahead § Decisions are being taken internationally that affect the coffee trade § Be informed of what is happening and influence the decision-making process!!! § Effective participation takes work… § Collaboration and coordination § Building scientific evidence § Be serious about national OTA prevention programme 21 Module 2. 2 – The World Trade Organization