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food safety | SPS

food safety | sanitary and phytosanitary standards

Will US trade policy again trump public health?
27-Mar-2008 Marinij
The Bay Area in California has been in an uproar over the proposed light brown apple moth program, which involves aerial spraying of an untested synthetic pheromone-based pesticide, because of quarantines invoked by Mexico and Canada under NAFTA.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) concerns in agricultural trade
3-Mar-2008
As free trade agreements lower agricultural tariffs, more countries may turn to SPS measures to protect their farmers from import competition.
China, ASEAN ink food safety deal
31-Oct-2007 China Daily
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday released the Nanning Joint Statement to strengthen collaboration on food safety.
Kenya: EPAs could delay EU bid
28-Aug-2007 AllAfrica.com
Uncertainty is looming in Kenya’s horticultural sector following the move by the five EAC member states to sign one Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which they say could take much longer time than was previously anticipated.
US-Korean food fight
26-Aug-2007 FPIF
The US government is working to deny South Koreans the right to local food and to undermine their domestic food safety laws through the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
US/Korean trade nonsense has to stop
6-Aug-2007 Cattle Network
Korea should continue to reject the occasional box of beef — the containers of boneless meat that accidentally contain bones or spinal material — and let the rest go through. Their buying public can make the decision about the quality of the product. At the same time, American beef packers should continue to work on their quality control procedures and get it right before the KORUS FTA is finalized.
Trade deficit in food safety
29-Jul-2007 Public Citizen
Public Citizen has published a new report on the connection between trade agreements that limit US food safety policies to facilitate trade and the growing safety threat posed by US food imports
Secret FTA deal could lower meat safety standards
7-Jun-2007
In a secret deal struck just before the two countries signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in early April, the South Korean government promised the US it would offer a "de facto" relinquishment of its authority to conduct hygiene and quarantine tests on US imported beef.
Gov’t documents reveal trade-off on textiles, genetically modified crops
7-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
The South Korean government pledged to ease quarantine rules on products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under a free trade agreement with the United States struck on April 2. But while negotiations were underway on the deal, the government denied it was discussing the topic.
SK reportedly agrees to nix testing US genetically modified crops
3-Apr-2007 Hankyoreh
South Korea has reportedly exempted US foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from safety tests in the Korea-US free trade agreement struck on April 2, a move that Korean environmentalists criticised as the government "selling off" the health of the nation.
S. Korea will not automatically accept OIE ruling on US beef: minister
22-Mar-2007
South Korea is not obliged to automatically accept a planned ruling by a world animal health body that may make it easier for the United States to export beef, a senior policymaker said Wednesday.
S Korea, US at odds over key agriculture issues at FTA talks: official
13-Mar-2007 Yonhap
South Korea and the United States have not been able to close the gap on key issues at the latest free trade agreement (FTA) talks in Seoul, a government official said Tuesday.
Thai shrimp exporters fear new health rules in Australia
13-Feb-2007 MCOT
Thai shrimp farmers have urged the government to speed up negotiations with Australia over its proposed health and safety standard before it comes into effect on February 21.
Not under the same sky: bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), agriculture and food sovereignty
12-Feb-2007 PANAP
An initial report on the spread of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) throughout the Asia-Pacific and their impacts on agriculture and food sovereignty, in the context of the current state of play of the WTO, and the devastating legacy of agricultural liberalisation through World Bank/International Monetary Fund structural adjustment programmes.
Benguet’s vegetable farmers wary of free trade
27-Dec-2006 INQ7
The Philippine government’s move to liberalize imports, including vegetables, is expected to meet fierce resistance from farmers in the province, who all fear that the policy will spell doom for the local vegetable industry.
US-Panama bilateral agreement on SPS (2006)
23-Dec-2006
EU ’strongly committed’ to Mediterranean agriculture
8-Dec-2006 Food Navigator
The EU has sought to ease frustrations that agricultural trade within the Mediterranean region has not advanced as quickly as hoped.
Shrimpers cry foul over new Australia ban
7-Dec-2006 Bangkok Post
Thai shrimpers yesterday submitted a letter to protest against Australia’s ban on shrimp imports even before its import risk analysis is completed. Viewing the move as unfair, Thai officials will also discuss the issue at a forum on the Thailand-Australia free trade agreement next week.
Fishing for a future
21-Nov-2006 Oxfam New Zealand
Provides background information on fisheries in the Pacific and explores the pros and cons of a Pacific fisheries agreement with the EU.
China, ASEAN move toward closer quarantine cooperation ahead FTA
3-Nov-2006 People’s Daily
China and ASEAN should set up a mechanism to facilitate the cooperation on inspection and quarantine against public health risks posed by tremendous people and goods flow after the formation of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA), experts and officials said Thursday.