International risk assessment leading to development of food safety standards

Abstract

The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) provides the right to member countries trading in food commodities to take measures to protect plant, animal and human health. However, these measures cannot be arbitrary, but should be based on scientific risk assessments performed according to international standards. The agreement also requires countries to adopt international standards such as those developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for food safety and by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) for animal health. Scientific risk assessments required for development of food safety standards are performed by FAO/WHO. Some examples of food safety standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission based on risk assessments are microbiological criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready to eat foods and Guidelines for control of pathogenic Vibrio spp in sea foods.