Food packaging, international standards related to food safety and quality, and trade

International tr ade is subject to the Final Act of the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Negotiations Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) and Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Agreement). These Agreements, the purpose of which is the freeing up of trade and the removal of restraints to the greatest extent possible, affect all countries that are members of the World Trade Organization, and have an impact upon all countries that are exporters. Trade in food is subject to these rules, which include provision for countries to apply safety and quality measures to protect the consumer. Such consumer protection measures extend to all aspects of food, including its packaging. The SPS and TBT Agreements press for 'harmonization' based upon the adoption of standards developed by international standards setting bodies and require countries to participate in their work. The relevant body with respect to food safety and quality measures is the Coder Alimentarius Commission, which is implemented by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme. The work of the Coder Alimentarius Commission in harmonization within the context of food packaging and the rules applying to world trade is discussed.