Abstract
Food loss occurs at every stage of the agri-food value chain from on-farm to distribution, including processing, and cross-border trade. In international trade, the rejection made by importing countries increases food loss which in turn has significant implications for the global status of food security and resilience. Recent studies reveal that the number of cases
of imported food rejection has been at an alarming rate due to the inability to reduce it. Factors that contribute to the food loss are lack of the ability of exporting countries to meet food safety standards of importing countries, non-tariff measures (NTMs) performed by importing countries, and lack of attention from the international community on how to reduce food loss in the international trade. Despite strong recognition of the number of cases of food loss at the cross-border trade level, there is a lack of research and action focusing on the issue. The G20 has a strategic role in coordinating countries to exchange information related to the standards and regulations on food traded at the international level. Taking lessons from recent several research projects, this policy brief proposes three initiatives. First, at the micro-level, it is important to invest in quality and food safety controls before the produce is exported. Second, at the global level, a clearing house of information among trade partners of NTMs-related procedures needs to be established by developing national trade portals and establishing “help desk services” operated by governments in both exporting and importing countries. Third, there is a need to strengthen international agreements on the exchange of information concerning food safety standards that are accommodative to the effort of mitigating risks of food rejection by importing countries.
Keywords: food loss, global food security and resilience, international trade, non-tariff measures.
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