Introduction

The annual value of trade in agricultural products has grown almost three-fold over the past decade, largely in emerging economies and developing countries, reaching USD 1.7 trillion. Over the past two decades, the reduction in tariffs through global and regional trade agreements has provided greater opportunities for the expansion of global food trade. However, in order to trade internationally and access markets for high-value products, producers must be able to meet food standards. Governments apply food standards to ensure that food is safe, and meets quality and labelling requirements. The use of international food standards worldwide helps reduce trade costs by making trade more transparent and efficient, allowing food to move more smoothly between markets.