[EQ] Food Safety and Global Health: An International Law Perspective

Food Safety and Global Health: An International Law Perspective

Stefania Negri, associate professor of International Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Salerno (Italy), where she teaches International Human Rights Law and International Procedural Law.

Global Health Governance, Volume III, No. 1 (fall 2009) http://www.ghgj.org

Available online PDF [26p.] at: http://www.ghgj.org/Negri_food%20safety%20and%20global%20health.pdf

 

“…..Following the recurrence of serious events of food contamination across the globe, food safety has become a matter of ever increasing international concern and the World Health Organization has defined foodborne diseases as a global public health challenge. Protecting global health from foodborne hazards is a compelling duty and a primary interest of both States and non-State actors; it calls for enhanced proactive cooperation between national and international institutions. Unfortunately, the present state of international law on food safety regulation and governance is still unsatisfactory and reforms are desirable in many respects.

 

This paper suggests that improvements and progresses could be achieved in three major areas of intervention:
a) the human rights framework, where the profile of the emerged right to safe food should be raised by way of express recognition in international human rights law, backed up by authoritative interpretation by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and strengthening of accountability and remedial measures;
b) the regulatory framework, where trade and health issues related to food safety should be addressed in a way that contributes to easing tensions between trading parties while prioritizing consumer protection over freedom of trade;
c) the sanitary framework, where international preparedness and response to public health hazards posed by foodborne diseases should benefit, where appropriate, from the extended application of the International Health Regulations and the possible devise of enforcement measures aimed at ensuring international health security….”

 

 *      *     *
This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAHO/WHO Website
Equity List - Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html
Twitter http://twitter.com/eqpaho

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.