Reflections on biosecurity legislation in developing countries: increasing market access or maintaining unequal terms of trade?

The underlying context for the session is the impact of the World Trade Organisation, and in particular of the Agreement on the Application on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ('SPS Agreement'), has had on the regulation of international trade in agricultural goods and other natural resource products. Since 1995 the legislative and administrative measures that a WTO member may take to prevent the importation of unsafe food and animal feed, and pests and disease organisms that may harm humans, animals and plant life should be justified by 'scientific evidence' and 'risk assessment' and also conform to other WTO principles such as harmonisation and non-discrimination. Using the umbrella of 'biosecurity' as a somewhat wider context than 'SPS', while reflecting on experience of biosecurity legislative review and drafting in Africa, Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the challenges faced by developing and transitional countries in addressing the requirements of the SPS Agreement will be explored. At the same time, the impact of the SPS Agreement in two other areas will be covered: the terms of food trade between developed countries (including the EU) and those countries most dependent on agricultural exports for economic development; and the connection between international trade and environmental protection. There will be a footnote on Brexit