History of Asian food policy

Abstract

Asia is a diverse region consisting of over 48 countries and is home to about 4.4 billion people. Trade of food and agricultural products in Asia is crucial for the development of the region and is contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by eradication of food insecurity and rural poverty. With increasing trade in food and agricultural products and with the establishment of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreements of The World Trade Organization (WTO), food safety issues are receiving increased attention in Asia. Within Asia two groups of countries (ASEAN and SAARC) have strengthened their collaboration in terms of economic, political and social development and is striving towards harmonizing their food legislative frameworks as a means to facilitate trade with food and agricultural products within the regions. This chapter explores the legal foundations and important issues surrounding all of these aspects of food safety regulation in Asia.