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Meeting of the Committee
on SPS measures discusses traditional food and the EC Novel Food
Regulation
In
the 27-28 June 2006 meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, a number of
countries reaffirmed their concerns regarding the negative impact of
the EC Novel Foods Regulation on the market for natural foods and
ingredients from developing countries. Under this legislation,
these products are deemed “novel” because they were not consumed by
Europeans prior to 15 May 1997, and must thus comply with a lengthy
and complex process to gain access to the European market.
 At
the Committee on SPS measures, Peru, Colombia, Paraguay, Bolivia,
India, and Brazil called for the EC to modify its Novel Foods
Regulation to exclude exotic traditional foods. Peru, for example,
noted the Regulation and its application were unnecessary and
unjustified barriers to trade in these products. Given its history
of safe use in their native countries– these are products that not
only have been used for centuries, but also that are exported to
several developed countries, the complex exams needed to gain market
access are not justified. Moreover, other developed WTO Members
have similar regulations that present much less trade restrictive
alternatives.
Ecuador noted it is conducting impact assessment studies, with
preliminary conclusions pointing to negative economic and social
impacts both in relation to products with potential for export and
to products with existing export markets in other WTO Member
States. Colombia also noted it is conducting studies and gathering
the information requested by the EC in its communications. In
addition, it highlighted the importance these products have in its
export portfolio and their link to strategies such as sustainable
agriculture, eradication of illicit crops, and trade in biodiversity
products - many of which are currently supported by EC countries.
In
its response, the EC noted the concerns raised were taken very
seriously and would be considered in the revision of the Novel Foods
Regulation. Nevertheless, it pointed out that the application of
this legislation to these products was not unreasonable, as many of
them did pose health and safety concerns. As a result, it
emphasized that more specific information as to the products in
question - particularly, examples of where these products have been
approved by other developed countries - was needed.
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