It’s difficult to imagine trade in food without set standards. Food standards give consumers certainty that their product is of good quality, is safe, or is even real food. These standards are what allows trade to happen at all.
International food safety standards in particular open up high-value export markets for local food producers. Of course, as can be expected, keeping up with these requirements can be difficult for smaller producers in economies that are still developing. These international food safety standards promote public health more than anything else but they also reduce trade costs. They make trade more efficient and transparent, which allows food to move easily between markets.
Now that we know why international food safety standards are important, let’s look at a special type of certification that seals the deal for trade, for its holder.