CAC/RCP 20-1979 Code of Ethics for International Trade in Food including Concessional and Food Aid Transactions
ARTICLE 1 OBJECTIVE
1.1 The objective of this Code is to establish principles for the ethical conduct of international trade in food, in order to protect the health of the consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
ARTICLE 2 SCOPE
2.1 This Code applies to all food introduced into international trade including concessional and food aid transactions.
2.2 This Code establishes principles of ethical conduct to be applied by all parties involved in international trade in food. Governments should work with other parties to promote ethical conduct at the national level.
ARTICLE 3 PRINCIPLES
3.1 International trade in food should be conducted on the principle that all consumers are entitled to safe, sound and wholesome food and to protection from unfair trade practices.
3.2 No food (including re-exported food) should be in international trade which1:
a) has in or upon it any hazard in an amount which renders it poisonous, harmful or otherwise injurious to health, taking into account the application of risk analysis principles; or
b) consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, rotten, decomposed or other substance or foreign matter which renders it unfit for human consumption; or
c) is adulterated; or
d) is labelled or presented in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive; or
e) is prepared, processed, packaged, stored, transported or marketed under unsanitary conditions ; or
f) has an expiration date, where applicable, which does not leave sufficient time for distribution in the importing country.
