Worldwide, not all countries adopt or abide by Codex, World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) standards.  In some cases, the standards are set without full knowledge and understanding of the science that supports or does not support them. In other cases, a country may adopt strict standards in order to protect domestic producers from competition with imported products.  In both cases, the consequences can negatively impact trade (imports) and limit or negate access to those markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, including meat, poultry, soybeans, feed, feed grains and dairy products.  Of course, this also can impact the use of inputs (e.g., vaccines, antibiotics, pesticides, feed additives, etc.) commonly recognized as safe for use in the production of animals and plants in the U.S.

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In those cases where a country establishes and enforces standards that are not science-based and/or trade-restrictive, FAEA works to educate the relevant authorities to influence changes through participation in committee meetings, workshops, seminars, and other venues so that they comply with internationally recognized standards and standards-setting bodies.  FAEA gathers intelligence and reports on Codex issues of interest to FAEA members through its network of contacts in the U.S. and internationally.  We use this information to intervene with education and other activities.