By Trachelle Carr, NPPC international technical services specialist
May is the month we celebrate as World Trade Month. Pork exports are vital to the U.S. pork industry with more than $7.68 billion exported to over 100 countries and contributing more than $61 to the $208.47 average price producers receive for each hog marketed.
Often trade is simplified to refer to international negotiations with the goal of opening or expanding market access. However, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) works on many fronts to establish a level playing field for the trading of agricultural products. Given that the Codex Alimentarius Commission is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, I want to shine a light on the important work being done.
Codex is an international organization that develops food standards, guidelines and codes of practice to promote food safety, quality and fair-trade practices. It was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Standards developed and approved by Codex focus on getting the science right first. Getting the science is right provides confidence in international trade that food safety standards are being met. This is especially important when disclosures from food safety agencies from around the world can vary compared to the standards used in the United States.
Currently, NPPC sits on committees covering veterinary drug residues, food hygiene and general practices with the goal to expand our Codex portfolio by joining the food labeling and import and export inspection committees. Food safety can be a lot of different things, and NPPC’s engagement aligns with committees where pork fits best. Committees meet annually (slightly less frequently since the COVID-19 pandemic) and can involve necessary and tedious consensus on writing prescriptive standards.
In the U.S., Codex efforts are led by USDA’s Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. NPPC is selected to be part of the U.S. delegation to attend the larger commission and various committee meetings each year. Participating in the delegation is highly coveted and the ability to promote sound science that is backed by America’s pork producers is a privilege.
This month, let’s celebrate the importance of international trade by being more aware of all the ways NPPC is working to create fair trade practices around the world.
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