International Food Regulations: Susceptibility to Deliberate Contamination

Abstract

The perceived threat of biological weapons and biological warfare is growing. The increase in terrorist activity, coupled with the ease of development of biological weapons, is one of the main driving factors of this shift. Several factors support that idea that a deliberate contamination could potentially produce far more devastation than a natural outbreak. This paper analyzes part of the current structure of international food regulation to determine its susceptibility to a deliberate contamination. The analysis focuses on the affects food regulation organizations have on the ability of members to create and implement a security measure to address the threat of deliberate contamination. I have focused on two organizations: the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Trade Organization, specifically the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. Sections 2 and 3 of this paper provide an overview of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures under the World Trade Organization. Section 4 lays out the hypothetical scenario in which we will analyze the issues throughout the paper. Sections 5 and 6 are the analysis of the issues that affect susceptibility to a deliberate contamination.