Trade issues background paper: sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT)

International trade in fish and fishery products has grown rapidly over the last twenty years. Export values have risen from US$15 billion in 1980 to US$56 billion in 2001. In the same period the developing countries’ share of total exports has risen from 40% to 50%, with net receipts from fish trade by developing countries increasing from less than US$4 billion to almost US$18 billion. Imports are concentrated strongly in the USA, Europe and Japan, with developed countries absorbing 80% of total world imports (Lem, 2003). However, the increasingly complex requirements for food safety assurance and traceability set by major markets, particularly in Europe and North America represents a threat to existing exporters and a “barrier” to new entrants. Increasingly stringent quality standards can create a bias in favour of countries with a highly developed infrastructure and larger suppliers with greater resources. It is in the economic and national interests of fish exporters from developing countries to ensure they supply acceptable products to maintain their export earnings as well as their commercial reputation.