Report of the FAO Workshop on Risk-based Fish Rejection at Borders – Rome, 30 October to 1 November 2019

Book excerpt: The FAO workshop on risk-based fish inspection at borders was held to understand the key food safety standard compliance challenges when exporting fishery and aquaculture products; in doing so, it sought to guide future FAO work in the area of trade facilitation. Available data from some of the main importing countries was presented during the event and the differences between the rejection profiles analysed. Participating countries presented their food safety regulation frameworks, which provide the basis – as well as the authority – to operate a food import control system designed to protect consumers and facilitate fair practices in food trade. Participants explained how their respective import food control systems provided the level of protection deemed appropriate by the country, establishing safety measures that protected human life or health within a country’s territory. Participants recommended the application of risk-based imported fish controls and provided a set of recommendations to improve the reporting of import rejections, as well as recommendations to improve data analysis.