NAVIGATING THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE OF VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS IN INTERNATIONAL FOOD TRADE: A MULTILATERAL INTERPLAY - DOI: 10.12818/P.0304-2340.2024v85p171

Abstract

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) are
non-mandatory criteria designed to foster
sustainable practices throughout the global
supply chain. These standards are particularly prevalent in the agri-food sector, where
they aim to support wider public policy objectives such as sustainable food production,
animal welfare, healthy lifestyle, and labour
conditions. Significant challenges arises from
the fact that VSSs, despite their voluntary
nature, they often impose mandatory effect
in the global supply chain. They also often
lack easily-identifiable features of the product
themselves. These creates systematic problems
for the global food trade system, where conventional regulation address governmental
measures on goods with specific inherent characteristics that can be clearly identified in the
final product. This article explored the interrelationship among private VSSs, national regulations and international treaties within the
agri-food industry. It highlights ambiguity surrounding the regulatory framework for VSSs
under the WTO law, noting the absence of a
consensus on how relevant provisions should
be interpreted. Despite the diversity among
various VSSs, VSSs, this article argues for the
potential for harmonization and equivalence
among VSSs. By aligning various VSSs and
with technical regulations, it is possible to strike a balance between trade liberalization and
promotion of sustainable practices.

KEYWORDS: Voluntary sustainability standards. Food regulation. WTO Law.