The economics of food safety in developing countries

This paper provides an overview of issues associated with the economics of food safety in developing countries and highlights key references for readers.

The paper outlines the main hazards potentially associated with food. It assesses the burden imposed on developing countries, both in terms of rates of human morbidity and premature mortality and the economic and social costs imposed on developing societies. In so doing, the lack of data on the magnitude of food-borne illness in developing countries is highlighted.

The ways in which markets may fail to provide for an appropriate level of food safety - and thus the case for government regulation - are discussed. Much of the remainder of the paper than explores the key elements of food safety capacity and analysis attempts by developing country governments to enhance their capacity in strategic areas in some depth.

The paper concludes by suggesting positive ways forward. It recommends that there is a need for:

• a comprehensive needs assessment that identifies specific and prioritised requirements and defines an optimal approach through which these can be met. Ideally, the recipient country itself, in order to enhance ownership and demand should undertake such an assessment
• institutions at both a regional and global level to facilitate the exchange of information and sharing of experiences among developing countries. The Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation may be able to fulfil this role
• greater and more effective exchange of information between international organisations, donor countries and developing countries with assistance needs. This would help to avoid duplication and overlap of capacity building efforts and help to ensure technical assistance is properly sequenced and synchronised
• providers of technical assistance to co-ordinate and ideally integrate their technical assistance efforts in the area of food safety capacity
• better integration of food safety issues into overall development objectives
• the development of effective administrative structures for food safety controls
• consider innovative forms of technical assistance
• regional collaboration to address shared issues.