Remedying serious problems with imported food safety will require significant reforms to trade policy as well as improvements in domestic laws, according to a report released by Public Citizen, the consumer advocacy organization.

The report documents the connection between trade agreements that limit domestic food safety policies to facilitate trade and the growing safety threat posed by food imports, which have doubled since implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.

Projections for the proposed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Peru, Panama, South Korea and Colombia show an increase in food imports to the United States, under deals that will limit the safety standards and permitted inspections the U.S. can require for imported food.

“We face a perverse situation in which Congress is rushing to address serious safety problems with the growing amount of imported food Americans consume while four more NAFTA-style trade deals are pending that will undermine Congress’ ability to ensure our safety,” said Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch division. “This is a trade problem that is not just about China, but rather goes to a trade model that prioritizes increasing the volume of traded food over safety.”

“NAFTA failed, CAFTA failed, and Peru and Panama – as written – are just more of the same," said Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "With a string of contaminated products from China flooding our markets, ensuring food and product safety standards in trade agreements is not an option; it is an imperative. This report underscores the importance of a new direction for trade policy."

Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts. In order to retain the independence required to follow the truth wherever it may lead, Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies.

To read the press release from Public Citizen on this topic go to: New Report Reveals How Pending Trade Agreements Will Worsen Imported Food Safety Problem

To read the full report from from Public Citizen cited above go to: Trade Deficit in Food Safety