WTO and Codex are used as forums for deregulation. They may only want interpretive policy statements' rather than amendments or technical clarifications, but they do want to modify the SPS Agreement, which provides us with an opportunity to have our views interjected into the debate. Silverglade has scheduled meetings with WTO officials in Geneva this month to get clarification. There are signs the current system is not working well, such as the riots in Seattle and the trashing of a McDonald's in France. The root of the problem is that the SPS is a trade agreement, not a food safety agreement.
New problems keep cropping up due to growth in international food trade.
The SPS right now does not address these problems and does nothing to raise standards. We'll keep pushing for a new food safety agreement.