Does flour fortification impact trade (imports and exports)?
The technical specifications for fortification do not prevent trade between countries, but any country considering flour fortification should address its unique international and regional trade obligations. For instance, Pacific Island countries have to respect World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements, Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA), the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER), the Cotonou Agreement, and various Compacts of Free Association with the United States of America. Since flour fortification specifications are considered technical specifications, they are most impacted by the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) of the WTO. According to article 2.4 of the TBT Agreement, countries should use relevant international standards (such as the World Health Organization (WHO) Recommendations on Wheat and Maize Flour Fortification) as a basis for their technical regulations. In general, the WTO requires non-discrimination between tra
