IJFANS International Journal of Food and Nutritional Sciences

ISSN PRINT 2319 1775 Online 2320-7876

Imperativeness of Safe Food as a Human Right under International Trade Law

Main Article Content

Dr. Namrata Luhar

Abstract

The foundation of Human Rights jurisprudence stems on the idea of ensuring a holistic approach towards protection and promotion of anything that makes life meaningful. Human rights framework existing at international level through the UN Agencies have deliberated conscientiously on ensuring the protection thereof through numerous treaties and other instruments obligating the States to fulfil them. Overall, human rights laws endure towards an indivisible, interdependent and interconnected framework to make the maximum available to human beings across. Amongst many such human rights that are inter-reliant, Right to food is paramount to the existence of human beings. The concept of right to food is wide as it covers a wide range of matters which can be connected including right to safe food. Although, it seems difficult to lay down a specific definition in legal terms as to what is safe and what is unsafe, attempts have been made to delineate the same in order to embrace the notion within legal terms. However, some understanding on the same is gathered from the existing legal literature to mobilize the same with relation to Human Rights and Right to food. From the legal perspectives existing at international and national levels too attempts have been made to bring it into a pure legal carcass. On the other hand, food has become an important element of trade. If safe food is not ensured in international trade, it acts as a set-back in its growth and can have calamitous effect on the overall economic setup. Hence ensuring safe food is seen not just as a human rights obligation but also as an imperative to boost international trade. The present paper outlines the attempts, initiatives and measures considered necessary to embrace safe food within human rights framework as well as confirming the standards followable in international trading activities.

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