A One Health Approach to Food Safety and the Right to Health in a Global Governance

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17561/tahrj.v25.9797

Keywords:

Right to health, Food safety, Cosmopolitanism, One Health, ESG, Sustainable Development Goals, Global governance

Abstract

The global regulation of food safety remains remarkably limited, despite growing recognition of their transboundary implications. This article examines how a cosmopolitan approach to global governance can strengthen the protection of the right to health by integrating the One Health paradigm into food safety regulation. It argues that food safety should not be treated as a merely technical issue, but as a constitutional and human rights concern within a globally interdependent context. Through the analysis of selected WTO disputes, the article illustrates how tensions between trade obligations and human rights protections reveal deeper normative and institutional gaps in global food governance.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Doctrinal References & Official Documents

ANSARI, A.H. and WARTINI, S. (2014). “Precautionary principle under the SPS Agreement: A critical exposition”. Journal of International Trade Law and Policy, 13(1), pp. 19-43. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282720825 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

ARCURI, A. (2015). Global food safety standards. The evolving regulatory epistemology at the intersection of the SPS Agreement and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. In P. DELIMATSIS (ed.), The Law, Economics and Politics of International Standardisation. Cambridge International Trade and Economic Law. Cambridge University Press, pp. 79-103.

ARRIOLA ECHANIZ, N. (2008). “El cosmopolitismo como teoría defensora del gobierno mundial”. Estudios de Deusto: Revista de Derecho Público, 56(2), pp. 11-72

ARRIOLA ECHANIZ, N. (2017). “Las consecuencias de la globalización en el derecho constitucional: aportaciones de la miríada de corrientes doctrinales”. Revista de Estudios Políticos, 178, pp. 171-188.

ARRIOLA ECHANIZ, N. (2019). “¿Más allá del Estado nacional? Una revisión de la doctrina cosmopolita”. Revista de Estudios Políticos, 183, pp. 243-259.

AYALA, A. and MEIER, B. M. (2017). “A human rights approach to the health implications of food and nutrition insecurity”. Public Health Reviews, 38. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40985-017-0056-5 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

BECK, U. (2002). Libertad o capitalismo: conversaciones con Johannes Willms. Barcelona: Paidós.

BECK, U. (2005). La mirada cosmopolita o la guerra es la paz. Barcelona: Paidós.

BODANSKY, D. and LESTER, S. (2007). “European Communities – Measures affecting the approval and marketing of biotech products. WT/DS291/R, WT/DS292/R, & WT/DS293/R”. American Journal of International Law, 101, pp. 453-459. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0002930000030177 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

CABRERA, L. (2020). The humble cosmopolitan: rights, diversity, and trans-state democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

CAMILLERI, M. A. (2025). “Sustainability accounting and disclosures of responsible restaurant practices in environmental, social and governance (ESG) reports”. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 126, e104051. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2024.104051 (Accessed: 09 June 2025).

CARLARNE, C. P. (2007). “From the USA with love: sharing home-grown hormones, GMOs and clones with a reluctant Europe”. Environmental Law, 37(2), pp. 301-337. Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1678608 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

CEZAR, R. (2020). “Food certification, domestic politics and international trade: the US compliance response in three WTO disputes”. Environmental Politics, 29, pp. 317-335. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2019.1565462 (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

CORINI, A. (2015). Human right to food: some reflections. In BALDINI, C., MARAN, R. and VITTUARI, M. (eds.), Envisioning a future without food waste and food poverty. Leiden: Wageningen Academic Publishers, pp. 317-322. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-820-9_39 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

DAHRENDORF, R. (2005). En busca de un nuevo orden: una política de la libertad para el siglo XXI. Barcelona: Paidós Ibérica.

DAS, A. S. and NARAYAN, A. V. (2016). “Settling the debate of animal welfare, public morals and trade: in the light of the EC-Seal Products case”. Global Trade and Customs Journal, 11(6), 267-279. Available at: https://doi.org/10.54648/gtcj2016036 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

DAVEY, W. J. (2006). Reflections on the Appellate Body decision in the Hormones case and the meaning of the SPS Agreement. In BERMANN, G. A. and MAVROIDIS, P. C. (eds.), Trade and human health and safety. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 118-132.

DE SCHUTTER, O. (2014). The Transformative Potential of the Right to Food. Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, A/HRC/25/57. United Nations Human Rights Council.

DE SOUSA SANTOS, B. (2005). El milenio huérfano: ensayos para una nueva cultura política. Madrid: Trotta.

DE SOUSA SANTOS, B. and RODRÍGUEZ GARAVITO, C. A. (2007). El derecho y la globalización desde abajo: hacia una legalidad cosmopolita. Barcelona: Anthropos.

DUDLEY, W. and ENGELHARD, K. (eds.) (2011). Immanuel Kant: key concepts. 1st edn. Durham: Acumen Publishing.

FALK, R. (2002). La globalización depredadora: una crítica. Madrid: Siglo XXI de España.

FERNÁNDEZ-PONS, X. and LEMBO, C. (2019). The case EC – Seal Products: the WTO Dispute Settlement System before a “trilemma” between free trade, animal welfare, and rights of Indigenous Peoples. In DO AMARAL JÚNIOR, A., DE OLIVEIRA SÁ PIRES, L. M. and LUCENA CARNEIRO, C. (eds.), The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism. Cham: Springer, pp. 305-319. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03263-0_20 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (2020). Understanding the Codex Alimentarius 4th edn). Rome: FAO and WHO. Available at: https://www.fao.org/fsnforum/resources/trainings-tools-and-databases/understanding-codex-alimentarius (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

FIANKOR, D. D. and SHINGAL, A. (2025). “Pesticide regulatory homogeneity and firms’ import decisions: evidence from EU-Swiss agri-food trade”. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76, pp. 338-358. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12623 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

FIDLER, D. P. (2004). “Germs, governance, and global public health in the wake of SARS”. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 113(6), pp. 799-804.

FOOTER, M. E. (2006). Post-normal science in the multilateral trading system: social science expertise and the EC – Biotech Panel. Hebrew University International Law Research Paper No. 15-06. Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=953235 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

FORTIN, N. D. (2023). Global governance of food safety: the role of the FAO, WHO, and Codex Alimentarius in regulatory harmonization. In M. T. ROBERTS (ed.), Research Handbook on International Food Law. Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 227-242.

FOSTER, C. E. (2008). “Public opinion and the interpretation of the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures”. Journal of International Economic Law, 11(2), pp. 427-458. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jiel/jgn011 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

GOŁĘBIEWSKI, J. (2023). “The significance and essence of ESG in the food sector in Poland”. Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural and Agribusiness Economists, 25(1), pp. 75-90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0016.2825 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

GOSSAIN, R. (2023). “Legal underpinnings drive ESG amidst global flux”. Paradigm, 27(1), pp. 27-46. Available at: https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/padigm/v27y2023i1p27-46.html (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

GREGORY, G., LERMEN, F. H. and ECHEVESTE, M. E. S. (2024). “Toward food safety-driven process design: a systematic review and research agenda”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 1-14. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2024.2400590 (Accessed: 12 July 2025).

GRUSZCZYNSKI, L. (2008). SPS measures adopted in case of insufficiency of scientific evidence - where do we stand after EC – Biotech Products case? In CHAISSE, J. and BALMELLI, T. (eds.), Essays on the future of the World Trade Organization, vol. 2: The WTO judicial system - contributions and challenges. Lugano/Brussels: Edis, pp. 91-140. Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1100061 (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

GRUSZCZYNSKI, L. (2009). “Insufficiency of scientific evidence under Article 5.7 of the SPS Agreement: some remarks on the panel report in the EC – Biotech Products case”. University of Ottawa Law & Technology Journal, 6(1-2), pp. 53-78. Available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2034565 (Accessed: 16 June 2025).

GRUSZCZYNSKI, L. (2013). Standard of review of health and environmental regulations by WTO panels. In VAN CALSTER, G. and PRÉVOST, D. (eds.), Research handbook on environment, health and the WTO. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 731-758. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781781006146.00032 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

GUZMAN, A. (2004). “Food fears: health and safety at the WTO”. Virginia Journal of International Law, 45, pp. 1-40.

HEJAZI, M., GRANT, J. H. and PETERSON, E. (2022). “Trade impact of maximum residue limits in fresh fruits and vegetables”. Food Policy, 106, e102203. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102203 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

HELD, D. (2010). Cosmopolitanism: ideals and realities. Cambridge: Polity Press.

HELD, D. (2016). “Elements of a theory of global governance”. Philosophy and Social Criticism, 42(9), pp. 837–846. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0191453716659520 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

HUNT, P. (2016). “Interpreting the international right to health in a human rights-based approach to health”. Health and Human Rights, 18, pp. 109-130.

HUNT, P. and BACKMAN, G. (2008). “Health systems and the right to the highest attainable standard of health”. Health and Human Rights, 10(1), pp. 81-92. Available at: https://www.hhrjournal.org/2013/09/13/health-systems-and-the-right-to-the-highest-attainable-standard-of-health/ (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPORATION (2004). Who cares wins: connecting financial markets to a changing world. IFC Advisory Services in Environmental and Social Sustainability issue brief. Washington, D. C.: World Bank Group. Available at: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/444801491483640669 (Accessed: 01 July 2025).

JASANOFF, S. (2004). States of Knowledge: The Co-Production of Science and the Social Order. London: Routledge.

KASTNER, J. and PAWSEY, R. (2002). “Harmonising sanitary measures and resolving trade disputes through the WTO-SPS framework. Part I: a case study of the US-EU hormone-treated beef dispute”. Food Control, 13(1), pp. 49-55. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-7135(01)00023-8 (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

KELSEN, H. (2001). Introducción a la teoría pura del derecho. 3rd edn, rev. y corr. México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. With contributions by García Belaunde, D., Rabasa, E. O. and Palomino Manchego, J. F.

KUBIAK-HARDIMAN, P., HAUGHEY, S., MENEELY, J., MILLER, S., BANERJEE, K. and ELLIOTT, C. (2022). “Identifying gaps and challenges in global pesticide legislation that impact the protection of consumer health: rice as a case study”. Exposure and Health, 15, pp. 597-618. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00508-x (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

LANGE, D. (2021). “The relation between EU food safety policy, Codex Alimentarius and WTO. Evolution and current challenges”. Ernahrungs Umschau, 68(10), pp. 204-209.

MATSUSHITA, M. (2009). WTO dispute cases relating to food safety issues. In VAN DEN BOSSCHE, P. and ZDOUC, W. (eds.), The WTO and international trade law/dispute settlement. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 6, pp. 283-302. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1574-8715(2009)0000006014 (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

MEIER, B. M., FINCH, A. and HABIBI, R. (2025). “Global health law: between hard and soft law”. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 53(S1), pp. 11-15. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/jme.2025.21 (Accessed: 09 June 2025).

MERCURIO, B. and SHAO, D. (2010). “A precautionary approach to decision making: the evolving jurisprudence on Article 5.7 of the SPS Agreement”. Trade, Law and Development, 2(2), 195-222. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228122217 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

MILIAN GÓMEZ, J. F. (2024). “Rethinking the human right to food from a single perspective to a four-fold legal interpretation”. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 16(2), pp. 589-602. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jhuman/huad047 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

MOKA-MUBELO, W. (2017). A cosmopolitan human rights regime’. In CORRADETTI, C. (ed.), Reconciling law and morality in human rights discourse. Philosophy and Politics - Critical Explorations, vol. 3. Cham: Springer, pp. 169-199. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49496-8_7 (Accessed: 08 July 2025).

NEUGEBAUER, R. (2000). “Fine-tuning WTO jurisprudence and the SPS Agreement: lessons from the beef hormone case”. Law and Policy in International Business, 31(4), 1255-1284.

ONE HEALTH HIGH-LEVEL EXPERT PANEL (OHHLEP), ADISASMITO, W. B., ALMUHAIRI, S., BEHRAVESH, C. B., BILIVOGUI, P., BUKACHI, S. A. et al. (2022). “One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future”. PLoS Pathogens, 18(6), e1010537. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010537 (Accessed: 03 July 2025).

PAUWELYN, J. (1999). “The WTO Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures as applied in the first three SPS disputes: EC-Hormones, Australia-Salmon and Japan-Varietals”. Journal of International Economic Law, 2(4), pp. 641-664. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jiel/2.4.641 (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

PEEL, J. (2006). “A GMO by any other name... might be an SPS risk! Implications of expanding the scope of the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Agreement”. European Journal of International Law, 17(5), 1009-1031. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chl033 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

PETERS, A. (2018). Global constitutionalism: the social dimension. In SUAMI, T., KUMM, M., PETERS, A. and VANOVERBEKE, D. (eds.), Global constitutionalism from European and East Asian perspectives. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 277–350.

PETERSMANN, E. U. (2008). “Human rights, international economic law and constitutional justice: a rejoinder” European Journal of International Law, 19(5), pp. 955–960.

PETERSMANN, E. U. (2012). International economic law in the 21st century: constitutional pluralism and multilevel governance of interdependent public goods. Oxford: Hart Publishing.

PETERSMANN, E. U. (2013). Human rights and the law of the World Trade Organization. In COTTIER, T. and PESTALOZZI, M. (eds.), Linking trade and human rights: new policy space in hard economic times. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 29-56.

PETERSMANN, E. U. (2017). Cosmopolitan constitutionalism: linking local engagement with international economic law and human rights. In BIUKOVIC, L. and POTTER, P. B. (eds.), Local engagement with international economic law and human rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 26-54. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785367199.00008 (Accessed: 08 July 2025).

PETTOELLO-MANTOVANI, C. and OLIVIERI, B. (2022). “Food safety and public health within the frame of the EU legislation”. Global Pediatrics, 2, e100020. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gpeds.2022.100020 (Accessed: 12 July 2025).

ROZPEDOWSKI, J. (2019). Between sovereign prudence and global jurisprudence: the evolution of supranational courts and cosmopolitan norms in human rights discourse and state practice. Doctoral thesis, Durham University. Available at: https://etheses.dur.ac.uk/13099/ (Accessed: 08 July 2025).

SHINGAL, A. and EHRICH, M. (2024). “The EU’s pesticides MRLs harmonization: effect on trade, prices and quality”. Food Policy, 125, e102634. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2024.102634 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

TIAN, H., YOON, Y. and JUNG, J. (2024). “The impact of ESG management activities of food service companies on corporate image, corporate reputation and repurchase intention: focusing on Luckin Coffee in China”. The Academic Society of Global Business Administration, 21(6), 285-307. Available at: https://doi.org/10.38115/asgba.2024.21.6.285 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

TRACHTMAN, J. P. (2014). The economic structure of the law of international organizations”. Chicago Journal of International Law, 15(1), pp. 162-194. Available at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cjil/vol15/iss1/9 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

WINHAM, G. R. (2009). “The GMO Panel: applications of WTO law to trade in agricultural biotech products”. Journal of European Integration, 31(3), pp. 409-429. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/07036330902782261 (Accessed: 11 July 2025).

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME AND WORLD ORGANISATION FOR ANIMAL HEALTH (2022). One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022-2026): Working together for the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment. Geneva: World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240059139 (Accessed: 03 July 2025).

YOUNG, A. R. (2014). “Europe as a global regulator? The limits of EU influence in international food safety standards”. Journal of European Public Policy, 21(6), pp. 904-922. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2014.910871 (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

ZHANG, Q., LIU, J., HAN, L., LI, X., ZHANG, C., GUO, Z., CHAO, A., WANG, C., WAN, E., CHEN, F., ZHAO, H., FENG, J., XUE, J., HUANG, L., CHEN, J., SUN, Z., CHENG, Z., YIN, J., HE, Z., HUANG, L., WU, L., FEI, S., GU, S., JIANG, T., LI, T., CHEN, W., ZHOU, N., QIANG, N., LI, Q., HE, R., ZHANG, Y., LI, M., WANG, X., KASSEGNE, K., ZHU, Y., XIU, L., HU, Q., YIN, K., XIA, S., LI, S., WANG, Z., GUO, X., ZHANG, X. and ZHOU, X. N. (2024). “How far has the globe gone in achieving One Health? Current evidence and policy implications based on global One Health index”. Science in One Health, 3, e100064. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soh.2024.100064 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

ZHOU, X. N., GUO, X. and ZHANG, X. (eds.) (2025). Global One Health Index Report 2022. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-4824-2 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

ZOLO, D. (2000). Cosmópolis: perspectiva y riesgos de un gobierno mundial. Barcelona: Paidós Ibérica.

Normative and Juresprudencial References

CESCR (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights) (2000). General Comment No. 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Art. 12 of the ICESCR). UN Doc. E/C.12/2000/4 [online]. Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4538838d0.html (Accessed: 02 July 2025).

EUROPEAN UNION (2024). Directive (EU) 2024/1760 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on corporate sustainability due diligence and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 (Text with EEA relevance). Official Journal of the European Union. Available at: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1760/2025-04-17 (Accessed: 30 June 2025).

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Resolution 217 A (III), adopted 10 December 1948. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (Accessed: 12 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (1995). Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1A, 15 April 1994. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/spsagr_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (1995). Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (Dispute Settlement Understanding, DSU). Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 2, 15 April 1994. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dsu_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (1996). WT/DS26, European Communities - Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products, EC – Hormones (US). Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds26_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (1996). WT/DS48, European Communities - Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products, EC – Hormones (Canada). Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds48_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION APPELLATE BODY (1998). European Communities - Measures concerning meat and meat products (Hormones), WT/DS26/AB/R and WT/DS48/AB/R, adopted 13 February 1998. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds26_e.htm (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION APPELLATE BODY (2002). European Communities - Trade description of sardines, WT/DS231/AB/R, adopted 23 October 2002. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds231_e.htm (Accessed: 10 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (2003). WT/DS291, European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products, EC – Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds291_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (2003). WT/DS292, European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products, EC – Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds292_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (2003). WT/DS293, European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products, EC – Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products. Available at: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds293_e.htm (Accessed: 07 July 2025).

Published

2025-12-04

Issue

Section

ARTICLES

How to Cite

Arriola Echaniz, N. (2025). A One Health Approach to Food Safety and the Right to Health in a Global Governance. The Age of Human Rights Journal, 25, e9797. https://doi.org/10.17561/tahrj.v25.9797