Archive · 21 Jul 2026
GTRI Urges Stronger Food Safety for India-EU Trade Pact
The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has advised India to strengthen its food safety system before the India-EU trade pact is implemented.
The report suggests that India needs to build a strong domestic food-safety system to protect consumers, support farmers, and secure long-term agricultural export competitiveness.
It also recommends that India should inspect imported food with the same rigor that Indian exports face abroad.
The report cites examples of China's rigorous import enforcement and the EU's food-safety notifications against Indian products, highlighting the need for a science-based inspection regime.
GTRI urges India to strengthen its food safety system before the India-EU trade pact rollout.
India risks opening its market to European food products while facing rejections of its own agricultural exports.
The India-EU FTA is likely to be signed by the end of 2026 and come into force in 2027.
GTRI recommends a modern, science-based, and reciprocal food-safety system for India.
India should inspect imported food with the same rigor as its exports face abroad.
- Who
- Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI)
- What
- Urging India to strengthen its food safety system before the India-EU trade pact rollout
- When
- Report published on July 21, 2026
- Where
- India and the European Union
- Why
- To ensure foreign regulations are not used as disguised trade barriers and to protect domestic agricultural exports
Strengthening Domestic Food Safety
Avoiding Trade Barriers
Domestic Food Safety
Strengthening Domestic Food Safety
India needs to build a world-class domestic food-safety system with farm-to-port traceability, stronger pesticide guidance, and more accredited laboratories.
Avoiding Trade Barriers
Strengthening domestic food safety ensures consumer protection and supports farmers, securing long-term agricultural export competitiveness.
Foreign Regulations
Strengthening Domestic Food Safety
India must ensure foreign regulations are not used as disguised restrictions on Indian exports.
Avoiding Trade Barriers
Rigorous import enforcement can coexist with robust international trade, as demonstrated by China.
- Organization
- Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI)
- Report Authors
- Ajay Srivastava and Shantwna Dixit
- EU Food-Safety Notifications Against India
- 365
- Average EU Pesticide Use
- 2.67 kg per hectare
- Average Indian Pesticide Use
- 0.24 kg per hectare
- Annual EU Food Consignments Rejected by China
- 740