Balancing Risk and Opportunity: A Legal Perspective on the International Trade of Insects Beyond the ‘Pest’ Lens

Biandri Joubert

doi:10.25159/2522-3062/19072

Authors

Biandri Joubert University of the Witwatersrand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-3062/19072

Keywords:

insects, biological control, sanitary and phytosanitary, SPS, legal framework, food safety, feed safety, plant health

Abstract

The international trade of insects into and out of South Africa remains constrained by a persistent regulatory ‘pest lens’ that fails to recognise insects as legitimate commodities within agricultural, food and feed systems. This article challenges the narrow legal perspective of South African law highlighting fragmented domestic framework, limited relevant definitions and a reliance on legislation not designed for commercial insect trade. Drawing on the principles, rights and obligations of The World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and related international standard setting bodies it proposes a shift towards a balance between insect trade facilitation and necessary protection of humans, animal and plant life or health. This article shows that this situation may lead to avoidable barriers to trade and constrained growth of the insect industry. It may also lead to gaps in Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) risk management. This article makes the point that insects should not be confined in regulation to a ‘pest management’ or ‘pest lens’. Without purpose-specific regulation and policy, the insect industry remains vulnerable to trade barriers on account of legal uncertainty.

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