Background

Food smuggling and food trafficking are terms not currently defined in the food literature. This work sought to determine how such definitions could be developed in order to inform future research and surveillance activity.

Scope and approach

The concept of food smuggling and food trafficking is considered, and regulatory food surveillance data for illegal and unauthorised imports and food trade incidents (n = 347) into the European Union (EU) between 1987 and 2017 is explored and critiqued.

Key findings

Illegal imports, especially animal and fish products, can pose a threat to human and animal health, spread animal disease and invasive plant species, and lead to loss of wildlife and biodiversity. Economies are weakened through the tax avoidance and evasion elements of food smuggling and coercive food trafficking. Reported illegal trade in the EU's Risk Assessment for Food and Feed (RASFF) database was highest for meat products followed by fruit and vegetables. Purposive sampling means the data does not reflect the true incidence, extent and type of illegal imports especially by individuals for personal use. There are limited global strategies in place to address food smuggling and trafficking. This work has translated the lessons learnt from the processes developed to reduce tobacco smuggling to illicit activity associated with food. Elements of a comprehensive strategy to address illicit food trade include the developing of effective legal and institutional frameworks in association with effective, transparent communication and cooperation systems. This paper fills a current gap in the academic literature on this topic.

中文翻译：

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粮食走私和贩运：影响的关键因素

背景

粮食走私和粮食贩运是目前食品文献中未定义的术语。这项工作试图确定如何定义这些定义，以便为将来的研究和监视活动提供参考。

范围和方法

考虑了食品走私和食品贩运的概念，并探索和批判了1987年至2017年间对欧盟（EU）的非法和未经授权的进口以及食品贸易事件（n = 347）的监管食品监督数据。

主要发现

非法进口，特别是动物和鱼类产品，可能对人类和动物健康构成威胁，传播动物疾病和入侵植物，并导致野生动植物和生物多样性的丧失。通过走私食品和强制性食品贩运的避税和逃税手段，削弱了经济。欧盟食品和饲料风险评估（RASFF）数据库中报告的非法贸易中，肉类产品最高，其次是水果和蔬菜。有目的的抽样意味着这些数据不能反映出非法进口，特别是个人使用的非法进口的真实发生率，程度和类型。应对食品走私和贩运的全球战略有限。这项工作将从减少烟草走私发展为与食物有关的非法活动的过程中吸取的教训。解决非法粮食贸易的全面战略的要素包括与有效，透明的交流与合作系统相结合，发展有效的法律和体制框架。本文填补了有关该主题的学术文献中的当前空白。