Alexandria, Va. (November 7, 2025)—The American Peanut Council last week addressed the World Trade Organization on the importance of risk-based import controls for food safety. Courtney Dorsett, vice president of food and sustainability at Premium Peanut, represented APC at the meeting of nearly 200 government delegates from close to 50 countries, held Nov. 3-4, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking at a session designed to educate government officials on science-based food safety protocols and best practices, Dorsett outlined the U.S. peanut industry’s extensive efforts to ensure the safety and quality of its exports. She emphasized the importance of science- and risk-based sampling and inspection procedures for imported food and agricultural products, noting that the use of international standards—such as those established by the Codex Alimentarius and the International Plant Protection Convention—is an effective way to achieve this, according to the American Peanut Council.
“It was a tremendous honor to represent the U.S. peanut industry on behalf of the American Peanut Council at the World Trade Organization,” said Dorsett. “The platform provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the peanut industry’s commitment to producing high-quality products that not only meet customer expectations but also comply with the science-based food safety standards of importing countries.”
Also during the meeting, Dorsett urged governments to collaborate with the U.S. agriculture industry to build confidence in food safety systems and streamline costly, time-consuming import controls. She noted the challenges posed by the European Union’s strict aflatoxin limits and high inspection rates—issues APC continues to address—and emphasized the value of allowing reconditioning procedures, such as blanching or roasting, at the point of import to ensure safe trade.
She further called on countries to recognize the U.S. Agriculture Department as the authority for oversight, sampling and inspection, highlighting the U.S. peanut industry’s best practices in delivering an affordable, sustainable and safe food product enjoyed worldwide.
The meeting was part of a thematic session of the World Trade Organization’s Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which aims to educate government officials responsible for food safety, plant health, and animal health in their respective countries.
