Consumer concerns about a range of food and agricultural issues are increasingly important for international trade and trade policies. Growing awareness of food safety issues has prompted policy makers to focus on related trade issues, such as the safety of imported foodstuffs. Consumers in some countries, particularly in Europe, have reacted negatively to the increased use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products, particularly those derived from grains and vegetable crops. There are disagreements between countries on the risks posed for human health by various production practices and new technologies. Public concerns over the welfare of farm animals have led to changes in production standards and practices in some countries, and calls for requirements on imported products to meet the same standards.

Consumer concerns have prompted some governments to restrict or prohibit certain types of imported food or to require labeling for imported goods. These issues are likely to be increasingly important in the work of the World Trade Organization (WTO).