International Agricultural Law
and Organizations
Overview
As international agricultural trade increases, international law becomes more important to agriculture and food production. For the purposes of this overview, “agriculture” includes all activities related to farming, including food production and distribution. As a result, there is considerable overlap between the areas of international agricultural law and international agricultural trade. This overview focuses on international law and organizations involved with agriculture. Read the full overview.
Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.
Major Statutes of International Organizations
United Nations (UN)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) of the UN
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
The World Bank
World Trade Organization (WTO)
European Union (EU)
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
Organization of American States (OAS)
African Union (AU or OAU)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Case Law
Agricultural Dispute Case Law Index for International Law and Organizations
Center Research Publications
Aquaculture and the Lacey Act – PowerPoint Presentation (Springsteen, 2010)
Nation-Specific Risk Tolerance in the WTO: US-Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC-Hormones Dispute (Peck, 2009)
Summary of the WTO Interim Report in EC-Biotech (Peck, 2006)
Managing Carbon in a World Economy: The Role of American Agriculture (Garry, 2005)
Do European Union Non-Tariff Barriers Create Economic Nuisances in the United States? (Redick & Adrian, 2005)
Revising Seed Purity Laws to Account for the Adventitious Presence of Genetically Modified Varieties: A First Step Towards Coexistence (Endres, 2005)
European Union Food Law Update (Coutrelis, 2005)
World Trade Organization and the Commodity Title of the Next Farm Bill (O’Brien, 2006)
Jack and the Beanstalk: Property Rights in Genetically Modified Plants (Busch, 2004)
Biodiversity and the Law: The Culture of Agriculture and the Nature of Nature Conservation (Harbison, 2004)
Biodiversity and the Law of Nature Conservation in Great Britain (Harbison, 2004)
J.E.M. Ag Supply v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International: Its Meaning and Significance (Roberts, 2002)
Legal Liability Issues in Agricultural Biotechnology (Kershen, 2002)
Congressional Research Service Reports
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subjects- published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
International Agriculture
Biotechnology
Food Security/Aid
Agricultural Law Bibliography
Introduction | Keyword Search | Browse Categories
Legal publications on International Law and Organizations:
Alien Land Ownership (Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land)
Farm Policy and Legislative Analysis
International Trade
Land Reform
Organizational Forms for Agriculture (Business Law and Development)
Reference Resources
Congressional Resources
Agriculture and Food (Government Accountability Office – GAO)
International Affairs (GAO)
International Food Assistance (GAO)
Other Federal Resources
Foreign Agricultural Service
National Agricultural Library
Additional Resources
International Law (Legal Information Institute, Cornell U.)
European Union Legal Materials: An Infrequent User’s Guide (Alford)
United Nations Environment Programme
Legislative Studies (FAO)
Agriculture & Rural Development (UN Dept. of Economic & Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development)
ECOLEX: A Gateway to Environmental Law (International and Country Resources)
National Water Law and Standards (FAO & WHO)
Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements (OR State U.)
Centre for Studies in Agriculture, Law and the Environment
Food Law (U. of Reading, UK)
Foreign and International Law (Washburn U. School Law Library)
Legal Research on International Law Issues Using the Internet (U. Chicago Law School)
Glossaries:
World Trade Organization Glossary
European Union Glossary
Agriculture Negotiations
Agriculture and Development: Cotton </a
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
World Trade Organization Resources
Commission for Environmental Cooperation: Publications and Information Resources
European Union Publications
Publications
Food and Agriculture Publications:
The Common Agricultural Policy Beyond 2020: A Critical Review in Light of Global Environmental Goals (Heyl, Doring, Garske, Stubenrauch, Ekardt, 2020)
Taxation of Alcohol and Consumer Attitude: Is the ECJ Sober? (American Ass’n of Wine Economists, Georgopoulos, 2009)
A Human Rights Framework for World Food and Nutrition Security (UN General Assembly, 2008)
Perspectives and Guidelines on Food Legislation, With a New Model Food Law (Vapnek, Spreij, 2005)
Multilateral Trade Negotiations and Food Aid (2005)
The Right to Adequate Food in Emergencies (Cotula, Vidar, 2003)
Extracts From International and Regional Instruments and Declarations, and Other Authoritative Texts Addressing the Right to Food (1999)
Legal Papers Online (FAO Legal Office)
International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides (2003)
IFAD Documents and Publications
Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Publications
Forestry Publications:
Legal and Institutional Aspects of Urban and Peri-urban Forestry and Greening (Knuth, 2005)
Forest Assessment And Monitoring, An International Journal of Forestry and Forest Industries (Perlis, 2002/2003)
Fisheries Publications:
Legislating for Property Rights in Fisheries (Stewart, 2004)
Administrative Sanctions in Fisheries Law (Cacaud, et al. 2003)
Fisheries Enforcement: Related Legal and Institutional Issues: National, Subregional or Regional Perspectives (Franckx, 2001)
Water Publications:
Modern Water Rights – Theory and Practice (Hodgson, 2006)
Groundwater in International Law: Compilation of Treaties and Other Legal Instruments (Burchi, Mechlem, 2005)
Land and Water: The Rights Interface (Hodgson, 2004)
Preparing National Regulations for Water Resources Management: Principles and Practice (Burchi, D’Andra, 2003)
Water Rights Administration. Experience, Issues and Guidelines (Velasco, 2001)
Environment Publications:
Trade and the Environment (World Trade Organization)
World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development
Food Safety and Agricultural Health Management in CIS Countries: Completing the Transition (2007)
Enhancing Agricultural Innovation: How to Go Beyond the Strengthening of Research Systems (2007)
Reforming Agricultural Trade for Developing Countries: Volume 1, Key Issues for a Pro-Development Outcome of the Doha Round (McCala, Nash, 2007)
Reforming Agricultural Trade for Developing Countries: Volume 2, Quantifying the Impact of Multilateral Trade Reform (McCala, Nash, 2007)
Health-Enhancing Foods (Kotilainen, et al., 2006)
Social and Environmental Sustainability of Ag and Rural Development Investments: M&E Toolkit (Punkari, et al., 2007)