The code of Ethics for International Trade in Food states that no food should be in international trade which has any substance which is poisonous, harmful or injurious to health; consists of any filthy, putrid, rotten, decomposed substance; is adulterated; or is sold, prepared, package, stored or transported for sale under insanitary conditions.

Food safety management system should be used wherever appropriate to ensure that foods, and their productions systems, meet requirements in order to protect consumers against food-borne hazards. The principles and operations of the food safety management systems should be open to scrutiny by consumers and other interested parties.

A food safety management system should be fully documented, including a description of its scope and operation, responsibilities and actions for operations, responsibilities and actions for staff, in order that all parties involved know precisely what is expected of them. It is particularly important for businesses within the food chain to continuously improve the effectiveness of its food safety management system. By doing this the food businesses are not only meeting the international standard on food safety management, but also conforming to any applicable fod safety related statutory and regulatory requirements.