Australia-UAE CEPA Chapter 7 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

Article 7.1 Objectives

1. The objectives of this Chapter are to:
   1. affirm the Parties’ shared views regarding sustainable agriculture and food systems;¹
   2. ensure measures relating to sustainable agriculture and food systems are science and evidence based and do not create unnecessary barriers to trade;
   3. promote outcomes-focussed policies and practices that contribute to the development of sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems; and
   4. enhance cooperation on the continued transition towards sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Article 7.2 Scope

1. This Chapter shall apply to all policies and measures of a Party which relate to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
2. This Chapter shall not affect the right of each Party to set its own domestic policies and approaches relating to sustainable agriculture and food systems, or to adopt or modify its laws, regulations, or other measures in these areas.

Article 7.3 Principles of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

1. The Parties recognise:
   1. that sustainable agriculture and food systems play an important role in meeting the growing demand for agricultural goods, ensuring food security, driving climate resilience, emissions reduction and other environmental outcomes, and improving the livelihoods of agricultural producers;
   2. that the diversity of agricultural production and methods, climatic conditions, environmental factors, and economic and social conditions between and within the Parties necessitates flexibility for each Party to tailor its sustainability approaches accordingly, reflecting the principle of no-one-size-fits-all;
   3. the role of fair, rules-based, transparent, non-distorted, and market-oriented international agricultural trade in strengthening sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems in support of global food security and improved environmental outcomes;
   4. the importance of using science and evidence-based metrics, including evidence-based local or traditional knowledge, to determine which agricultural sustainability approaches to promote and whether an agricultural good is sustainably produced;
   5. the important contribution and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to sustainable agriculture through traditional knowledge, innovations, and sustainable agri-food practices, and shall endeavour to incorporate, where appropriate, their knowledge, cultural practices, and stewardship approaches, with a view to improving the sustainability and resilience of agriculture and food systems; and
   6. the importance of public and private sector investment in enhancing sustainable agriculture and food systems.
2. Consistent with their obligations under the WTO Agreement, the Parties shall ensure that measures introduced for environmental or sustainability purposes use science and evidence-based metrics, do not involve excessive compliance requirements or costs, do not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between like domestic and imported goods or a disguised restriction on international trade, and are not more trade restrictive than necessary.

Article 7.4 Sustainability Goals

1. The Parties shall, according to their own national circumstances and consistent with their laws and regulations and Article 7.3 (Principles of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems), promote sustainable agriculture and food systems over the long-term to
   1. meet the growing global demand for agricultural goods and improve food security, including through increased availability and affordability of safe and nutritious foods;
   2. advance their respective environmental goals, including climate resilience and greenhouse gas emission reductions;
   3. recognise the importance and encourage the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices;
   4. minimise the impact on, and where possible enhance, the environment and the natural resource base upon which food and agriculture depend;
   5. make efficient use of renewable and non-renewable resources and on-farm resources and inputs, and integrate natural biological cycles and controls where appropriate;
   6. improve soil health and fertility and water management suitable for sustainable agricultural production;
   7. implement resilient agricultural practices that generate sustainable production and productivity growth; and
   8. help sustain or improve opportunities for agricultural producers and others employed along agricultural supply chains to continue providing agricultural goods to meet human needs.

Article 7.5 Cooperation

1. The Parties recognise the importance of cooperation, transparency and information exchange on policies, and effective practices, to enhance sustainable agriculture and food systems.
2. In accordance with Articles 7.1 (Objectives), 7.3 (Principles of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems) and 7.4 (Sustainability Goals), the Parties shall, where mutually agreed, cooperate bilaterally on research or capacity building activities relating to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
3. The Parties may also work together in relevant international forums on areas of mutual interest relating to sustainable agriculture and food systems.
4. The Parties acknowledge the importance of the COP28 UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Action.

Article 7.6 Non-Application of Dispute Settlement

The Parties shall not have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 25 (Dispute Settlement) or any matter arising under this Chapter.